My goal with Gardenette is to simplify gardening for everyone. This principle extends to the tools - none require electricity and all neatly fit on one shelf.

Yard sales, garage sales, and estate sales are a great place to get good deals. Take the tools to a place you can get the blades sharpened (most communities have one locally-owned hardware stores a great place to start) and you're off to the races. Any (or all) of these tools would make a great housewarming gift for a first time home owner.

My favorite gardening tools

The Small(ish) Shovel. Also known as a floral shovel. Let's start with my all time, number one, most-used, MVP etc. etc. This looks like your normal garden shovel but the blade is actually smaller—only about six to seven inches wide. I use this for everything! It's great for precision digging and can cut through roots in the ground. I have a regular sized garden shovel but hardly use it. If you see one of these, buy one!

The Root Slayer. This tool is amazing at cutting through existing roots to dig a new hole. We had two massive trees removed from our backyard and we’ve been plagued with the root system left behind. The serrated sides of this tool cut through roots, making it MASSIVELY easier for someone (me) who doesn’t have a ton of upper body strength.

Pruning Shears. The scissors of the garden. Great for cutting flowers, pruning small branches, and anything else that requires small precise cuts. Like any cutting tool, regular maintenance is key - having your pruning shears professionally resharpened every 2-3 years will ensure clean cuts that promote healthy plant growth and extend the life of your tool.

Pruning Saw. This one is great for getting hard to reach branches deep in the middle of shrubs and small branches of trees. Would a chainsaw be quicker? Yes. Am I afraid of chainsaws? Also yes. So please consider this safer, cheaper alternative.

Action Hoe. Also known as a "stirrup hoe" (though I love the action-packed imagery of the former name). This tool will change your life. Buy one of these and kiss weeding on your hands and knees goodbye. The movement is similar to a rake- run it over the weeds you want to dig up and it pulls them right out of the earth. Its sharp blade effortlessly slices through soil just below the surface, cutting weed roots while leaving your garden beds' structure intact. Perfect for maintaining larger areas like vegetable gardens or flower beds, this tool transforms what used to be hours of tedious work into a quick and satisfying task that you can do while standing comfortably.

Bypass Loppers. These are great for cutting bigger branches. They come in different sizes for different cut ranges (the maximum diameter of a branch that can be cut). My pair goes up to two inches and I use the pruning saw for anything bigger.

Garden Trowel. If you have a choice, go for the narrower blade. This is a great tool for when you're planting in pots or fitting annuals in around your existing landscaping.

The Importance of Sharp Tools

Professional tool sharpening is one of those maintenance tasks that separates the seasoned gardeners from the folks who buy new pruners every spring. While you might not notice your tools gradually becoming as dull as a neighborhood council meeting, you'll be stunned at how much easier gardening becomes once they're properly sharpened. Most hardware stores will resurrect your tools for about $10-15 each - less than replacing them after you've mangled them beyond recognition. Get your most-used tools sharpened annually, ideally in late winter before the growing season begins. Even those premium tools you invested in will eventually lose their edge, just like everything else in life.

The Importance of Neon Tape

For those of you who've spent more time hunting for dropped tools than actually gardening, here's a solution so obvious it hurts: wrap a small piece of neon tape around each handle. Yes, it ruins the artisanal look of your hand-forged Japanese pruners, but so does leaving them to rust under a hydrangea for three months. That fluorescent orange or yellow stripe means you can spot your trowel from twenty paces, even after it's been abandoned in a panic during a surprise wasp encounter. Call it garden tool surveillance if you must, but it beats having to replace your entire collection every season because your "I'll remember where I put it" filing system has failed yet again.

Conclusion

Having a small cache of essential garden tools can make a big difference in maintaining a beautiful garden without cluttering your space with unnecessary gadgets. By focusing on the basics and ensuring your tools are clean and sharp, you not only save time and energy but also promote the health and growth of your plants. Remember, quality over quantity is key when it comes to gardening tools, so invest in a few reliable pieces and take good care of them for a thriving garden all year round.