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Spring has arrived and that means it’s time for some serious garden work. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced gardener, blooming flowers are a quick way to lift your spirits. While hiring a landscaping contractor is a quick fix for your lawn, there is something satisfying about doing the job yourself.

This is where Rated comes in. We’ve put together a list of the best gardening tools and equipment to keep your garden in tip-top shape for the warmer seasons. Whether you prune rose bushes in the summer, rake the lawn in early spring, or compost for the sake of the environment (our favorite is the Redmon Compost Bin, 65 gallons – (available on Amazon), we have the tools you have. need to keep your garden in the fight against mowing.

 

To clean your garden

1. Kobalt KHB 3040-06

This leaf-blowing tornado claims it can move 600 cubic feet of air per minute, the second highest CFM reading we’ve tested, and it’s easy to believe. The Worx WG520 was unmatched in its ability to remotely remove leaves from any surface, including wet and dull surfaces that had stuck to flooring.

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However, if you don’t want to blow up all your potted plants from the porch, the Worx has a shortcut for adjusting the gusts of air from hurricane blasts to normal leaf blower levels. $ 60 gives you a powerful and efficient machine. Weighing in at 7.2 pounds, the Worx WG520 is easy to carry and looks less like a radioactive “Fortnite” pistol than any other fan we’ve tested.

The only downside to the Worx is that it’s loud for a wired pickup, outputting up to 82dB at top speed. The noise level is higher than a landscaper’s gas blowers and less annoying from a distance, but you should still wear hearing protection when using this blower.

2. Truper Tru Tough 24-inch Leaf Rake

Truper Tru Tough is a blend of the best characteristics of raken. It is light enough to be easily maneuvered, yet heavy enough to prevent the tines from bouncing off the ground when you pull the rake towards you. Furthermore, between the metal teeth of this rake and its weight, it is very efficient in raking; after the first raking only a random leaf remains. It worked very well on both harder ground and slightly taller grass.

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During testing, we found that this was the rake we were constantly pulling. While it didn’t always pick up all acorn or pine needles, it had a long fiberglass handle with a slightly soft section at the end, making it easier to control during long raking sessions. It is also not as wide as some rakes we tested, but we felt it was an advantage because what it lost in horizontal coverage it made up for in maneuverability, raking efficiency and ease of storage.

With pine needles, the Truper would often get clogged, but yes, almost all rakes would get clogged. Apparently the pine needles are the collective bane of the rake’s existence. This rake was much more effective at staying largely free when raking leaves regularly.

Finally, this Truper also comes with a 25-year limited warranty, which has pleasantly surprised many of Lowe’s customers who have claimed in online reviews that they are used to replacing rakes every year. They also noted that the slightly higher price tag was worth the extra money because the rake was solidly built and could withstand repeated use without breaking or damaging the teeth.

The rake is attached to the handle with two bolts, which means that it is very rare for the rake to crack or break. The rakes have a job and the 24-inch Truper Tru Tough Leaf Rake does it best. Other bonuses, like a 25-year warranty and sturdy installation, are just the icing on the cake.

3. Greenworks 21212 4 Amp 13-Inch Corded String Trimmer

If you have a green space to take care of, it is certain that you also care about the environment. And this Green works corded chainsaw has no carbon footprint, which is much more than can be said for lithium batteries and gas. Weighing in at just 5.2 pounds, it’s very light and fairly balanced with an adjustable handle and shaft, making it comfortable to use for long periods of time (note: taller users will find that you can’t reach far enough). And the two-line edge bander with automatic feed and 180 degrees rotation allows it to be used efficiently and effectively, despite the modest 4 amp motor and 13 inch cutting area. It’s worth noting that it has a clickable power button, so it should always be removed between uses or when making any changes to the car or kits.

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4. Redmon Compost Bin, 65 Gallon

This trapezoidal outdoor bin with sliding doors was the best composter we tested. While indoors have a temperature advantage that keeps them higher in some point categories, we think this is a great traditional option for anyone looking to start composting outdoors.

Adding a basket was easy. The opening was wide, so there were days when we scooped leftover leaves or garden plants into it.

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The sides of the tank have lots of holes for ventilation and we really liked that the holes aren’t all the way open. They provided enough air to let moisture in, reduce odor and keep insects and animals out.

We had a problem with rats digging under the side of the bowl to get food scraps, but we pushed the ‘teeth’ of the bowl deeper into the ground and placed large rocks around the rim to keep them out. If we were to do it again, we would use a few trees as a frame to make the base secure from scratch. Flat ground works best, but with a slight slope you’ll probably be fine.

Thanks to its trapezoidal shape, the bin can hold up to 65 litres, which is almost double the capacity of most bins. We did something about the basket every few days and even then we only filled it halfway.

While we had a lot more space, it was also nice to have some empty space in the bin so we could stir the stack with a thin shovel or tool. Because this basket doesn’t spin, we’ve tried moving the materials inside once a week to help break up clumps and disperse the heat.

Our favorite feature is the four sliding doors on the bottom of each side. They made it easy to check the bottom of the pile and measure the temperature and humidity. We also imagine that it will also be easier to drain the soil at the end of the process.

The litter box is made from recycled plastic, so you can easily wash it and let it dry completely before storing or reusing it.

It’s a great option for people who want to compost as much as possible, especially those with plants or gardens. The tank’s roomy interior, multiple openings and secure closures make it worthwhile.

5. True Temper 6 cu. ft. Wheelbarrow

True Temper wheelbarrows come in handy when you need to transport something heavy, bulky, or clunky to your backyard.

It can overcome most obstacles and patio steps and holds more than 3 cu. feet of flat ground (or up to 6 cubic feet) in a spacious container.

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It makes everything easy. This model comes assembled in the store so buyers don’t have to search for extra screwdrivers or ratchets to assemble it. The coated metal handles are smooth and durable. In our test, it navigated all but the largest branches of the obstacle course with ease, pushing into the sand with a full load.

By far the best thing about this wheelbarrow is its easy handling. Even though the True Temper was full of rocks, it never felt like it was falling or “running” down. The single flat rubber tire is sturdy, but filled with a soft material that provides good cushioning when rolling over uneven terrain, rocks and branches.

The single wheel design allows this wheelbarrow to roll in a circle approximately 1 foot in diameter.

On the other hand, this wheelbarrow is large and weighs almost 46 lbs. It can be stored upright on the nose but still takes up a lot of space and it is a good idea to store this wheelbarrow indoors.

The protective paint on the steel pool was scratched during testing by both stones and a shovel, which can lead to rust. If you need to store your wheelbarrow outside, place it upright to prevent water from collecting and cover it with a tarp.

6. Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

The 2nd Generation Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is currently at the top of our list because it offers many easy-to-use options and isn’t scary to install.

Smart home enthusiasts will appreciate the integrations with Nest, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple HomeKit. There are also tons of IFTTT recipes available to further customize your sprinkler.

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The Rachio app has a busy interface but is easy to navigate. By uploading photos and providing information on things like soil and sunlight, you can set up a custom schedule or let the Rachio app choose one based on the information provided.

When we let Rachio 3 establish a watering schedule, we chose the Flexible Daily Schedule option, which uses public weather data to determine soil moisture based on the questions you answer. There are additional features such as Weather Intelligence, which offers the ability to automatically skip a session in case of rain or extreme wind; and Smart Cycle, which divides watering times into shorter and more frequent periods to prevent runoff. For more accurate results, you can synchronize the Rachio 3 with a personal weather station such as Netatmo.

The Rachio 3 isn’t the most affordable smart irrigation controller, but it offers most of the features while still being easy enough for everyone to use. Serious gardening enthusiasts will appreciate the Rachio 3 for its sophisticated and intelligent design and robust automation features.

7. Vezane Garden Hose

The Vezane garden hose is large, resistant to kinking, light weight and easy to store, because all boxes are looking for the best garden hose. It comes with all the accessories you need, including a hose hook, several refills, a nylon case and a spray nozzle. The sprayer has 10 easily adjustable water levels and an ergonomic design that fits comfortably in the hand. The water pressure is pleasant and constant and provides a quick flow to wet the lawn.

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One of the best things about this 100-foot expandable tube is that the flexible tube construction doesn’t require a lot of effort to install (or store). There’s no need to worry about the frustrating unwinding process or knots you might encounter when using heavy garden hoses.

The core of the tube consists of four durable layers of latex (covered with green and black woven polyester fabric) that can withstand temperatures from 41 ° F to 135 ° F, a more durable range than some of the other tubes that we tested.

The result is a durable hose that should remain unbroken and leak-free for a long time. One thing to keep in mind when using fabric-covered snakes is that they tend to get entangled in sticks, rocks, and other sharp objects in the yard, so pull them gently. The hose comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects to protect your purchase.

8. Dramm 12421 One-Touch Shower & Stream

Dramm 12424 One-Touch Shower & Stream is simple, elegant, efficient and of high quality. As the name suggests, there are only two options on the dial: shower and stream. Flow is controlled with an easily adjustable rear thumb throttle. Between these two settings, the Dramm can handle most gardening tasks besides spraying.

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The full pressure flow setting is one of the most powerful jets we’ve tested, quickly pushing soil away from dirty decks. The spray setting applies a medium strength spray to the full setting for quick but gentle watering that won’t damage delicate leaves, and the low pressure spray is perfect for watering seedlings without washing them off.

It’s a Goldilocks spray – it’s neither too heavy nor too fine. It’s right. The only drawback is that the “shower” water jet is small compared to other models, which makes it less useful in large gardens.

9. StoneBreaker Gloves Gardener

The Stonebreaker Gardener Gloves are an excellent all-purpose glove for light to medium duty jobs in most gardening and gardening jobs. You can continue to use them as you go from activity to activity throughout the day. Stonebreaker gardening gloves are available in small, medium and large sizes, which roughly correspond to sizes 7-9.

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At about $20 a pair, Stonebreaker gloves cost a lot more than Showa Atlas nitrile gloves, but they last much longer and let you do heavy yard work without worrying about finger holes, a common complaint about nitrile gloves. If you only want one pair of gloves, the Stonebreaker gloves are the gloves. These goatskin/cloth gloves are sensitive enough for fine weeding, yet tough enough to grip thorny stems and rough-edged stones and keep blisters at bay during long pruning sessions. They have a slim profile on the fingertip and do not interfere with precision work. The light color and breathable fabric lining of these gloves keep them cool on warm, sunny days and the palms are waterproof.

These gloves are more expensive than nitrile/textile gloves and should be hand washed. The backrests are not waterproof; if you are going to spend the day with the hose, choose a glove that fits in the dryer. And while the cuff is long, the elastic band isn’t particularly tight and dirt can fall out. It’s also worth noting that although Amazon lists them as “women’s gloves”, the design is unisex and their range of sizes fits most men.

Hand wash with cold water to preserve the suppleness of the goatskin. Don’t wring them out or put them in the dryer – let them dry on a rack or towel. This is the protective glove we tested that could still work with the touchscreen (after cleaning).

10. Felco 2

Have your Felco branch clip everything (except bangs). Felco clippers have a good reputation for a reason – they neatly trim every plant you come across in your garden, from delicate flower stems to half-inch branches. The great strength of Felcos is their versatility. They have a limited lifetime warranty. You can prune back last year’s growth on the yew bush, prune the roses, clean them quickly, and then trim the basil leaves to finish off the spaghetti dish.

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All cuts are clean and straight, with no crushed or crushed stems or half-cut branches. With 22 different spare parts available, you can keep these loppers in good working order almost forever. They may be more expensive than other loppers on this list, but they are built to last.

Although the manufacturer claims that the F-2s have a cutting capacity of one inch, this “capacity” depends on the strength of your hand. If you’re a weekend gardener and don’t spend a lot of time bending over with tension supports, you won’t be able to cut an inch branch, even if the scissors are wide enough to try.

When cutting softer plant materials like raspberry cane, the action can feel a little tacky, like the mechanism is locking up a bit, even when the cuts are clean. The lock is easy to close with the thumb, but opening with one hand can be tricky. Oddly enough, they did worse than Fiskars by cutting the plastic cover. Felcos has no special bells or whistles, such as adjustable handles or the ratchet function of ratchet cutters.

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Assessed staff will work in the heart of Cambridge, MA. Backed by our expert writers and rigorous testing labs, we work hard to make sure you make the right purchasing decisions.

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