Keeping a backyard garden is a healthy and rewarding hobby, but maintaining it without the proper tools can be challenging. Ensuring you have the right garden supplies on hand can make gardening more efficient and more enjoyable. But with a variety of tools to choose from, how do you know where to start? Explore some of the essentials in the guide below.

What Are the Top Tools For Backyard Gardeners?

1. Hand Trowel

A good hand trowel is essential in the backyard garden. This compact, lightweight hand shovel is perfect for digging small holes for bulbs, transplanting flowers, or vegetable starts. It's convenient size also makes it ideal for uprooting stubborn weeds without disturbing surrounding plant life and root systems.

Look for a hand trowel with a solid handle that won't break or splinter. Consider varieties with a sharpened edge that can be used for cutting into undesirable root systems that get in the way of your planting hole. 

2. Pruning Shears

When shopping for garden supplies, no tool is as indispensable as a good set of hand pruners.

Pruning shears can be used to trim flowers without damaging their sensitive stems. They can also be used for cutting back hard, woody stems, cleaning up flower bushes or hedges, and for tidying up topiaries.

Pruning shears are available in several varieties, including bypass, anvil, and ratchet. Bypass pruners are an ideal "multi-use" shear and are a great option for beginners. Ratchet pruners are similar to anvil pruners but feature a mechanism that cuts in stages, making them a good choice for individuals with smaller, or weaker hands. 

3. Rake

Garden rakes are as versatile as they are necessary for the home garden. A good rake can be used for cleaning up fallen leaves and foliage, tidying up loose rocks and landscaping gravel, collecting yard waste after mowing, or for spreading soil over your garden beds.

Rakes come in many shapes, sizes, and materials. When selecting the right option for your yard, look for one that is durable, ideally with a hardwood handle that won't bend or warp with heavy use. While metal tines offer flexibility and strength for picking up items such as leaves, twigs, and debris, without proper care, they can rust. Plastic tines are also available but should be used with care, as they can break with heavy use.

For high-quality garden supplies, visit Landscaper's Corner in Lexington, KY. For over 13 years, this landscaping supply store has provided a variety of tools and equipment to help property owners create beautiful, well-manicured lawns, flower beds, and vegetable gardens. Contact them today at (859) 225-9433 for help creating your essential garden tool kit, or visit them online to learn more about their products and services.