10 Must-Have Tools for the Beginner Gardener
It may still be winter, but I am chomping at the bit for the arrival of the gardening season! The moment that the holidays are over, I’m pretty much done with the wicked cold of the winter months, and ready to enjoy some sunshine and warmth again (however, I’m never ready to be sweating in the intense heat of the summer!).
Though we’re not quite at the kick off gardening season just yet, seed starting time is thankfully just around the corner, and getting prepared for spring is also on my to-do list! If it’s your first time gardening, you may be wondering what tools and supplies you need to have ready to go in your kit – well, I’m here to help you out with that list today! Let’s jump in to my top 10 must-have tools for the beginner gardener.
01. Sun Hat | 02. Bypass Pruner | 03. Pliers (🇨🇦) | 04. Flower Snips | 05. Hori Hori Knife | 06. Canvas Overalls | 07. 3 Prong Cultivator | 08. Rubber Boots | 09. Gardener’s Tool Belt | 10. Garden Bag
01. SUN HAT
I think this kind of goes without saying, but protecting yourself from the sun is vital when spending any time outdoors, and gardening is no exception. Obviously, sunscreen is always top of mind, but protecting the top of your head, and additional protection for your face & neck is ideal as well!
02. BYPASS PRUNER
If you’ve got thicker, stalky plants in your garden, or, you’re wanting to clear out your garden bed of the out-of-season or dead crops, keeping a bypass pruner on hand is ideal. These are also a great option for taking cuttings off of bushes like hydrangeas, since you’re cutting through wood, and not a stem.
03. PLIERS
On occasion, you’ll find yourself needing pliers in the garden. I personally have needed them for things like handling chicken wire, or even getting netting installed over the beds.
04. FLOWER SNIPS
A fine-point, small set of flower snips are perfect for when you’re harvesting florals, or even some fruits and vegetables as these aren’t as large or heavy-duty as bypass pruners. I highly recommend keeping a small container of rubbing alcohol on hand to sanitize your blades between cuttings to ensure no spread of disease should any of your crops have any illnesses that can be spread through the blades.
05. HORI HORI KNIFE
I am truly obsessed with my hori hori knife, and I think it is my number one must have item on this list! This is perfect for cutting through tough plant roots, thick stems and everything in between.
06. CANVAS OVERALLS
Having a high-quality, heavy-duty set of overalls that can handle long term wear and tear is ideal. Plus, most of these types of overalls are designed to hold some of your tools, keeping them close by (just, maybe don’t put an unsheathed hori hori knife in the pocket…). If you don’t want to invest in a workwear set of overalls immediately, I highly suggest checking out a local thrift store for something affordable that you don’t necessarily care about keeping in pristine condition.
I personally love to have a 3 prong cultivator in my immediate tool set, as it’s great for effectively and quickly loosening up the top layers of soil at the start of the gardening season, making the soil easier to work when planting seedlings.
08. RUBBER BOOTS
I think this one explains itself, no? Having some rubber boots (or even a pair of work boots, or Blundstones – something you don’t mind getting dirty) for the garden is essential. Please, do not wear sandals in the garden!!!
This is definitely more for gardeners with a larger plot of land, but anyone like me who likes to keep a handful of tools close by benefit from a gardener’s tool belt. I personally hate lugging around my garden bag with me from place-to-place, so having items like flower snips, my bypass pruner and even a pencil in my pocket & easy to grab is perfect!
10. GARDEN BAG
Last, but certainly not least – you obviously need a bag to store all of your gear in! Between cultivators, pencils, plant markers, trowels and everything in between, you collect a lot of tools & supplies to use in your garden, and having a bag to store everything in is essential. It doesn’t need to be extra fancy, but lots of pockets is my preference!
There you have it! My top 10 must-have items for the gardening season. I know at least one person is thinking “no gloves?” and nope, I’m one of those people who enjoys just sticking my hands in the dirt But if gloves are a must-have for you, by all means, go for it! Let me know in the comments below what some of your must have gardening tools are!
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