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Whether you have a naturally green thumb or are a novice gardener, having the right tools on hand is essential to smooth, pain-free gardening. According to Sassandra Roche, co-owner of the farm, proven fixed assets such as hand trowels, spades and shovels are designed to reduce the physical stress and effort of watering, planting, pruning, mulching and weeding. , preschool and kindergarten in Orleans, Massachusetts.
OPEN NEXT Our Top Pick |: Best Amazon Garden Tools 2023
Related: Want to upgrade your garden hose this year? These expertly rated and recommended socks and accessories are worth the investment.
The Roche family has been running the farm since 1974, and over the years traditional equipment has become more adjustable, versatile, lightweight, durable and ergonomic to keep you and your garden healthy and strong.
Below is an overview of the best gardening tools that are ergonomic, versatile, durable and currently available for purchase on Amazon.
Our top picks
How we chose the best gardening tools
We asked Roche what to look for when shopping for garden supplies and compiled a list of the most popular options on Amazon based on the following factors:
Life expectancy . Roche says garden tools should typically last at least 10 years with continuous use. Ideally, they should be rust-resistant, easy to clean and made of durable materials such as steel and hardwood.
Gardening takes time, so lugging a heavy sock or shovel will eventually lead to muscle and back fatigue and strain, says Roche. He recommends looking for lightweight tools without sacrificing durability.
Convenience . The days of squatting, stretching and straining are over when there are so many ergonomic products on the market, says Roche. He recommends looking for thick, long-sleeved gloves to avoid cuts and scrapes, extra-thick padded knee pads, long tools to avoid stress on your back, and hand tools with a comfortable, ergonomic grip.
Skill . any multi-tool is ideal, says Roche. For example, he recommends buying a hand trowel with a serrated edge so you can also cut off the roots.
The Best Amazon Garden Tools of 2023
We have selected the following items based on recommendations from Roche experts. All our models are characterized by high strength, durability and comfort.
Practical pruning gloves
Average rating: 4.7 stars from over 6,000 reviews on Amazon.
According to Roche, gloves are the most important garden tool. "Gloves make work more enjoyable and protect hands from blisters, rashes, cuts and bites." She recommends washable long-sleeve gloves to protect your forearm when pruning things like roses and evergreens. These pruning gloves are breathable and made from 100% genuine pigskin, with extra padding on the palm and fingertips to prevent punctures, according to the brand. Plus, they are machine washable.
Practical pruning gloves
Handy $ Pruning Gloves at Amazon
Handlandy $ Pruning Gloves at Handlandy
Fiskars Bypass secateurs
Average rating: 4.7 stars from over 38,000 reviews on Amazon.
The bypass pruner has two blades that slide side by side to cleanly cut branches and leaves. Roche recommends looking for rust-resistant scissors with a soft, comfortable handle. Fiskars Bypass secateurs are made of stainless steel and can cut stems and small branches up to 5/8" thick, depending on the brand. The blades are also coated to prevent liquids from sticking to them, according to Fiskars.
Fiskars Bypass secateurs
Fiskars bypasses $ pruners on Amazon
Fiskars Bypass Secateurs $ in stock
Hand trowel with two teeth SE
Average rating: 4.7 stars from over 6900 reviews on Amazon.
According to Roche, garden tools with a multifunctional design are always a plus. This hand trowel not only turns the soil, but also has serrated edges on both sides to cut hard ends, rocky clay and tough roots. It has a 12" carbon steel blade so it won't break or bend when you're digging, according to the brand. Plus, its oversized non-slip rubber grip provides comfort, and it also comes with a carrying case that can be attached to a belt, like on the brand's website listed.
Hand trowel with two teeth SE
Double Notched Hand Spatula SE$ at Amazon
Radius Garden Spade Root Killer
Average rating: 4.8 stars from over 5,000 reviews on Amazon.
Like the trowel above, this backhoe is also a versatile tool. Its inverted V-shaped blade digs through compacted, rocky soil with ease, while its serrated edges tear through tough roots. Its ergonomic round handle is also designed to reduce stress on the hand and wrist. Additionally, the impact-resistant, scratch- and impact-resistant carbon steel blade is powder-coated for corrosion resistance, according to Radius Garden. It also has a lifetime warranty in the continental United States.
Radius Garden Spade Root Killer
Garden shovel Fiskars
Average rating: 4.7 stars from over 7,800 reviews on Amazon.
Shovels are flat-edged and great for creating curbs or moving dirt, says Roche, who recommends long handles so you can dig deep without straining your back. At less than 5 pounds, the Fiskars Garden Spade is quite light. It has a blade and shaft of weather and corrosion resistant steel that suits even tall gardeners. The large handle provides two-handed control while digging and has a footrest so you can push the blade into the ground, according to the brand.
Garden shovel Fiskars
grandfather grass
Average rating: 4.5 stars from over 38,000 reviews on Amazon.
This bamboo weeder has a 45" shaft so gardeners can pull weeds without bending over, kneeling or yanking their arms. It works by pushing a metal claw into the center of the weed and pulling it out. According to the brand, you can use it on softer ground, especially after rain.
grandfather grass
Hand Rake Garden Guru
The average rating is 4.7 stars from over 700 reviews on Amazon.
Hand rakes are ideal for removing debris and leaves from hard-to-reach areas and delicate plants, according to Roche. You can also use it to till, turn and loosen the soil in preparation for planting flowers and vegetables. This rake from Garden Guru weighs less than a pound and features stainless steel teeth that gently remove branches, leaves and other debris from plants without damaging them. The ergonomic handle is designed to reduce pressure on the palm and fingers and reduce hand and wrist fatigue. It also has a hole in the handle so you can hang it up when not in use.
Hand Rake Garden Guru
Garden Guru $Hand Rake at Amazon
Garden Guru $ Hand Rake at Walmart
Tabor Tools Adjustable Metal Rake
Average rating: 4.6 stars from over 1,700 reviews on Amazon.
A traditional rake is essential for any gardener to clear leaves, grass clippings and other small debris from the lawn. The versatility of this Tabor Tools model makes it unique. The rake plates can extend from 8" to 23" and lock into place at any width. The slim profile allows you to clean hard-to-reach places, such as under hedges or between flower beds, without the use of a hand rake. It also has a telescoping steel handle that folds from 63 inches to 32 inches, making it easier to hold. Its teeth are made of galvanized steel, so according to the brand they are also resistant to rust and corrosion.
Tabor Tools Adjustable Metal Rake
Tabor Tools Adjustable Metal Rake $ at Amazon
Martha Stewart Culti-3" Telescopic Digger
Average rating: 4.2 stars from over 2,400 reviews on Amazon.
We featured this three-pronged spade-cultivator hybrid in our guide to basic gardening tools. The dual design allows for a variety of tasks including weeding, composting, straw mulching, picking up debris and loosening the soil. Gardeners can use one side of the tool for preparing beds and weeding, and the other side for digging holes for plants. Additional bonus. handle extends up to 35 inches to reduce back strain.
Martha Stewart Culti-3" Telescopic Digger
Martha Stewart Culti-How Telescopic 3-Pong $ at Amazon
Martha Stewart $3 Culti-Telescopic Hoe at Walmart
Flexzilla garden hose
Average rating: 4.5 stars from over 34,000 reviews on Amazon.
"There is nothing more frustrating than carrying a heavy hose that always bends when you try to pour water," says Roche, adding that the ideal weight for any standard hose is under 15kg. This 100-foot hose, the longest in the Flexzilla line, weighs 14.4 pounds and is featured in our guide to the best garden hoses. It does not come loose under pressure, spins easily and is smooth as per the brand. Its exterior is abrasion-resistant, Flexzilla says, and the aluminum hardware is pressure-resistant.
Flexzilla garden hose
Single digit timer for irrigation hose
Average rating: 4.5 stars from over 4,300 reviews on Amazon.
If you don't have a sprinkler system or just want to put your irrigation on autopilot, a timer can be your best friend. This battery-operated hour timer has a large easy-to-read display and connects directly to the hoses. Screw one end of the hose to the faucet and the other end to the sprinkler and set the desired operating time. It can run for up to four hours at a time, and you can schedule it to activate anywhere from every six hours to once every seven days. It also has a manual shut-off button so you can use the hose without removing the timer.
Single digit timer for irrigation hose
Single Link Orbital Snake Timer at Amazon
Aqua Joe adjustable metal hose nozzle
Average rating: 4.6 stars from over 2,400 reviews on Amazon.
This adjustable nozzle is placed at the end of the hose and provides different water pressure. Roche says flowering plants need a gentler spray than shrubs. He recommends looking for a nozzle that has multiple spray patterns and is light, like this one from Aqua Joe. The attachment has seven spray types: jet, shower, flat, central, cone, suction and mist, which you can adjust by swiping your thumb up or down on the ergonomic rubber handle, depending on the brand.
Aqua Joe adjustable metal hose nozzle
Aqua Joe $ Adjustable Metal Hose Spout at Amazon
Adjustable Metal Hose Plug Aqua Joe $ home depot
Monte Verde Lake
Average rating: 4.5 stars from over 6,700 reviews on Amazon.
Like a garden hose, the watering can also has adjustable pressure settings that can be used to water your lawn, shrubs and flowers. Available in 16" and 24" sizes, this rod is made of lightweight aluminum and can reach hanging baskets and planters. It has lots of holes and curves that mimic a shower head, as well as a clip that keeps the nozzle open so you can spray water repeatedly without tiring your hands.
Monte Verde Lake
Green Mountain Watering Stick $ at Amazon
Home & Garden Trends Garden Elbow & Seat
Average rating: 4.7 stars from over 2,600 reviews on Amazon.
According to Roche, knee pads are great for taking stress off the body while gardening. You can immediately kneel on this multifunctional model or use it as a garden seat. It comes with a tool bag that attaches to the chair so you have everything you need when you need it. The cushion is made of foam, and since the lap seat weighs only 5.7 kg, it's not too difficult to move around the garden.
Home & Garden Trends Garden Elbow & Seat
Home & Garden Trends Garden Kneelers & Seats $ at Amazon
Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket
Average rating: 4.9 stars from over 1200 reviews on Amazon.
If you have a vegetable garden, this basket will make it easier not only to harvest, but also to clean. One side is a colander for washing food (it has drainage holes so water can drain); the other is for you clean utensils or freshly washed food to sit or soak.
Fiskars Garden Harvest Basket
Fiskars Garden $ Harvest Basket at Amazon
Related: Secateurs are a handy way to prune plants and prune damaged stems; Experts share their favorites for the gardening season.
What should be considered when creating a garden?
When designing a garden for the first time, the following five considerations are important according to Roche:
Choose the right place. Choosing a location for your garden is an important first step, according to Roche. You should consider how much sunlight your plants need and make sure your location is close to a water source.
Plants that need "full sun" need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day; plants that need partial sun, also called partial shade, need three to six hours of sun per day, while those that grow in full shade need less than three hours of direct sunlight per day. Vegetable gardens tend to need bright, sunny spots, while ferns and some hostas, also called figs, do well in shade.
Be realistic about your time. According to Roche, sometimes people take on too big a project and fail. "Starting with a pot or planter is a good first step, especially if you don't water or garden at home," she says. “Gardening requires an hour of your time every day, no less, hanging baskets only take 15 minutes.
Don't overdo it. According to Roche, the best practice is to water directly into the root zone. "If you have a sunny spot, make sure you water it well, let it dry and then water it again," he says.
Focus on one area at a time. Roche recommends starting on the side of the road or, if you're working from home, outside the window you're looking out of.
Click on available resources. The National Horticultural Society website offers tips for getting started and improving skills, and helps gardeners connect and share ideas with each other. They also have a database of over 700,000 plants that includes sun requirements, water requirements and more.
What are the biggest benefits of gardening?
According to Roche, gardening is like therapy and can relieve stress. "Gardening involves many senses: touch, touch, smell," she says. It also increases physical activity and develops social bonds; "Especially during Covid, parents taught their kindergartens and this will pass."
Meet an expert
At Select we work with experts who have specific knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are provided independently and without hidden financial conflicts of interest.
Sasandra Roche has co-owned The Farm, a family nursery and garden in Orleans, Massachusetts since 1974.
Why rely on Choice?
Barbara Booth has written a series of guides on the best selling and most popular products you can buy on Amazon that make your life easier, including the best organizational products for your home, the best car accessories and the best accessories for a good trip. For this article, Barbara interviewed a gardening expert and looked at dozens of the most popular tools on Amazon that follow the experts' recommendations.
GARDEN
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