Favorite Gardening Tools
What Garden Tools Do You Really Need – In this video I go over the basic tools that I use when gardening and then I go over a few that are also helpful occasionally. Leave a comment down below telling everyone your favorite gardening tools.
Cart – https://amzn.to/3hKmTpb
Gloves – https://amzn.to/3ACEqYW
Hedge Shears – https://amzn.to/3AFeVGr
Pruners – https://amzn.to/3yzb5wH
Pruning Snips – https://amzn.to/3hLD3yn
Trenching Shovel – https://amzn.to/3AFQzwo
Electric Blower – https://amzn.to/3AzUASZ
Broom – https://amzn.to/3dXLQw9
Square Point Shovel – https://amzn.to/3wqXiqr
Leaf Rake – https://amzn.to/3jWlqyS
Digging Fork – https://amzn.to/3hnT5iV
Snow Shovel – https://amzn.to/2TOwfYP
Pick Mattock – https://amzn.to/3AIcX8n
Small Hand Mattock – https://amzn.to/2VbNyn2
Action Weeding Hoe – https://amzn.to/2STGPgK
Sprayer – https://amzn.to/2TGsLb6
Spreader – https://amzn.to/3qSKgAQ
Chipper – https://amzn.to/3hplB43
Electric Hedge Shears – https://amzn.to/3wpT9mE
Chainsaw – https://amzn.to/36lJjaR
Electric Tiller – https://amzn.to/3dWwbNI
Post Hole Digger – https://amzn.to/3yB81QF
Tree Pruner – https://amzn.to/3AIg0NR
Limb Saw – https://amzn.to/3yx72RB
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Jim,
I have a small handled shovel ( poaching shovel ) that I use a lot for digging holes for larger plants or transplanting. I find it easier to dig from a knelling position , so that short handle is really helpful.
Keep the helpful videos coming, please.
Thank you Jim some great information on tools! My gloves can’t do anything without my gloves.
Thank you for this info 🙂
Wow…. I am a 200 lb very strong woman who did commercial construction, carrying metal beams for years, but that Pick Mattock in MD Zone 7a hardpack clay….. THAT IS GRUELING! I had no idea it came as a handtool….. going shopping tomorrow.
Bought a hori hori knife this year. Why didn’t I buy one years ago! Wow, It is awesome. I wear it on a belt. Have it with me all the time now.
My favorite line: “You can be the guy who loans the post hole digger”. 😁
Jim, I also have to give you credit for the pick mattock. After watching a different video of yours and hearing you mention how it is good for clay and roots (we have both), I told my husband we need to buy one for all the planting we were gonna do. When he started working a large hole for a plant with the pick mattock, he said “ ‘that guy’ you watch on YouTube was right about the pick mattock”. 😂 I’m a 115 lb woman and it has helped me conquer Roots I wouldn’t be able to otherwise 😉
I bought a house that had a ton of gout weed and thick landscape fabric everywhere. I was recommended a hori hori knife and it was a life saver, especially for digging out the gout weed. Couldn’t imagine my garden without it. Plus it is good for quick planting and digging
Jim, love your channel! I’m planning landscape around my newly constructed retirement home in Midlothian, VA 7B. I have sodded lawn in front with contractor landscape around front of house. I have a "blank canvas" of contractor clay mix with real sticky clay underneath in the backyard. I’m working making changes to the front foundation plantings and have used your methodology of adding compost and pine bark soil amendments when planting shrubs and raising shrubs an inch or two above ground level. A neighbor who moved out of my old neighborhood gave me his old yard equipment which included a midget Mantis 2 cycle gas tiller. This tiller makes fast work of breaking up and mixing the clay with the added soil amendments in the planting hole.
Definitely use the heavy leather gloves. After a copperhead bite in July in Western North Carolina, I never garden without them.
I love using our mattocks. We have the pick and the ax versions. They worked wonders getting all of the roots out from trees that were removed. Grinding stumps only does so much. I also love my hori hori knife. Also great to break up roots and clay soil. It was great when we’re were installing sod too and needed to trim edges.
My top tool is a Radius shovel its short allows extra leverage and stainless steel for easy clean up. Added the root slayer and their hand tools all great quality.
Something I use all the time is my box cutters to open bags of fertilizers and mulch. They aren’t tools but I keep some bamboo and wood stakes around.
It’s probably pretty stupid but a jeweler’s loupe for inspecting leaf problems (some of the tiny bugs that park on the back of the leaf are pretty hard to see, even with a cheap magnifying glass.)
My 2 favorites tools are the root slayer and a ames hand cultivator. Dont buy any cheap hand cultivator. The ames has some weight to it and been using it for the last 6 yrs. Its $13 at home depot. The root slayer is about $49 the last I checked. I got mine on amazon
I need to have a rubber mallet and a small level to place flag stones, knock off nursery pots or level up containers. The sprayer is so helpful to apply liquid pesticides. I also use the rake to aerate the lawn. 😃
You’re hilarious. Loved the commentary on your neighbors, very reliatable.
my faves are my hori-hori knife, stirrup hoe, quick connects for hoses/water tools, watering wand with thumb trigger, half moon edger, and my gorilla cart. if you like, i can come "borrow" your sunjoe chipper and if i like it i’ll buy it from you 😉 i’m in Garner. oh — and for hoses – i like the aqua joe fiber jacket hoses —- so much easier to handle a hose that collapses and much easier for me to wind and put away after use.
You didn’t mention a flame weeder. Great for creme brûlée.
Now your neighbors can see all the neat tools you have, they’ll be wanting to borrow them. LOL
Great info! We got a Gorilla cart and ProPlugger and wouldn’t be without them now. We have several acres and most is wooded, so we’d love to produce our own mulch but don’t know which brand of shredder/chipper to look into. It would need to be heavier duty than the SunJoe I’d think. Any suggestions from Jim or anyone else?
I also like the idea of a retractable rake, but I haven’t found a great quality one. As far as the tiller, I bought a small Mantis years ago. I try not to use it much but as you say, now and then it helps. That little thing is easy for me to use and maneuver and handles some tough soil like a champ. It was well worth the money. Not sure if it’s a tool per se but having a reliable vessel to drag around with yard debris is helpful, something that fits in smaller spaces, like those pop up bags. I bought a cheap one but will probably eventually get a Fiskars Kangaroo bag. I try to chop and drop most things, but for diseased items etc. it’s nice to have a light vessel to tote around. And for large containers that hold trees or perennials (figs in our case) that need to overwinter under cover, having a dolly or hand truck is essential. I’ve found it’s also harder than you’d think to find a good watering can. My husband loves the big blue French cans from Gardener’s Supply. They hold so much that he doesn’t have to refill as often (we use a lot of stored rain water.) One more tool that I use a lot but would love a better version of is a combo blower/mulcher. It basically vacuums leaves and bags them. I then dump them right back on my flower beds as a mulch. Leaves in the yard get mown and collected with a large sweeper that attaches to the mower. I could probably go on but those are some things we’ve liked in our garden. There are so many tools out there, it’s good you’re helping us to narrow them down. A lot of knowing what you need just comes with time, experience, and knowing what your body can handle. Keep it fun and enjoyable with minimal chance of injury 👍
Being an older woman (mid-seventies) I recently have appreciated having a long handled tool like the hand held one with hoe/ three pronged end like you showed. Easier to stand and weed rather than kneeling. Also, a kneeling gizmo that comes with side handles which I gave my 90+ year old dad to make gardening easier for him. Plain kneeling pads a must for older knees. We must keep playing in the dirt!
Hubby and I "wow, we’re in good shape, we have every must-have tool that Jim suggests!" We have a large property, so we do have the Gorilla Cart and a larger tiller! Thank you, Jim, for not selling us stuff. I see from the comments that your subscribers do appreciate that. We’re here for the education and plant knowledge you so generously share.
I appreciate the thought of being neighborly when doing yardwork. I do my own yardwork and my neighbors mostly have theirs hired out, so we are not on the same schedule. Get it done when I can since they are mostly chilling and do not garden either.
My land is all rock, if I didn’t have a pick mattock I wouldn’t be able to plant hardly anything, I just got a new one last week that I’m very excited about.
Mine is a hand weeder (not the Japanese type) mine looks like a big metal finger and it is wonderful for getting under weed roots with minimal soil disturbance.
Drain spade by Nupla is amazing. Has a long blade that makes it perfect for transplanting shrubs or digging in hard clay or rocky soil. Also Felco pruners with carrying sheath is well worth the investment.
I really appreciate you sharing these with us, thanks so much. I have a hodgepodge collection of sorts but they’re not exactly quality; most will have to be replaced. Gloves and more gloves, good pair(s) of gardening shoes, weeder for in between the cracks and a decent trolley or hand truck would have to be on my must-have list. Nice to have would be something like your chipper/shredder!
i just bought a chainsaw and a gas weedeater. I just bought some land and i’m currently clean it up.
Jim- your channed is so valuable for southeast gardening- thank you for being real, practical, and straightforward.
-for a not so strong woman on an acre of clay soil in virginia, everytime I use:
low polycart gorilla cart- doesn’t roll down the hill, small enough to easily maneuver, low so doesn’t want to tip
TARP- to throw cuttings, weeds and then drag to compost pile
rubber clogs
light weight hose with wand
tub trug style flexible bucket
root slayer regular and nomad-
sharp spring style pruners
When I was clearing the privet and other gross plants from my overgrown backyard the Root Slayer was my daily companion. It made that huge job much easier. This was a very informative video. Thanks, Jim!
I use a chopstick all the time for fine detail work. Most recently planting a basil propagation in a raised bed.
Trenching shovel now on the list for this clay. I feel like I need to get into pottery with all this clay. I will continue to refer to your video for amending clay soil. You know actually you were the first one I saw addressing how to plant in clay soil. You and your videos have this newbie looking like I’m a natural and just know what to do lol.
I use my retractable rake more than anything! It is probably my favorite tool. The ability to increase and decrease the size and width of the rack makes it very multi-purpose. I also use a tradition style hoe alot as well as a traditional ax, as well as hand weeding tool for broad leaf weed removal. OH! OH! I also use a 5 gallon bucket for tons of things as well as a two gallon watering jug.
As always excellent content and super valuable information in your videos. So refresh watching your videos and learn from you experience without having to hear telemarketing!
Thank you Tim!
hand weeder with fork end for grass weeds
Let us know when ur having a Toolshed Sale!
A Nomad root slayer goes with me throughout the yard since I’m move a lot of plants around. It’s perfect for my height & being a senior. I’m soon going to purchase a dead header snipper. I’m not sure the best way to sharpen pruners besides just buying new ones. Great video!
Insessant leaf blowing gets to me too. I imagine it’s especially annoying to you as a youtuber!
I got a dumping cart like yours last year and love it so much. It feels much more versatile and manageable than a wheelbarrow. And it has a super tight turning radius so I can maneuver it in tight spaces. My lot size is similar to yours, but I would not trade out my cart for anything.
💭…Sale the tools that your not using so you can buy more seeds/plants. 😉
I have all of the must haves (minus pick mattock) and most of the optional things. The only reason I don’t have a pick mattock / axe is I keep trying to find my momma’s old one.
I have a lot of these tools and really use about four of them. I just need to learn how to sharpen the blades and shovels. My felco pruners, gloves, my gorilla cart and a tarp are my treats for me. Thanks for going over all of this!
I got one of those dandelion removers. Priceless! They definitely save my back! Also a lawn edger – the one that look like a pizza cutter. I had a manual one, but then a neighbor gave me an electric one and it’s fantastic!
I despise loud back pack blowers, too.
There is just so much beauty in flowers and it’s so relaxing to just sit and watch the world pass by.
I couldn’t imagine gardening without my Root Slayer shovel. That thing will get through anything without any trouble at all. It’s far and away my favorite tool. I also love my garden bed rake. It’s really small, and can rake in tight spaces.
Gorilla cart, several pairs of hand snips and pruners, hand held mattock, battery leaf blower for multiple uses, and a plant auger (maybe request a pro plugger for birthday- for all the daffodils I want to plant in the fall).
I gotta use a rock bar frequently … lots of boulders
I am one of the leaf blowers😂. My neighbors can deal with it since I have to listen to their roosters and peacocks all year.