The Only Tools You Really Need to Start a Garden Now
Stock up on these basics for your garden shed.
A large oversize soapstone sink designed by Rosney Co. turns the dogtrot between the garage and back door into a beautiful, utilitarian space. “It’s a great place to arrange flowers or to wash up before going inside,” says Rosney Co.
If you've been dreaming of turning your yard into a colorful cottage garden but don't know where to begin, we've got a punch list of basic garden tools to stock up on so you are ready for everything in your garden.
The Essentials
The Southern Living Garden Book — Before you purchase anything else, get this indispensable guide written by our Grumpy Gardener that details everything and anything having to do with Southern gardening. What to grow; common Southern garden problems; garden zone maps -- it's going to answer the questions that you don't even realize that you'll be having soon.
Gloves – Get the most lightweight pair you can find so your hands won’t get too hot.
Soil – In gardening you can never have enough potting soil. Be careful and read the bags carefully some types are formulated for container gardens while others are for garden beds.
Hose – Watering is key in the garden and you will get tired of making refill trips inside to your kitchen faucet.
Watering can – Your hose can only reach so far and sometimes your flowers need a light watering rather than a drench. Invest in a lightweight can that you can carry easily.
Pots – You will need an assortment of sizes and there’s a vast variety out there. When in doubt, always go for simple terracotta and you can’t go wrong.
Digging Tools
Round-Point Shovel – The classic shovel that you picture. This is for loosening soil in the ground or for transporting soil from either a pile or a wheelbarrow. It’s also your go-to for digging holes.
Garden Spade – A shovel with a straight edge, this prepares soil for planting and digs narrow, straight-sided trenches.
Spading Fork – Picture a pitch-fork. This is great for loosening and turning soil, working with manure, or turning compost.
Soil Rake – Like a sturdy metal rake, this breaks of clods of dirt, levels the soil, tamps seedbeds to make them firm, and works amendments into the top few inches of a planting bed.
Trowel – Imagine a pocket sized shovel. This is for planting and for scooping and transferring soil or fertilizer from bags.
Cutting Tools
Hedge Shears – These are longer clippers designed to shear coarse-leaved hedges, such as ligustrum, holly, cleyera, bougainvillea, or photinia
Light Hedge Shears – Slightly smaller and sharper clippers that are for trimming fine-leaved hedges like boxwood, lavender, and rosemary
Professional Scissors – Small clippers for snipping herbs like basil, thyme, and rosemary
Hand Pruner – Short, but thick clippers for cutting branches and stems throughout your garden and for other all purpose pruning.
Long Straight Snip – A sturdy cross between scissors and a hand pruner that’s designed to clip flowers for arrangements.
Lopper – Long handled clippers to prune branches that are less than 1.5-inches in diameter.
Are you worried that you commit a mortal garden sin? No fear, the Grumpy Gardener has you covered with his snarky answers.