All of the Basic Tools You Should Keep in Your Garden

We’ve gathered the essential tools that any gardener, regardless of skill, should keep handy.

Written by Sunset Editorial March 24, 2021

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While gardening is a primitive skill, in essence, tools have always been used to plant, harvest, and maintain the land. We aren’t necessarily suggesting an ancient-style obsidian hand ax (though it is an option), but a few basic tools will make your planting, weeding, and harvesting that much easier.

Our Favorite Basic Garden Tools

1 of 6Courtesy of Atlas Gloves

Showa Atlas NT370 Nitrile Garden Gloves

Like our favorite garden beverages, Showa Atlas nitrile garden gloves come in six-packs — if you lose a pair in the bushes or leave them out in the rain, you’ve always got a fresh pair to spare.

Showa Atlas NT370 Nitrile Garden Gloves (6-pack), $21.95
2 of 6E. Spencer Toy

Tubtrugs Small 10 Tub

We use the flexible, 3.5-gallon Tubtrug for everything, from carrying tools and soil to carting clippings to the compost pile.

Tubtrugs Small 10 Tub, $11
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3 of 6E. Spencer Toy

Radius Garden Hand Tools

These essentials come in bright colors that are as easy on the eyes as the tools are on your muscles.

Radius Garden Hand Tools, from $10
4 of 6E. Spencer Toy

Toolite Round Point Shovel

Muddy clay soil sticks to most shovels. But it slides right off this perforated one, which makes big digging tasks a cinch.

Toolite 49501#2 Round Point Shovel, $75
5 of 6Courtesy of Amazon

Flexzilla Garden Lead-In Hose

It’s flexible yet durable, kink resistant and virtually leak-proof—no wonder it has more than 4,000 five-star reviews. It even stays flexible in cold weather.

Flexzilla Garden Lead-in Hose, $28
6 of 6Courtesy of Amazon

UpBloom Harvesting and Weeding Apron

Enjoy hands-free harvesting and weeding with this easy-to-wear gardening apron. Don’t worry about dropping or mishandling any of the crops you spent so long nurturing by storing them in this waist level pouch.

UpBloom Harvesting Apron, $30
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