More tools does not mean a better garden. Over the years we’ve whittled our kit down to the tools we actually use, the ones that we reach for every single time we’re out in the garden. Here’s the list.
Disclaimer: This website contains some affiliate links to Amazon. When you click on these links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we trust and believe in personally. Thank you for your support!
Soil Knife
If there’s one tool we’d never give up, it’s this one. A soil knife does the work of three or four tools in one – planting, weeding, dividing, cutting through roots, even opening bags of soil. It’s nimble enough for detail work in tight spots and sturdy enough for tougher jobs. Our absolute favorite tool in any garden!
Bypass Pruners
A good pair of bypass pruners is non-negotiable. They make clean, precise cuts that are better to your plants and easier on your hands. We’re partial to the ergonomic ones in the Felco lineup, but you can’t go wrong with any. We reach for ours on almost every visit.
Small Shovel
Not a full-size shovel, not a hand trowel, a small shovel hits the sweet spot for most garden tasks. Planting, dividing, moving some soil, it handles all of it without the bulk of a full-size tool. Lightweight and versatile, it’s the tool that spends the least time in the shed.
Loppers
For anything too thick for pruners and too small for a saw, loppers are your answer. They give you the reach and leverage to cut through woody stems and overgrown shrubs without straining your wrists. A solid pair is especially useful when you’re working in dense planting or clearing out old growth.
Hand Saw
Every now and then you need a saw – a thick branch, an old shrub, a stump that needs cutting back. A compact hand saw earns its place for exactly those moments. It doesn’t come out every visit, but when you need it, nothing else will do.
Bucket
Unglamorous, indispensable. A good bucket goes everywhere with us collecting weeds, carrying tools, mixing soil, even hauling water. It’s the thing everything else ends up in at the end of a session. Get a sturdy one and don’t think twice about it.
The Takeaway
A small, well-chosen toolkit beats a shed full of stuff every time. These six tools cover almost everything a garden asks of you and they do it without the clutter. Invest in quality, keep them clean, and they’ll be there for you season after season.