New gardeners may not know where to begin given the vast selection of
garden tools out there, but here are some essentials.
1. Gloves
Protect your hands from blisters, itchy rashes, dirt, and prickly weeds with a good pair of gloves.
2. Loppers and Pruning Shears
Loppers are for lopping off larger branches and shrubs. Pruning shears are useful for more detailed pruning on stems and branches of smaller diameters. Both of these garden tools make clean cuts that reduce the chance of disease and stress for the remaining plant.
3. Hand Trowel
A trowel looks like a small shovel, and it's incredibly helpful for planting flowers and pulling up intact roots in the
nursery.
4. Kneeler Bench or Pad
Like gloves, a kneeler may not initially come to mind when people think of "garden tools," but a pad or bench for kneeling can substantially reduce back strain while gardening.
5. Watering or Rain Wand
Watering the soil is common sense, but new gardeners can underestimate the impact of water erosion caused by using a hose without an attachment. By breaking up the water stream into smaller droplets, a wand or other attachment protects young plants and seedlings from the destructive force of disproportionate water impacts.
Power tools are great for reducing labor on a medium-sized or larger garden, but these five essential tools will help novice gardeners find their green thumb.
