TOOLS FOR NEW GARDENERS - OAKVILLE HOMES

What tools do gardeners really need, that they can't really garden without? If you are just beginning in gardening, use this checklist to go shopping for your first set of tools. Then add more tools as you feel the need for them. Depending on your budget and the amount of time you spend gardening, you can make do with very few, or expand your collection to a large number of specialized tools. This checklist is broken into basic gardening tasks. Include the tools under a task if you will be doing that task. For instance, you can't have a lawn without mowing it, but if you don't have a lawn, you don't need a lawnmower.

Lawn
Lawnmower
Edger
Leaf rake (if leaves fall on the lawn)

Planting (vegetables or flowers)
Shovel
Trowel
Garden rake
Hoe

Pruning (trees and shrubs)
Hand shears
Loppers

Watering
Hose with a spray nozzle or a watering can (depending on how much watering you will be doing)

You will also need containers for moving things around. Depending on your needs, these might include a garden cart or wheelbarrow, buckets, garbage cans, nursery flats, or tubs.

You will also need containers for moving things around. Depending on your needs, these might include a garden cart or wheelbarrow, buckets, garbage cans, nursery flats, or tubs.

Selecting Garden Tools
When you shop for garden tools, keep two rules in mind:

Buy the best you can afford. Before you do anything else, determine the tool's quality. A truly excellent tool is made by skilled craftspeople out of superior materials. This usually means it is more expensive and generally is made from a heavier weight material. Since good tools can last for several decades they are a good investment and will ultimately save you money.

Don't buy what you don't need. A 20x20-foot garden doesn't need a large rotary tiller. And even if you do need a tool that's large or that has a special function, you may need it only once or twice a year. If so, your best bet is to rent it, particularly when dealing with large and expensive machinery (e.g., rotary tillers, ditch diggers, or powered tree-spraying equipment). The rental cost is only a fraction of the purchase price; in addition, you don't have to maintain, repair, or store that piece of equipment while it sits idle for most out of the year.

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