I can’t remember how many kids I’ve had/broken over the years. I have an unparalleled ability to shorten the life of any garden tool used for digging. In defense, one of those many chips met its fate when a car hit us (it’s a long story, don’t ask). But many others have broken down due to poor construction or inadequate design. And it seems he’s not the only one who always buys the wrong tool. At Fine Gardening, we get a lot of letters asking for advice on the best loppers or handsaws that don’t require sharpening after every use.
To educate our readers and ourselves, we reached out to landscape experts, designers and gardeners with 50 years of experience to find out what’s in their tool shed. Here are some tools these gardening rock stars can’t live without, so maybe you shouldn’t either. Meet the experts we interviewed for this piece.
- Comfortable non-slip grip
- Rust resistant powder coated paint
- Strong, lightweight fiberglass handle
- Perfect for gardening, camping
- Easy to use design
- Wide wing
- Articles made of cast iron
- Most used hummi
- Collapsible handle
- Fold-up toe plate
- Lightweight aluminum frame
- Two 6″ rubber wheels on a steel hub
1. Manual trolleys are essential for heavy movements:
About this item:
- Collapsible handle
- Fold-up toe plate
- Lightweight aluminum frame
- Two 6″ rubber wheels on a steel hub
- Carrying capacity up to 250 lbs.
While the pushcart has long been a favorite of moving companies and grocery stores, it can be a gardener’s new best friend. When it comes to hauling bags of dirt or compost, large pots, or even one or two hideous cobblestones, a hand truck can save your sanity and your back. They come in a variety of sizes and prices (pictured is the 700lb Harper Super Steel Platform Hand Cart), but regardless of the brand, a good one will need a steel frame for strength and inflatable tires to make rolling on the lawn or up and down stairs easier .
An old piece of stiff carpet or thick cardboard between the pushcart frame and any pots you might move will help make a cushion. An elastic cord also helps to protect items during transport (Jason Reeves).
2. This excavator is suitable for almost everything:
About this item:
- Easy to use design
- Wide wing
- Articles made of cast iron
- Most used hummi
The short-handled Ho-Mi Digger was first developed in the Bronze Age in what is now Korea. It is hand forged from steel, so it is very strong yet very light. Its unique shape allows for many gardening jobs, from weeding to digging rows of seeds. However, be careful when handling as the blade is razor sharp.
This is a tool that digs, plants, weeds, cuts, files, fills and looks like a deadly ninja weapon. —Susan Calhoun
3. For smaller jobs, try a mini shovel:
About this item:
- Perfect for gardening, camping, off-road or beach use
- Designed for efficient moving and lifting
- Sharpened edges reduce effort when breaking up tough dirt
- Durable heat treated head
- Comfortable non-slip grip
- Rust resistant powder coated paint
- Strong, lightweight fiberglass handle
- Strong, lightweight steel handle
- 5 year guarantee
When you first see this little tool, you may have to suppress a laugh. But once you get over the shock of the Corona mini utility shovel, you start imagining all the things it could be used for, like plants in small spaces. It looks like the progeny of a full size shovel and trowel. The ash wood handle and hardened steel blade make it even stronger than it looks.
A “girl kick” my contractors call it. Many of them ask to borrow it for irrigation during installation or in small spaces. I buy one, paint it pink, and then tell them I’ll give them one if they use the pink version. They laugh and laugh, but every time I see them at work, these great men still have a little pink kick. – Stacie Cheaters
4. Do you need a sweeper that won’t stop? Try the Spring Tine grower:
About this item:
- Dimensions: 12″ L x 2.5″ W x 3″ H; 0.25 lbs
- Ideal for cultivating soil with rocks and roots
- Strong, flexible, lightweight and well-balanced!
- Also known as a “scratch” cultivator
Its true purpose, however, is much more merciless. The fine wires of the DeWit spring tine cultivator glide through the soil gently but effectively clearing weeds as they move. It is very light but well made of steel and wood. This type of tool is sometimes referred to as a “scratch cultivator” by the Dutch, who are responsible for its design. If ever there was a tool that you could pass on to your grandchildren as an heirloom, it would be this one.
This is my all-time favorite tool. It is sometimes hard to find, but it is invaluable for weeding. The threads pull through the dirt and move the roots, but don’t disturb the soil – the hands are cool. – Stacie Cheaters
5. You will never regret buying this guy:
About this item:
- Ideal for digging when planting, taking up plants, turning up earth and more
- Ergonomically designed handle reduces hand and wrist fatigue while weeding
- Cuts through tough turf cleanly
- Polished aluminum head resists rust for lasting value
The only tool gardeners use to change gloves more often is the irreplaceable trowel. These tools bend, break, the tip of the shovel detaches from the wooden handle: it is rare for a trowel to last a few seasons. The Corona eGrip trowel may be the last tool of its kind to buy. The die-cast aluminum shovel is molded into the handle in one piece, so it won’t bend or break. The handle itself is lined with padded rubber for better grip and comfort, and the slight curve is designed to be better for the joints – a real plus when planting fall bulbs.
The ergonomic handle is so soft that it never bends, even under heavy pressure. It also has engraved dimensions for planting bulbs. – Stacie Cheaters
6. An unbreakable shovel:
About this item:
- For vertical cutting: 2.25-Inch Blade Lift
- Blade: 12 gauge steel, 11 and 1/2 inches (L) x 9 and 1/4 inches (W)
- Round point blade
Whether you’re planting a bush or digging boulders, the King of Spades All Steel Nursery Vande is the only tool you’ll need, according to many of our experts. This spade set comes in a variety of blade and handle sizes and styles (one shown with a 13-inch blade and a 54-inch handle), but all are made from aircraft-grade tubing with heavy-duty steel blades. Don’t forget to add a handy and practical rubber foot to make digging easier.
I don’t remember how many times I broke blades with wooden handles. This baby refuses to break and I always use it. The long blade cuts the soil deeper than other spades, creating a larger clod and reducing transplant shock. —Andy Brand
7. A trowel is an unusual but valuable tool:
About this item:
- MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts
- DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure
- TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point – no need to switch tools when using this garden knife
- LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure
- LIFETIME WARRANTY
If you’ve ever committed the sin of using pruning shears to quickly dig up weeds or cut plant roots, get the A. M. Leonard Deluxe Stainless Steel Ground Blade. Use it for planting small seedlings and bulbs, cutting narrow roots, and even cutting threads. Thanks to the large rubber-coated handle, the knife is well secured. Buying this tool can also add years to your chainsaw.
I always have this tool on my belt next to my shears – it is essential for weeding with its serrated edge. I also use this blade for planting small perennials and it is useful for removing roots before planting container grown material. —Andy Brand
8. Avoid electric shocks and fumes with a battery-powered hedge trimmer:
About this item:
- HIGH PERFORMANCE CORDLESS HEDGE TRIMMER – Powerful 40V MAX* Lithium-Ion hedge trimmer for hedges, shrubs, and branches up to 3⁄4 in.
- DUAL-ACTION BLADE – Hardened steel dual-action blade for reduced vibration while trimming
- EASY TO OPERATE – Lightweight and easy to maneuver with ergonomic wraparound auxiliary handle and integrated vibration reduction
Even if you don’t have a formal boxwood hedge, you will need an edge trimmer. Fall cleanup is twice as fast as you can trim lumpy perennials with an electric grass trimmer, instead of using pruning shears a handful at a time. The Black & Decker 40 Volt Cordless Hedge Trimmer is a great choice because you don’t have to lug around a long extension cord or worry about filling / maintaining the gas engine. Warning: The battery is sold separately with this model, but it takes a surprisingly long time to charge – 6,000 square feet of swath per charge.
You don’t want to use it to cut a 500-foot privacy fence, but it’s great for smaller jobs. Speed up trimming tufts of ornamental grasses or Siberian iris or shaping topiary if that’s your thing. -Jason Reeves
9. These pruning shears are perfect for left-handed people:
About this item:
- Specially made for left handed users
- SK5 Carbon steel blades for lasting sharpness
- Notched blade for cutting thicker stems
- Adjustable blade tension mechanism
This industry word mark has long been the industry standard and for good reason. The blades are made of high quality steel, while the rubberized aluminum handles are lightweight and easy to use. The Felcos have been praised by several experts, but for left-handed players the Felco 9 are an invaluable purchase. For right-handers, try the F-8 equivalent.
There are a lot of dropouts, but nothing can replace the quality of the Felco, especially the F-9 as I’m left handed. I’ve had mine for 30 years and they still work fine. – Like Bill Cullen
10. These pruning shears are so sharp that you can file a fish with them:
About this item:
- MAXFORGEDTM STEEL: Corona’s forging process compacts steel molecules into our strongest, most durable tools that stay sharper longer
- DUAL ARC BYPASS BLADE efficiently cuts green or dry branches and stems
- HAND-MATCHED HOOK AND BLADE: Slant-ground, narrow-profile hook and blade are matched by hand to ensure precise, close cuts
- SELF-CLEANING SAP GROOVE removes debris for smooth, efficient cutting action
- RESHARPENABLE BLADE for long-lasting performance and reliability
It may seem like an exaggeration, but it’s not: Okatsune’s bypass cutters are made the same way as samurai swords: by forging hardened steel and rolling it to a softer layer of steel. The result is a clipper that everyone likes to fight in the garden. The steel blade is razor sharp and, while not replaceable, is easy to sharpen. The spring lock / unlock feature allows you to open and close it with one hand, which is appreciated by our daycare experts. The Okatsune 103 (pictured) is the standard model, but the company produces smaller qualifiers for smaller hands.
The blade remains very sharp, is easy to clean and sharpen and is very durable. I have a pair that I have been wearing almost every day for 27 years. – Ed Gorgan
11. The branches tremble when they see this handsaw coming:
About this item:
- Silky’s most popular curved pruning saw
- 13-inch (330mm) blade length, 13-inch (330mm) blade length, 1.5mm blade thickness, 6.4 teeth per inch (7.5 teeth per 30mm) Large teeth configuration, Cut capacity 5.9″
- 0.65 pounds (300 grams) operating weight; 1.1 pounds (480 grams) weight with sheath (included)
- Product applications include pruning & trimming, lawn & garden
- WARNING: Beware of thinner, non-Professional blades that are made for the Japanese market only. If your blade doesn’t have the word Professional etched into it, please report the seller to Amazon
A botanist gardener often has these wonderful tools hanging from his belt (in a sheath, of course). The Silky Gomtaro 240 Root-Cutting Hand Saw features what the company describes as a “knife-sharp blade with 4 cutting angles that provide a fast, clean and ultra-smooth cutting action.” We’d probably just say it’s pretty damn sharp. The padded rubber handle ensures you won’t accidentally let this deadly tool slip from your grip. The 9½-inch blade is large enough to cut thick enough branches.
The blade doesn’t break like most of the stuff on the market and cuts through roots and branches. When I do botany abroad, I don’t leave home without it. – Tony Avent
12. Garden shears handle hard branches on branches:
About this item:
- LIGHTWEIGHT: High-strength elliptical 32-inch aluminum handles
- RESHARPENABLE: Replaceable, Dual Arc bypass blade of fully heat-treated forged steel
- SELF-CLEANING: Forged, slant-ground hook with self-cleaning, deep sap groove
- NEW AND IMPROVED: Locking nut eliminates nut-retaining clip
If you have pruning shears that are too big for manual pruning saws, but you don’t want to break the chainsaw, orchard cutters are your savior. Corona’s high-quality clippers are made of light aluminum, so your shoulders won’t hurt after a day of gardening. The steel bypass blades are very sharp, resulting in clean cuts (and they’re easy to sharpen!). This model can cut a branch up to 2¼ inches in diameter, even though it weighs just over 2 pounds.
They are very light and cut through butter like a hot knife! I’m hooked on pruning and couldn’t live without a clipper. —Barbara Weirich
13. The long-reaching telescopic pruning shears reach hard-to-reach places:
About this item:
- ZL610 fixed length, long reach pruner
- Cut-n-hold head is perfect for roses and other thorny plants
- Cuts up to 3/8-inch thick green wood
- Designed for one-handed operation
Conventional wisdom is that pruning that requires a ladder should be done by a professional arborist. Thanks to the long reach of ARS telescopic branches, you will have to call that arborist a lot less. The handle can be extended 4 to 7 feet or 6 to 10 feet (depending on model), and the large blades can cut branches up to ¼ inch. Certain models have a cut and hold feature (pictured) that can direct you where the cut material falls. This can be useful if you’re trying not to crush the yard below with errant clippings.
When your garden has deep borders, you simply cannot exist without long range branches. —Barbara Weirich
14. The inverted sprayer slides smoothly under the leaves:
About this item:
- 48 ounce poly bottle with wide mouth for easy filling and cleaning
- Compatible with common fertilizers, week killers and pesticides
- Adjustable nozzle to spray a fine mist or coarse stream with a simple twist
- In-tank anti-clog filter for continuous spraying
- Ergonomic handle to assist in preventing hand and wrist fatigue
- Compatible with common fertilizers, weed killers, pesticides and general cleaning solutions
Pests like aphids and spider mites like to hide under leaves, and there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to apply an organic insecticide to those awkward spots. Standard spray bottles (such as those pre-filled with liquid anti-parasitic agents) will not work if held upside down. Choose Chapin’s Inverted Trigger Sprayer, designed to work when you need to spray under the plant’s leaves. Each bottle contains 32 fluid ounces.
It is ideal for jobs that require misting the underside of leaves, such as applying Cloud Cover to protect Japanese maple leaves from burning in low humidity. —Susan Morrison
15. A glove that fits perfectly and lasts a long time:
If you’re like many gardeners and use gloves like toilet paper, you might want to try the Showa Atlas 370 nitrile gloves (pictured above). They are light and very flexible, so you can curl your fingers around weeds without feeling restricted. However, the flexible rubber/nitrile coating on the palms gives them the toughness of heavier gloves. Bonus: They last several runs through the washing machine.
These gloves offer much better dexterity than heavier cloth or rubber gloves. I also found them in a 3 pack which is perfect for people like me who manage to lose several pairs a year. —Susan Morrison
16. You won’t break your neck with these sturdy ladders:
About this item:
While it may not be the first tool that comes to mind when gardening, a good ladder can literally mean the difference between life and death. And while a lot of aerial work is best left to the pros, sometimes you just need a ladder (think hedge trimming, fruit picking, or the occasional pruning job). The Hasegawa three-legged ladder (available in different sizes) is very stable even on uneven surfaces. It has a wide base, deep treads and an adjustable rear foot for uneven terrain. The biggest surprise in this well-constructed song? How incredibly light it is.
The stability of this scale is very convincing; also, the booth design allows me to get closer to where I need to be. My old staircase is now standing still, my Hasegawa and I wander around the courtyard looking for projects. – Gary Lewis
17. Potato forks also work as rakes and cultivators:
About this item:
You don’t have to be an Idaho farmer to use or want a potato fork. This is a useful tool when you want to scrape compost into the first few inches of soil or rake the bed to collect leaves and rocks. Potato forks typically have three or four prongs spaced 1-2 inches apart. The Union Razor-Back Potato Waste Hook has four wide prongs made from durable steel so they won’t bend easily. Thanks to the extra-long wooden handle (4 1/2 feet long), you can get quite far into the bed without much effort.
The garden rake is lighter than usual, so it’s easier to move items quickly with a potato fork and quickly move stones and debris to the side. It is also a great scratch for the back. – Ed Gorgan
18. A strange but practical prize goes to . . . nut picker:
About this item:
- Nut Gatherer Picker. Flexible collection basket, can work anywhere. The walnut picker: a great gift idea for people who have a walnut tree
- Simple emptying: The opening on the side allows the person collecting to empty the Collector while remaining upright
- Walnut Fruit Picker. Nut picker has a high operational safety factor and is easy to operate, which to some extent reduces the labor of the operator.The collecting speed is fast, the structure is simple and the operation is light and practica
This unique tool looks like it should come with a hamster walking around a metal cage. However, the strange appearance of Holt’s nut wizard does not diminish his incredible ability to gather nuts. If you have nut-producing trees like oak or black walnut, you know that harvesting all those nuts can be tiring and exhausting work. But if you leave them in the ground, thousands of seedlings will sprout next year. And if you’re looking to mow the lawn, you can shoot acorns like deadly bullets. Just twist the end of the cage and the flexible part of the wire for easy collection. Different sizes are available depending on the size of the nut (pictured is a 12 inch driven nut).
My neighbor has a huge hickory shagbark hanging from the lawn and has been dropping nuts for about 10 weeks. This rotary nut vacuum cleaner makes cleaning really fun (more or less). What a back protector! – Tony Fulmer
19. If you have clayey soil, you need a Spork:
About this item:
- Lightweight long shaft and easy-eject design help to eliminate sore knees and back aches from bending, making cleanup quicker and easier
- Offset handle helps reduce wrist strain, and integrated viewing window allows you to see weeds while standing
- Four serrated, stainless steel claws firmly grab weeds and roots for permanent removal
- Permanently remove dandelions, thistles and other invasive weeds without multiple applications or harsh, costly chemicals
- Overall length: 39 inches; Included lifetime warranty
Is it a gallows or a shovel? Technically it’s neither, but the DeWit Spork combines the best features of both. Carbon steel teeth cut smoothly even in the most compact soils, but with less friction due to the open recesses of the blade. The wooden handle is made of ash wood, so it is very sturdy and can withstand larger perennials and bushes to plant. The Spork is also great for the edge of the bed, cutting a deeper, cleaner line than any so-called professional edge.
I like the way the serrated teeth cut through the toughest clay soil, but the open areas of the “body” reduce the compaction I would get with a fixed blade shovel. – Tony Fulmer
20. A full size rake in a pint pack:
About this item:
- Opens to 60″ long with 22″W rake end
- Folds down to 30″ x 8.5″ to easily fit into storage
- Keep your campsite near with this full-size compactable rake
Is there anything worse than leaf rakes? They take up a lot of space and always seem to fall off their hooks or holders. But they are indispensable during autumn cleaning. The answer to these problems is an extendable rake and the Garden Plus steel handle head is one of the best. You can block the fan in the compact 6-inch version (pictured) or pull it back and let the steel head expand to 15 inches. In its compressed form, the rake is great for sneaking in and around plants to reach the leaves, and when washed, it works like a regular fan rake. The handle is telescopic, extending up to 35 inches along its entire length.
Not all dirt can be wiped out from hard-to-reach places, especially if you’ve just washed glass windows or doors. I really like the adjustability and versatility of the extendable rake. – Tony Fulmer
Tool Maintenance 101
It is not enough to have only the best tools; so you need to make sure they remain in great condition. Here are some tips from grower Ed Gregan on proper spade and branch maintenance.
Tip 1: After using the steel garden tools, remove the earth or dirt with a wire brush and then clean with an oilcloth. Coated soil and rust make tools heavier and less efficient.
Tip 2: Apply wax paste (available at hardware stores) to wooden handled tools every few years to restore the wood.
Tip 3: Always keep your loppers clean (juice free), lubricated with loppers (available at garden centers and online) and stored in a leather sheath to protect the blade and keep it sharp.
Meet our experts
- Ed Gregan: Horticulturist with 30 years of experience and representative of Carlton Plants, a wholesale carrot grower in Dayton, Oregon.
- Susan Morrison: San Francisco landscape architect and longtime member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers.
- Jason Reeves: Curator of Gardens at the University of Tennessee at Jackson and Director of the International Garden Tour.
- Stacie Crooks: Seattle garden designer with over 20 years of experience.
- Bill Cullina: President/CEO and former garden director of the Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens in Boothbay.
- Andy Brand: Nursery Director of Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, Connecticut, and past president of the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association.
- Susan Calhoun: Owner of Plantswoman Design, a landscape design and construction company in Bainbridge Island, Washington.
- Tony Fulmer: Horticultural Director at Chalet, a Wilmette, Illinois specialty nursery with four decades of horticultural experience.
- Tony Avent: Renowned plant breeder and owner of Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanical Garden in Raleigh, North Carolina.
- Gary Lewis: Owner of Phoenix Perennials in Richmond, British Columbia, and Executive Director of the International Perennial Plant Association.
- Barbara Weirich: Owner of a 5-acre private botanical garden in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Danielle Sherry is a senior editor who wishes she had added half of these tools to her Santa wish list.
Photo by Danielle Sherry unless otherwise noted; Thanks to Ed Gregan; Thanks to Susan Morrison; Thanks to Jason Reeves; Thanks to William Cullina; Thanks to Andrew Brand; Thanks to Susan Calhoun; Thanks to Chalet Nursery; Courtesy of Plant Delights Nursery Inc; Thanks to Gary Lewis; Thanks to Michel Rose; Thanks to Susanne Ormond
