That said, it should also be an enjoyable process, and one of the key factors in ensuring it feels more like an adventure than a chore is making sure you have the right tools for the job. 

Getting what you need before you embark on an ambitious remodeling project is crucial. There is a huge array of different tools in a whole manner of different categories, and it can be pretty overwhelming whether you’re a beginner or have done this before. In this article, we’ll focus on two key categories – hand tools and power tools.

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Hand Tools

Every gardening pursuit should begin with what hand tools are required. Hand tools form the backbone of your gardening tool kit because of their versatility and low cost, and with the right assortment of gear, there isn’t much you can’t accomplish. Here are the main tools you should be considering:

Trowels and Forks

Trowels are the main tools you’ll use for digging smaller holes, transporting plants to new areas, and digging and packing compost. The companion to the hand trowel is the hand fork: these are used to break up harder soil and for preparing beds. Go with a sturdy metal over plastic if you can.

Weeders

Most projects start with a necessity for weeding, and a hand weeder is a crucial tool for getting into hard to reach places. It may be that to tackle the entire garden you need more heavy-duty weed removal tools, but you’ll always ultimately rely on the dexterity of a smaller tool at some point. 

Pruners and Shears

Alongside weeding, you’ll also spend a lot of your time cutting back overgrowth and trimming branches in the beginning. As your garden grows, you’ll also need to do this to maintain the shape and design of the garden over the long term. Pruners and shears are your best friends here: pruners are used for the smaller jobs of cutting and shaping, while shears will tackle the bigger jobs of waste removal.

Rakes

Rakes do a lot of different things. They help level soil, remove the debris you’ve created, and help spread seeds more evenly. Again, go with a metal rake if you can rather than a plastic one, as this is one tool that usually ends up taking quite a beating. 

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Power Tools

Hand tools allow you to get a lot of work done, but there are times when the added vigor of power tools is what you need. Here are the main ones you should think about purchasing:

Lawn Mowers

Perhaps more so than any other bit of powered gear, a lawn mower is a major asset for any gardener. For smaller gardens, a basic push mower may get the job done, but even with these sizes, you’ll still greatly benefit from an electric or gas-powered machine. If you can, go for a cordless model – these take the efficiency to a whole new level!

Chainsaws and Reciprocating Saws

Pruners and shears can only take you so far: if you have any particularly thick branches or trees that need maintenance and shaping, you’re going to need something heavy-duty. 

This is where chainsaws and reciprocating saws come in. Reciprocating saws are powered blades that oscillate quickly backward and forward – the blades are small, so they’re useful for when you need more power in tighter spaces. Chainsaws are more powerful, and are typically used when you need to lop off some serious branches!

Hedge Trimmers

If you’re looking to design a neat and tidy-looking garden, hedges can be an invaluable asset for shaping the space and segmenting different areas. You could trim a hedge by hand with shears and pruners, but it’s much easier and more efficient to use a powered hedge trimmer. There are a few different varieties to choose from, but most have adjustable guards so that you know exactly how much foliage you’re taking off at any given time. 

Rototillers and Cultivators

Preparing soil by hand can be one of the most time-consuming jobs in gardening, and a rototiller or cultivator helps you get through the task with ease. Their powered mechanisms allow you to till the earth quickly and efficiently, and with a greater degree of precision than you’d ordinarily have with a traditional trowel and fork. They’re not essential by any means, but if you have a lot of soil to get through or have back or knee problems, they can be a great bet!

Leaf Blowers

You might not think it initially, but dealing with fallen leaves can be an extremely laborious task to get through. You could use your standard rake to get the job done, but what would take you hours by hand can take minutes if you invest in a leaf blower. 

Whether you choose an electric, gas-powered, or battery-operated model, leaf blowers make your life as a gardener a heck of a lot easer. They’re also pretty versatile with many different possible use cases besides just blasting leaves and debris away: you can use one to dry your car after washing it, clean out the guttering around your house and garage, and even get rid of the dirt that’s accumulated on your other tools!

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Wrapping Up

Hopefully, you now have a solid idea of the sorts of tools that are important as you embark on redesigning your garden. A large part of making this process enjoyable is planning before you start, and getting the right gear is a major part of that. ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’, as they say, but get yourself organized early on, and you’ll reap the benefits of a beautiful garden for years to come!