Gardening Tools Useful for Common Gardening DIY Projects

It can sometimes be difficult choosing the right gardening tools for different gardening projects. There are potentially many tools, equipment, and gadgets at your disposal. Whether you are looking for gardening tools for beginners or just looking to refine your current tool setup, there are many different tools you can choose from to set yourself up for success with your next gardening DIY idea.

1) Garden Trowel: The trowel is a useful tool for many gardening projects, like potting plants, transferring plants, planting seeds, digging up weeds, in addition to many other uses. These small shovels can come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and metals. The trowel can be a go-to tool for many because of its usefulness for many different kinds of gardening projects. 

2) Garden Fork: The garden fork, whether it's a large one or a handheld fork, is another essential tool used for gardening. This tool is generally used to till and aerate soil to improve soil quality. They can also  be used for projects that involve breaking up hard soil and mixing in fertilizer. Specific areas in your yard or garden may be more prone to harsh sunlight and drying out. For situations like these, the garden fork can be an essential tool for improving your soil, because it can be helpful for breaking up tough soil and for mixing in new nutrients. 

3) Garden Shears: The garden shears are another tool useful for a wide array of gardening projects. The garden shears are primarily used for pruning branches or stems off of plants, or they can be used for shaping different plants on your landscape, such as shrubs, trees, and large plants. Some shears may also come in a spring-powered snipping design, which can make snipping more convenient and ergonomic than traditional scissors. Other versions of the garden shears may also come with a safety switch. In order to use the safety switch, simply flick it into the locked position. This will prevent the shears from snipping accidentally when they are not in use. 

4) Wheelbarrow: This simple piece of equipment provides an easy way to transfer stones, soil, or other project materials across your yard. For larger landscaping projects, a wheelbarrow might be necessary so you can efficiently transfer heavy materials without exerting too much effort. Whether you are making a new garden bed, or if you are just cleaning up yard waste, wheelbarrows can save you a lot of extra effort. 

5) Lawnmower: Whether it be a gas-powered or battery-powered lawnmower, or even a simple manual mower, lawn mowers are an essential tool for maintaining your lawn's health. Regularly trimming your lawn can also be important for preventing different bugs and pests from moving in too. Lastly, depending on the project, lawn mowers can even be used for chopping up small leaves or plant material for composting. 

6) Garden Loppers: When it comes to pruning larger plants or even trees, loppers are a handy tool for any gardener. Loppers combine leverage with your own natural arm strength to make quick work of thick, stubborn branches. Pruning can be important for maintaining the health of your plants or it can even be done to shape the structure of your plants. Either way, loppers are a reliable and effective tool when it comes to pruning.

7) Garden Waste Bin: Waste bins are another important piece of equipment useful for gardening and outdoor projects. These bins can be used for gathering pruned branches or other yard waste. They can also be used for collecting fallen leaves or you can even use them as composting bins. Like many of the other tools or equipment listed above, waste bins are a simple tool but they can have many uses for gardening.

8) Garden Rake: There are typically two conventional approaches for cleaning up fallen leaves. The first is to use rakes and the other is to use a leaf blower. After leaves are gathered into piles, the leaves can then be transported into paper bags or waste bins, or you can set them aside for composting projects. This is a process that many homeowners are familiar with. However, if you are looking to make the best use of your time, you may want to consider having two or more rakes. A smaller, handheld rake can be useful for reaching hard to reach places, like leaves in a small gardening bed or for getting under hard to reach places.

9) Spade Shovel: The spade shovel is another common tool used in many landscaping projects. The simple but useful spade shape allows the tool to break into tough soil. Whether you want to plant shrubs or small trees, or perform other kinds of digging, the spade shovel is sure to aid you in your efforts. Spade shovels can come in many kinds of materials, such as stainless steel or lighter metal alloys. The spade shovel can be key to any gardening or landscaping arsenal.

There are a lot of different tools at a gardener's disposal, and using the right tools can make projects faster, easier, and more convenient. A garden trowel can make a difficult potting project simple, and garden loppers can make quick work of stubborn branches. Whether you are new to gardening, or experienced, having the right gardening tools will set you up for success with your next gardening DIY project.