Whether you're an experienced gardener or just a green thumb, having the right tools on hand can make or break your gardening experience.
To help you keep your yard looking its best this spring, we spoke with horticulturist and Trees for Life volunteer president Mark Cullen to learn about ten gardening tools you can't afford.
From hand pruners to gardening gloves and everything in between, read on for ten gardening tools that are always worth investing in.
1. Square mouth blade
Cullen explains that a square-mouth garden spade "is much more versatile than a spade." "The reason [this tool] is my first is because it can do everything a blade can do and more." Cullen says it's "fantastic" for digging holes, planting plants, submerging perennials and more. “The blade does it all, the square mouth blade and more. Your name!"
A favorite of Canadian Band reviewers, this version features a durable steel head and a weather-resistant lacquered ash handle. With an average rating of 4.4 stars, customers call it a "great little shovel" and say it performs "extraordinarily" in the park and outdoors.
$30 on a Canadian tire
2. Trace of leaves
Leaf rakes are "very useful in the spring when you're clearing debris from the surface of your yard," Cullen told Yahoo Canada . It is "extremely useful" for cleaning up winter debris, clearing grass patches and lifting "blades" after the snow melts.
This sturdy wooden fan has a 52-inch handle and 22 hardened steel grooves that easily collect leaves and debris in its path.
$23 in home hardware
3. Hand clipper
"Hand pruners are very useful for many things," explains Cullen. "Number one. cut flowers to bring inside. Hand shears on a log are child's play. One horticulturist advises that if you're cutting something the size of your little finger, "hand pruners will do the job better."
Based on over 20,000 reviews, these Amazon's Choice hand pruners are made of high quality titanium steel and have ergonomic non-slip handles. Amazon buyers "like the grip" and the finishes "mark everything."
$20 to $35 on Amazon
4. Bastard sheet
A bastard file is "a heavy metal file," along with any tool that requires a "sharp edge," according to Cullen — a pick and shovel.
Ideal for sharpening knives, scissors and saws, this Mastercraft file features unique teeth for a smooth finish and an ergonomic handle for a comfortable grip.
$10 on a Canadian tire
5. Hard rake
Cullen says a hard rake is "really good" for leveling the soil, removing debris from the soil and leveling the mulch. A new Canadian Garden writer tells Yahoo Canada that a hard rake is "really useful" in the garden. "I won't go to the vegetable garden without a hard rake to level the soil before I plant a row of vegetables," he says. "A hard footprint does the best job."
Trusted by Canadian Tire customers, this Yardworks rake features a hardened steel head for strength and durability. According to one reviewer, it is "robust and reliable."
$28 on a Canadian tire
6. Long handle blade
Simply put, "everyone needs a shovel," says Cullen. There is no "substitute for a good, sharp shovel" for moving soil. Cullen, volunteer president of Trees for Life, recommends "sharpening" the blade with a wheel and then keeping it sharp with a file.
This long-handled round tip blade has a 57-inch fiberglass shaft and an ergonomic handle with two-hand grips. According to a Canadian Tire customer, it's "probably the cheapest blade you can get."
$30 to $35 on Canadian tires
7. Garden fork
Garden forks are "really great" if you're moving plants around your garden and "don't want to mess up the roots too much". If you want to lift and move a plant, Cullen recommends not using a spade or spade, but "use a garden fork." Plus, it's "fantastic" for composting.
These garden forks have four 10-inch steel tines that break through hard soil and clay with ease. The wooden D-handle provides support, comfort and control when digging, turning and aerating the soil.
$30 in home hardware
8. Long spatula
Cullen says a good quality palette is worth the investment. "If you have a cheap little trill, you're probably going to hit three, four or five times more" than with a big, high-quality paddle. “It saves you a lot of time and work and a lot more fun,” he told Yahoo Canada .
This 22-inch long handle spatula has a powder-coated steel head and a tubular steel handle with a plastic handle. "This tool allows for versatility and is my favorite tool for making small holes," wrote one Home Hardware reviewer.
$10 with home equipment
9. Waterproof gardening gloves.
Waterproof gardening gloves are "fantastic" when you need to be on the ground and have a "tactile experience," says Cullen. The avid gardener says he keeps a few in "every corner of [his] garden and every garden shed," so he never has to "walk too far to get them, unless they're already in [his] bag." .
These garden gloves are waterproof, partly made from recycled plastic bottles and white goat leather. These "well-fitting" gloves are "tough enough for any [type] of gardening," writes one customer. Plus, "they are very comfortable to wear for a long time."
$10 on $ 20 Canadian tires
10. Garden hose
"The difference between a cheap garden hose and a quality garden hose is really the difference between a tricycle and a Mercedes," explains Cullen. "It's so dramatic." While a cheap garden hose doesn't come off, doesn't tear easily and doesn't seal well, a quality garden hose behaves like real rubber and "will last a lifetime," he says.
Tested by Canadian Tire, this premium polymer garden hose will not crack under pressure, has no memory and has an operating pressure of 150 psi. "This is the best tube I've ever had," says one customer. "There are no knots, the rollers are very good [and] quality."
$80 on a Canadian tire
The reviews above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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Originally posted
