Best gardening tools for beginners: what to buy and what to skip

A pair of tough gardening gloves

If you're a beginner gardener thinking you don't really need gardening gloves, let me stop you right there. Gardening gloves aren't just handy for dealing with thorny plants like roses — they also protect your hands from unexpected scratches, scrapes, and dirt. More than once, I've bent down to confidently extract an innocent-looking weed with my bare hands, only to be stabbed by prickly little barbs. And, I quickly grew quite tired of cleaning dirt out from underneath my fingernails after working in my garden. A pair of gardening gloves is your first line of defense against the elements.

I love this pair from Duluth — the woven cotton covers up to the elbows, and the palm is reinforced with a durable, puncture-proof layer of goatskin that recently survived a bout with my rose bush. For something a bit cheaper, check out the CoolJob Gloves. It's a flexible, rubber-coated pair that made our list for the best gardening gloves.

Shop all gardening gloves at Amazon.

A trusty trowel

A trowel just might be the most important tool in any gardener's arsenal. From planting seeds and starts to digging up the roots of weeds, you'll need a good trowel to get the job done. Look for one with a sturdy metal blade and a squishy handle for optimal comfort and performance during long gardening sessions. I use a Husky trowel, and I've been consistently impressed with its quality at such a budget-friendly price.

Shop all garden trowels at Amazon.

A versatile hose nozzle

A hose nozzle is a garden hose's best friend. My rental house has horrible water pressure, but the Husky Pro Hose Nozzle lets me precisely control the amount and pressure of water I use to water my beloved plants. I also like that this has only five basic settings — I don't really think most gardeners need a nozzle with a ton of different modes. The thumb control is easy to slide, and the squishy grip is comfortable to hold for long periods.

My highest bit of praise for this hose nozzle? My fiancé requested we keep this one after I had finished testing for our best hose nozzles guide. It's rare that he notices a difference in anything I test, so let that be a testament to this nozzle's quality.

Shop all hose nozzles at Amazon.

A bucket organizer

As someone who has a hard time keeping track of tools while I garden (it's not uncommon to find my trowel feet away buried under a mound of dirt), this little bucket caddy has been a game-changer. It hooks directly on top of any standard bucket, with individual pockets to hold essentials like gloves, shears, and seed packets. It's especially useful for weeding, since I can put weeds in the bucket as I work and carry it across the yard. This caddy from Duluth includes mesh at the bottom to filter out excess dirt and prevent grime build-up.

Shop all bucket organizers at Amazon.

A set of shears

A good set of shears is especially important if you're hoping to grow stunning, healthy flowers and shrubs. I recently used my shears to remove dead growth on my rose bush and hydrangeas, and now they're looking better than ever and ready to grow gorgeous flowers this season. Look for bypass shears — they operate like a big pair of scissors for precise cuts. I also recommend full-size loppers if you're planning on using them for larger jobs, like removing dead branches from a tree.

Shop all pruning shears at Amazon.

Raised garden beds

Raised garden beds make gardening so much easier, since you don't have to worry about the soil quality in your backyard. Instead of fussing over the amount of clay or rocks in the dirt, plop one of these down and fill it with your favorite, nutrient-packed potting soil. Plus, they look so neat and aesthetically-pleasing when they're filled up with greenery.

I recommend opting for a rot-resistant wood like cedar, since it can face the weather and daily watering with minimal wear and tear. My fiancé built our raised beds, but if you're not lucky enough to have a handy partner like me, I recommend this option from Vita. It's what our senior pets editor (and my personal gardening mentor) Lisa Sabatini uses for her herbs — and as a recipient of pictures of her fruitful harvests, I wholeheartedly trust her recommendations.

Shop all raised planters on Amazon.

Actually good seeds

Shop all vegetable, flower, and plant seeds at Johnny's Selected Seeds.

My first gardening season, I just stopped at my local hardware store to pick up whatever seeds they had in stock. That's well and good, but moving forward, I've been trying to be more intentional about what kinds of seeds I buy. Johnny's Selected Seeds were recommended to me by our senior pets editor, which was in turn recommended to her by a neighbor — and everyone knows the best gardening recommendations travel by word of mouth. Johnny's Selected Seeds uses natural cross-breeding to create hybrid strains of plants and veggies. You'll find plenty of organic and heirloom seeds, too.

If you must buy seeds from sites like Amazon, look for options from reputable brands like Burpee or Mountain Valley Seed Co. Also, check in with your local greenhouse or nursery for recommendations on native plants.

A full-sized shovel

My first garden season, I told myself I didn't need a large shovel and proceeded to painstakingly dig every hole with my handheld trowel. Needless to say, I learned my lesson and upgraded to an actual shovel, which comes in handy for everything from digging up stubborn weeds to mixing potting soil.

I got my shovel at an estate sale for one single dollar, but if you lack my thrifting luck, I recommend the Fiskars Steel Shovel. It's the top pick in our best shovels guide, boasting a durable steel construction and a squishy grip.

Shop all shovels at Amazon.

A garden rake

Rakes are for way more than just leaves. I've used a heavy-duty garden rake to mix potting soil, spread mulch, and and till dirt. And while you can technically use a leaf rake for these tasks, it's much easier when using a rake with a steel, bow-shaped head. Steel rakes can get a little heavy, but the garden rake from Kobalt has a lightweight fiberglass handle for easy maneuvering.

Shop all rakes at Amazon.

A durable dump cart

The Gorilla Poly Dump Cart is a bit of a splurge, but if you want to avoid lugging bulky items by hand, I think it's worth it. This ultra-durable wagon has a massive weight capacity (so, yes, you can take a ride in it if your heart so desires), and it's my go-to for transporting heavy bags of potting soil around the yard. I like the control and convenience of the four-wheeled cart, but Gorilla sells a traditional two-wheeled wheelbarrow, too.

Shop all yard carts and wheelbarrows at Amazon.

A pair of gardening shoes

After staining multiple pairs of perfectly good tennis shoes, trust me: You're going to need a dedicated pair of gardening shoes. You could do what I do and use a classic pair of rain boots, or opt for something specific like a garden clog. Senior pets editor Lisa Sabatini uses Mucksters (available in women's and men's sizes), which she slips on before stepping outside to work in her garden. Whatever kind of shoe you shop for, make sure they're waterproof, easy to clean, and have adequate support for long gardening sessions.

Cute garden decor

What good is a garden without a little bit of personality? From garden stakes and flags to gnomes and birdbaths, I'm a believer in adding a little extra whimsy to your garden. I love snails (I have a tattoo to prove it), so you'll find plenty of snail references nestled in next to my plants. I'm a fan these rain-boot-sporting ducks and this adorable hedgehog wind chime from Uncommon Goods, my go-to destination for joy-filled outdoor decor.

Shop all garden decor at Amazon.

3 garden tools you can skip

In addition to tools I think every gardener needs, here are a few products you should skip:

Gardening tool sets: When shopping for a trowel, you might be tempted to upgrade to a combination pack, which could include tools like a small rake, transplanter, or cultivator. In my opinion, you're better off just investing in a good trowel, since it can tackle any gardening job just as well as most specialized tools.

Soil composition test kit: If you're using bagged potting soil for gardening, you can safely skip a soil composition test kit. Potting soil mixes are specifically designed to give your plants all the nutrients they need.

Smart sprinklers and irrigation systems: Smart sprinklers are pricey, and a good old fashioned garden hose will work just as well to keep your plants healthy and hydrated. Plus, my favorite part of gardening is spending time tending to my plants everyday, so there's no need to automate the care system.

More garden essentials

Browse more products for the garden: Hoses | Hose reels | Watering cans | Garden edging | Plant pots | Indoor gardens | Soil moisture meters | Sprinklers