Gardening Tools Digging for Beginners and Pros

If you're new to gardening, you'll want to start with the basics - a good set of digging tools. A shovel is a must-have for any gardener, and it's essential to choose one that's sturdy enough to handle heavy digging.

A shovel's blade should be at least 12 inches wide to make digging easier and faster. This width also helps to reduce the amount of soil you need to move.

For smaller jobs, a trowel is a great alternative to a shovel. It's perfect for planting small plants or digging up weeds in tight spaces.

A trowel's curved blade makes it easy to scoop up small amounts of soil, and it's also great for mixing in fertilizers or other soil amendments.

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A trowel is a small hand tool used for digging at ground level and digging small holes for planting seeds. It's a gardener's best friend.

A garden fork is useful for turning over soil and compost, digging out root crops, and dividing perennials. Its long, metal tines allow it to easily penetrate the soil and avoid smaller rocks.

Square shovels are ideal for levelling soil, while pointed shovels are better suited for scooping and moving harder loose materials like gravel and rock.

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Shovels are a must-have for any gardener, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit different tasks.

A long-handled spade with a straight-edged, flat blade is great for digging straight-sided holes, cutting roots, and making edgings. This is because the longer handle provides more leverage, making it easier on the back.

For scooping up and moving garden debris, sand, or other materials like soil, you'll want a shovel with a flat mouth and raised edges. Square shovels are ideal for levelling soil and scooping large volumes of loose materials.

Pointed shovels are better suited for scooping and moving harder loose materials such as gravel and rock. They have a pointed blade and raised edges to create a scoop.

If you need to shovel in confined spaces or for easy transportation, consider a micro shovel. It's a smaller version of the standard shovel, perfect for tight spots.

Our shovels are available in a variety of materials and finishes to suit the task at hand, from light lifting and moving to heavy-duty jobs.

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Forks are a must-have for any gardener. They're versatile and can be used for a variety of tasks, from turning and aerating the top layer of soil to removing weeds and lifting and leveling the soil.

A good fork should have a strong handle and shaft, and a solid union where the shaft and head join. Don't skimp on this tool, as a cheap fork may snap on its first outing.

The type of fork you need will depend on the job at hand. For heavier jobs like breaking up heavy, compacted soil, a standard fork is a good choice. Standard forks are particularly useful on clay soil, as the soil doesn't stick to the tines as readily as it does to the flat blade of a spade.

Pitch forks are great for lifting and throwing loose material like compost, manure, and hay. They're slightly larger than digging forks with long, widely separated tines that make it easy to lift and throw heavy loads.

Border forks are smaller and lighter than digging forks, making them perfect for working in confined areas where a larger tool might damage plant root systems. They're also less likely to be stopped by stones or other small obstacles compared to a spade.

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Hoes are a must-have for any gardener. They're great for removing shallow-rooted weeds effortlessly.

A hoe's metal head comes in many different shapes and sizes, so make sure it's securely attached to the handle. A smooth wooden handle will resist splintering.

You can use a garden hoe to loosen and clear soil and remove weeds. They're also great for digging narrow furrows (drills) and shallow trenches for planting seeds or bulbs.

Dutch hoes are a type of garden hoe that feature a solid blade which is sharp on every side and set at a 90-degree angle. Regular use of a Dutch hoe will keep the soil moving so that new weeds don't germinate and become established.

Draw hoes, on the other hand, have a triangular blade shape and are best used to chop into the ground and then pull towards you. This action of pulling, or drawing, gives the tool its name.

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Augers are a non-powered way to drill a sizeable hole into the ground, making them perfect for planting large plants or creating holes for fence posts.

They're also known as a post hole digger, earth auger, soil auger, and auger drill, which gives you an idea of their versatility.

An auger is most commonly used to create holes for fence posts, which is why they're often used for that specific task.

The sizeable holes created by an auger make it ideal for planting large plants.

Long-handled tools are a gardener's best friend, especially for those with back issues. A long-handled spade with a straight-edged, flat blade is ideal for digging straight-sided holes.

These tools provide more leverage, making gardening easier on the back. The longer the handle, the more leverage you'll have.

Long-handled garden shovels with pointed, rounded blades are useful for digging holes and moving soil. Forged metal is a good choice for durability.

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A garden rake is a must-have tool for smoothing out compost and creating a beautifully crumbly seedbed.

For weeds, you'll want to use a tool specifically designed to remove them. There are different types of weeders, but push/pull weeders are great for weeds growing in the top layer of soil in pots or beds.

Deep root weeders, on the other hand, have a forked tip and are best suited for more established weeds.

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A garden rake or ground rake has metal tines and is used for smoothing out the compost or for raking the soil level to create a beautifully crumbly seedbed.

Using a rake is a great way to prepare the soil for planting. It's especially useful for getting rid of debris and leveling out the ground.

A garden rake is a must-have tool for any gardener. It's perfect for smoothing out the compost or raking the soil level.

You can also use a rake to collect leaves or other debris from your garden. It's a great way to keep your garden looking tidy.

Raking is an essential part of gardening, and it's something that you should do regularly. It helps to prevent weeds from growing and keeps your soil healthy.

A garden rake is a simple tool, but it's incredibly effective. With a little practice, you'll be raking like a pro in no time.

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Weeders are a must-have for any gardening task. They help target problem weeds with ease.

Push/pull weeders are ideal for weeds growing in the top layer of soil in pots or beds. They work in a forward and backwards motion, making it easy to remove weeds.

Deep root weeders, on the other hand, are perfect for more established weeds. They have a forked tip and a curved piece of metal that acts as a fulcrum when digging out weeds.

Floor / Patio scrapers are designed to remove weeds and moss from paving, patios, and tight spaces. They're a great tool to have in your gardening arsenal.

Digging and breaking are essential tasks in gardening, and having the right tools can make all the difference.

A pick axe is a great choice for breaking and digging into firm soil, as its blade is designed to cut vertically.

The pick axe's versatility also makes it useful for digging out stubborn tree roots.

A mattock is another versatile tool that consists of two ends, an axe and a hoe type blade, making it perfect for cutting roots and digging hard soil.

The axe end of a mattock is ideal for cutting through thick roots, while the hoe end is better suited for cultivating hard soil.

Using a pick axe or mattock can save you a lot of time and effort in your gardening tasks.

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Tool Maintenance is crucial for a successful gardening experience. Keeping your tools in good condition will make gardening easier and more efficient.

Importantly, take care of your tools so that they last. Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential to prevent rust and damage.

It's especially important to keep those blades sharp to make gardening easier. A dull blade can cause more effort and strain on your body.

Sharpening your tools regularly will not only make them more effective but also prolong their lifespan.