Though gardening outdoors may not be an option in winter months, one thing you can do is take stock of your tools. If any of the following essentials are missing from your shed, put them on your list!

Ten Must-Have Gardening Tools

Bypass Pruning Shears and Long-Handled Loppers

Look for hand pruners that are ergonomically designed for comfort and can easily cut through branches that are 1 inch in diameter. If you have just one type of pruner, make it a bypass (rather than anvil) type. Bypass pruners cut through live growth without crushing it. For bigger jobs, long-handled loppers, particularly those with gears, will provide the power you need to cut through thicker branches. 

Digging Spade

Look for a digging spade with a relatively narrow blade. Sometimes referred to as a transplanting spade, this type of spade sinks easily into the heaviest soils, and is perfect for digging in tight spaces. 

Digging Fork

A four-pronged digging fork is a garden workhorse. Use it to loosen or aerate soil, mix in amendments, harvest crops, turn compost, and more. You can spend a lot or a little on a garden fork. A good tool will have strong steel tines and a comfortable handle made of wood or another durable material. Test different handle lengths to find one that’s comfortable for you. 

Soil Knife

A good soil knife has a serrated edge; some may have a twine cutting notch as well. If the soil knife you choose does not come with a sheath, purchase this useful accessory. Use this multi-purpose tool for weeding, planting, cutting roots, dividing perennials, and more. It will last virtually forever! 

Hand Weeder

If you do a lot of weeding, a tool designed specifically for the task is easier on your wrists than a trowel or soil knife. Look for a tool that you can wield with the weight of your arm, such as a CobraHead weeder or a hand hoe. The business end of a good weeder can be used to extract taproots, break up soil, create planting furrows, and more. 

Hand Pruning Saw 

There are many pruning saws out there—some fold, others come with a sheath. If sharpening a saw is a task you’d rather not tackle, look for a blade with impulse-hardened teeth, which will stay sharper for longer. 

Gloves: sturdy yet not clumsy

Many gardeners swear by nitrile gloves. Tough, yet thin and flexible, they protect your hands while allowing you to do all but the most delicate gardening tasks. Plus, they’re machine washable! 

Sun Hat

A good garden hat is an essential part of your sun protection plan Choose one that is wide-brimmed and washable, with chin straps. Not only will it protect the skin on your face, head, and neck from the sun’s harmful rays, it will also shade your eyes and reduce glare.  

A Lightweight Hose

If you find yourself dragging heavy hoses around in mid-summer, do yourself a favor. Treat yourself to a less cumbersome model. A 5/8 inch x 50 ft flexible polymer hose can weigh as little as 8 pounds. A coiled hose can be a good option also, but be sure to spring for one with heavy-duty brass fittings.

5-Gallon Bucket (or 3)

This may seem obvious, but having a few 5-gallon buckets on hand in the garden is always a good idea. You’ll find multiple uses for them, from collecting weeds, to measuring rainfall amounts, to watering newly planted trees. You can even drill holes in the bottoms and plant tomatoes in them!