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.