Buying a home with a sizeable garden offers so many benefits. Having plenty of outside space adds value to your home and provides you with endless possibilities. Maybe you plan to use the space for your kids to run around and play. Perhaps you want to use it for your own leisure activities, so you can exercise in the privacy of your own outdoor space. You may choose to plant vegetables and aim to become self-sufficient. Or, you aspire to create a picture-perfect backyard that’s filled with beautiful plants and flowers. Whatever you plan to do with your outside space, one thing is certain: you’re going to need some gardening tools to maintain it. The problem is, there are so many different garden tools out there. Knowing which tools you actually need as a beginner gardener can feel overwhelming.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the six tools and gardening accessories that every gardener needs to keep their yard looking its best to help make shopping for tools a simple process.
1. Lawn Mower
For most gardens, the lawn covers the largest single expanse of the space, so if it’s not kept looking neat and tidy, it will be extremely noticeable. A long, unkempt lawn can leave your garden looking overgrown and unloved. This not only makes your outside space look bad, it also means that it’s unusable and negatively impacts your home’s curb appeal.
Grass grows superfast, so owning a lawn mower is a must to keep it at a tidy length. But choosing the right lawn mower is essential. Cordless lawn mowers are a great choice for mowing your lawn safely, without worrying about running over cables, and needing an extension lead to reach the whole garden. Just be sure to chck the estimated running time before you buy. If you have a large yard, you will need a more powerful battery-powered to mower to cut the grass in one go, without needing to recharge part way through.
2. Trowel
A trowel is one of the most basic pieces of gardening equipment, and one that will get lots of use. Trowels are handy for weeding, helping you to easily dislodge roots and free weeds from the ground. You will also need to use a trowel for planting in pots, flower beds, and containers.
As you’ll be using the trowel so often, it’s wise to choose one that’s designed to last and is comfortable to use. Choosing a trowel made from stainless steel is a good option to ensure that it doesn’t become rusty.
3. Leaf Blower
A garden is nothing without trees, shrubs, and bushes. However, having these in your garden or surrounding it can mean that there are a lot of leaves left lying around. These leaves can be a particular problem in the fall and after strong winds. Leaving them on the ground can create a slip hazard if the leaves become wet. Loose leaves can also blow into drains and gutters, causing blockages to occur.
Using a leaf blower is the most effective way to deal with this issue. Choosing the right leaf blower for your yard is a must, so it’s important to consider what you really want from your new garden tool. Cordless, lightweight leaf blowers are available if you have a smaller yard to clear, or want something that’s easy to move around. If you want to make the collection of the leaves easier, you could choose a leaf blower with a vacuum. This enables you to collect the leaves in a bag ready for mulching or disposal.
4. Secateurs
Another must-have tool for you to add to your collection is a pair of secateurs. Secateurs can be used to hand prune your plants, helping to remove dead stems and flower heads. Secateurs can also be used to keep the shape of your plants, ensuring that they stay looking neat and tidy.
It’s helpful to check which secateurs you’re most comfortable using before you buy them. Some varieties can be quite stiff to cut with, and choosing secateurs that are too large for your hands can make them uncomfortable to work with.
Once you’ve chosen your secateurs, you will need to ensure that you keep them sharpened so that they can cut cleanly.
5. Loppers
Secateurs are an essential garden tool for cutting plants and flowers that are within easy reach. However, when it comes to cutting taller, harder to reach plants, you will need to use loppers. Loppers have long handles with secateur-like blades at the end for cutting.
Long-handled loppers are ideal for trimming tall hedges and some trees. However, keep in mind that the long handles add extra weight to the tool. This extra weight can make them tricky to handle when you’re reaching up to trim, and this can make it harder to accurately cut the branches you’re aiming for. Choosing loppers with lightweight handles can help to eliminate this potential issue.
6. Gardening Gloves
Gardening can be a lot of fun when you get into the habit of doing it. However, it can also be messy, and cause a few health and safety issues. Keeping your hands covered with gardening gloves while you’re working in the yard is always advisable. This not only helps to keep your hands clean, but also protects them from issues such as scratches, cuts, and stings.
Choosing gardening gloves that are the right size for your hands is vital, as this will provide you with grip when you’re working with garden tools. Heavy-duty gardening gloves made from thicker material is advisable if you’re carrying out tasks such as pulling out stinging nettles, or trimming thorny plants, such as roses.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your backyard in the best order is the best way to ensure you can enjoy your outside space. However, it would be impossible to maintain your garden without the right tools and accessories to help you. So, it’s essential to consider your needs and choose the best tools for the job every time you garden.
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