Helpful Garden Tools for Beginning Gardeners

Ranked #12,351 in Home & Garden, #167,787 overall | Donates to Food for Everyone Foundation, Healthy Child Healthy World

The Tools You Want Before You Start Gardening

I'm a novice gardener and farmer learning to grow my own fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. What tools do I need? How do I know which tools to get and what kind of each? Is more expensive really better?

This winter I begin an apprenticeship with EarthDance FARMS, an organic learning farm and CSA located at the historical Mueller Organic Farm in St. Louis, Missouri. With the help of veteran farmers and gardeners I'll share the important tools for a beginning gardener or farmer including both required and particularly helpful garden tools. As the growing season continues and if applicable I'll add additional recommended tools for beginner gardeners and farmers.

P.S. This page supports The Food For Everyone Foundation: I made this page about gardening tips in support of The Food For Everyone Foundation nonprofit organization. If you buy anything or enjoy an ad on this page, you'll be making a donation to charity for free.

Countdown to Spring Equinox and the First Day of Spring

Spring Equinox and the First Day of Spring: March 20, 2012

Garden Tools

Stirrup or Circle Hoe

What To Look For: stainless, the longer the handle the better (standard size is 54 inches)

Pruners

What To Look For: stainless, replaceable blades, ergonomic, comfortable, properly sized, made to cut your wide plants or trees

Felco Pruner Essentiel Model 160S

Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

or 160L for large hands

Pruning Snip

What To Look For: ergonomic, light weight

Fiskars 9921 Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snip

Amazon Price: $6.91 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Tool Sheath / Holster

What To Look For: durable, includes both belt loop and clip

Felco F-910 Leather Holster for Pruning Shears

Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Pruner Sharpening Tool

Corona Clipper AC 8300 Sharpening Tool

Amazon Price: $5.97 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Bastard File

What To Look For: ergonomic, handle included or buy a handle separately

Digging Tool / Garden Knife

What To Look For: stainless, full tang, ergonomic

Kneeling Pad or Knee Pads

What To Look For: (kneeling pad) lightweight, a cushion large enough to double as a knee cushion and seat, (knee pads) comfortable, doesn't pinch the skin when squatting or kneeling

JMK 04150 Large Foam Knee Pad - 15-Inch x 12.5-Inch

Amazon Price: $8.31 (as of 05/27/2012)Buy Now

Tool Organizer and 5-Gallon Bucket

Bucket organizers allow for storing larger items in the bucket and for using the bucket as a seat for pruning taller plants

Fiskars 9424 Garden Bucket Caddy

Amazon Price: $9.82 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

(bucket sold separately)

Gardening Apparel

Gardening Gloves

well-made, not clunky, good fit, grippy

GLM48 Men's West County Gardener Landscape Gloves

Amazon Price: $31.99 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Waterproof Boots

sturdy, waterproof, hard sole

Cold Weather Work Pants or Overalls

Carhartt Duck Insulated Bib Overall Quilt Lined

Amazon Price: (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Warm Weather Work Pants or Overalls

Dickies Women's Denim Bib Overall

Amazon Price: (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Sun Hat

wide brimmed. light weight, neck cover a plus

Rain Gear

jacket and pants, waterproof or water resistant (depending on your willingness to garden in the rain)

Columbia Men's Watertight Jacket,Black, Charcoal,X-Large

Amazon Price: $69.95 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

Books

Gardening Books

Loading

Food Books

Loading

Calling all Green Thumbs

The Food for Everyone Foundation's mission is to teach and assist families everywhere to grow successful and sustainable vegetable gardens, and really enjoy the experience. This page supports that mission.

The Food for Everyone Book

If you buy a copy here, you're making a donation, for free!

Food For Everyone

Amazon Price: $89.05 (as of 05/28/2012)Buy Now

P.S. Make your own page for The Food for Everyone Gardening Club!



You're invited to make a free page about your favorite gardening secrets and successes.
Every page you make supports the Food for Everyone Foundation nonprofit organization.

Members, Give This Lens the Thumbs Up!

Not a member? What are you waiting for?! JOIN Squidoo now to "SquidLike" this lens or to CREATE your own lens on your favorite topic! And, if you really liked it, NOMINATE this lens for Squidoo's Lens of the Day!

This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.

Add this to your lens »

Find This Page Useful or Know Someone Who Would?

Bookmark and share it!

Add this to your lens »

Bookmark and Share

Reader Comments

Thanks for visiting my gardening page!

  • Inkhand Feb 2, 2012 @ 5:57 pm | delete
    A helpful lens for beginner gardeners about gardening tools.

About Me

Loading

by

ShandiGP

Hi! I'm Shandi, entrepreneur, writer, reader, barista, blogger (The Whole LIFE), vegetarian, environmentalist, feng shui practitioner, fancy rat and love... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!