The 15 Most Essential Gardening Tools

Gardeners know that the task of cultivating great fruits, vegetables, herbs, and more starts and ends with the tools used in the process. Filling your shed with useful gear can make the process of gardening more efficient and, as a result, far more enjoyable. No one wants plants to perish in their garden, and this may even turn some newer gardeners off of the hobby altogether — even as The Guardian notes that this phenomenon is a rite of passage.

Using a great set of essential gardening tools can make the endeavor more enjoyable and even create an easier work environment that supports a thriving hobby and garden full of great crops and flowers. These 15 tools form the baseline for those getting into the world of gardening and landscaping around their homes. Of course, good maintenance routines and proper storage will ensure that all of your tools continue to perform at their best for many years to come.

One of the two primary ingredients for healthy plant growth is water. Nothing will grow in your garden if you don't water the soil (the other half of this basic equation). A simple hose or watering can give you the basic watering capacity necessary to keep your plants hydrated and healthy. Watering cans come in various sizes and spout types (via Your Indoor Herbs), so finding an all-purpose watering option or a set of versatile tools will give you the best approach to keeping the garden in great shape.

Pruning shears, also known as secateurs, are a great tool for any home gardener to carry along with them throughout a day of tending to the yard. Pruning growth and removing mature fruits or vegetables from the main plant must be done carefully to ensure that the life left behind after severing the connection isn't frayed or damaged as this can lead to infection or intense wilting. Shears are the best option for pruning viable fruits and removing dead or dying segments of the plant because of the reliable sharpness that they offer (via Advancing Alternatives).

Hand trowels are small shoveling devices that are great for targeted extraction of plant matter or soil. A hand trowel is important for transplanting smaller potted plants into a new home in the garden. You won't need to create a large hole for the new addition, and with a hand trowel, you can remove exactly the right amount of soil or add back essential volume with precision. These are perfect tools for planting bulbs in anticipation of spring flowers. The colder soil responds well to targeted digging central to this type of planting.

A spade is a specialized shovel that measures between the full-length shovel and the smaller hand trowel. A spade uses a curved blade that's perfect for digging. These are great for laying in new irrigation segments or digging smaller holes that you will use to plant moderately large trees or bushes. A spade is the perfect middle ground between specialized digging needs that a trowel provides and heavy-duty applications served by a full-sized shovel. Specifically, spades offer an improved cutting ability to slice cleanly through established sod, according to Almanac — a task that other tools can't perform.

Larger shovels round out the digging equipment characteristic of a garden shed. Gardeners inevitably begin to plant and care for larger and larger sections of landscaping and plants themselves. A full-sized shovel helps you gain the leverage you need to dig large holes for tree installation and other tasks from a standing position. When combined with the initial cutting capacity of a spade, the shovel is a potent tool that shouldn't be overlooked in a garden tool shed. Trees.com notes some specific shovel types, and owning a few different kinds is often helpful for greater functional efficiency.

Protecting your legs, knees, and bodily health is just as important as getting out to the garden. If you are hurting yourself every time you bend down to pick a vegetable, the practice can quickly become a chore. Gardening is great for improving life quality, but this is only true if the tasks are achievable. For those with knee issues or concerns about kneeling on the hard ground or even concrete, knee pads are a crucial tool that can keep the tasks in the garden light and enjoyable (via the University of Florida Extension).

A wheelbarrow is a crucial equipment piece in any garden grown beyond a collection of simple plant pots. Homeowners often begin with some core planting in containers to kickstart their journey into a full-fledged garden. This is great for minimizing the grunt work needed to move heavy soil and other elements into place; a wheelbarrow is a key piece in this puzzle (via CountryLiving). These are sturdy equipment movers with a single wheel on the front and two handles in the back for great mobility and easily leveraged lifting capabilities.