Best Garden Tools

Good Quality, Easy to Use

There are a million different tools out there for a thousand uses, but how do you choose the ones that will suit you and your gardening style?

I look for used gardening tools in auctions, garage sales and junk shops - the best quality ones still have a lot of use left in them, and usually they're very economical.

The hand tools that most people make the mistake of buying in a cheaper model are shovels, pruners and rakes.

Then they have to replace them, sooner rather than later.  The place the shovel will break is right where the handle meets the blade - most often because gardeners, being impatient, will use it as a pry bar.

• Good quality spades, shovels and rakes are welded, not riveted, and have rolled edges in the case of the spade and shovel.
• Sturdy hardwood handles should be attached in a way that doesn't allow any movement of the handle and blade or rake head.
• The more expensive a tool is, the heavier it seems to be.  Sometimes this is a good way to determine the quality, although balance is a better way to choose - make sure the tool is the right length for you to use comfortably.
  

Here are more detailed pages about specific tools for using in the garden;