Best Garden Design Tool Free

Tending your vegetable patch with the wrong tools can turn your favorite hobby into a burden. The wrong garden tool can cramp your muscles, waste precious time, and even drain your wallet.

Whether you're an award-winning gardener or you're still waiting for that thumb to turn green, your garden shed should feature a variety of tools that can complete different tasks around the garden.

Our list of the top 16 gardening tools is a great place to start, and our buyers guide includes our favorite shopping tips for making an excellent purchase. So grab those gardening gloves, and let's get growing (or shopping)!

16 Best Gardening Tools – Reviews

1. Best Garden Shovel for Digging: Fiskars Steel D-handle Digging Shovel

Moving earth, digging holes, building trenches –– a round-point digging shovel has many uses in the garden. Our top pick is the Fiskars Steel D-Handle Digging Shovel.

This shovel's greatest advantages are its steel handle and steel blade. A stubborn rock hidden in the soil won't snap the all-steel construction in half. Wood and fiberglass also make for durable handles, but they aren't as robust as steel.

This Fiskars shovel features a large D-handle design for secure two-handed control. And instead of twisting your back muscles, press your foot down on the shovel's large step platform to use your leg muscles.

Specifications:

• Blade Material: Steel
• Handle Material: Steel
• Weight: 5 lbs

Pros:

✓ Steel blade and handle means extra durability
✓ D-handle increases user comfort and control
✓ Oversized step provides a comfortable surface for feet
✓ The shovel is powder-coated to prevent rust

Cons:

✗ 46 inches might not be long enough for tall gardeners

2. Best Transfer Shovel: Fiskars Ergo D-handle Steel Transfer Shovel

An avid gardener should have a transfer shovel as well as a round-point shovel because each is needed for different tasks. And the best transfer shovel in our book? That's another Fiskars shovel.

The Fiskars Ergo D-Handle Steel Transfer Shovel has three things going for it: a steel blade, steel handle, and D-handle grip for comfort and control.

Here's how a transfer shovel and round-point shovel differ:

A transfer shovel is ideal for scooping loose materials, like mulch, soil, or gravel. It's not suitable for digging holes. When you're mulching your flower beds, you'll likely need a shovel to scoop the wood chips or pea gravel out of the wheelbarrow.

A transfer shovel's blade holds more material than a standard round-point shovel, helping you save time and energy on the job.

Specifications:

• Blade Material: Steel
• Handle Material: Steel
• Weight: 4.48 lbs

Pros:

✓ Powder-coated steel resists rust
✓ D-handle and mid-grip enhance comfort and control
✓ Welded boron steel blade
✓ Steel handle

Cons:

✗ Expensive

3. Best Garden Cart: Gorilla Carts Heavy-Duty Poly Yard Dump Cart GOR6PS

Don't strain yourself carrying heavy items around the garden and don't make multiple trips. A garden cart can transport materials — from heavy tools to mulch bags — from Point A to Point B in your yard or at your community garden.

Gorilla Carts' Heavy-Duty Poly Yard Dump Cart GOR6PS can carry up to 1,200 pounds and hold 6 cubic feet of materials. Pulling more than a half ton of materials might sound difficult, but the cart's towable handle can attach to a lawn tractor or ATV for easy transport.

This garden cart comes equipped with four pneumatic wheels. Four-wheeled garden carts keep better balance than two- or one-wheeled wheelbarrows, but they can prove harder to maneuver.

Specifications:

• Load Capacity: 1,200 lbs
• Cubic Foot Capacity: 6 cubic feet
• Item Weight: 60.35 lbs
• Wheel Type: Pneumatic

Pros:

✓ Over 5,500 five-star Amazon ratings
✓ High load-bearing capacity
✓ The towable handle can attach to a lawn tractor or ATV
✓ Pneumatic wheels
✓ Patented quick-release dumping system
✓ Steel frame

Cons:

✗ Heavy
✗ Expensive
✗ Some users report issues with assembly and poor tires

4. Best Wheelbarrow: Polar Trailer #8449 Cub Cart

Two-wheeled wheelbarrows are great for gardeners who need to navigate tight corners around the garden but don't want to sacrifice balance, and our No. 1 wheelbarrow is the Polar Trailer #8449 Cub Cart.

Here's why: The Polar Trailer #8449 Cub Cart has two pneumatic wheels, a 400-pound load capacity, and a whopping 7-cubic-foot capacity.

Pro Tip: What's the difference between a two-wheeled and a one-wheel wheelbarrow? One-wheeled wheelbarrows are the easiest to maneuver, but they're more challenging to balance.

Specifications:

• Load Capacity: 400 lbs
• Cubic Foot Capacity: 7 cubic feet
• Item Weight: 36 lbs
• Wheel Type: Pneumatic

Pros:

✓ 7 cubic foot capacity — the largest capacity on our list
✓ Pneumatic wheels
✓ Steel frame

Cons:

✗ It may be heavy for some users
✗ Expensive
✗ Not ideal for heavier loads
✗ Some users report the wheelbarrow is challenging to assemble

5. Best Bypass Pruners: ClassicPRO Titanium Pruning Shears

Bypass pruners make it easy to trim live plants, and the ClassicPRO Titanium Pruning Shears is our top pick.

What makes this bypass pruners a cut above the rest? The 1-inch cutting capacity can lop off the large stems in your garden while also making precise cuts for your delicate roses and ornamentals.

The ClassicPRO bypass pruners' ergonomic design also aims to reduce fatigue and wrist strain. Another plus: The blade's titanium coating protects it from corrosion, so your tool will last longer and you'll spend less money on blade replacements.

The handy bypass pruners also features a sap groove that helps prevent the blades from sticking and a convenient wire-cutting notch.

Specifications:

• Blade Material: Stainless steel with protective titanium coating
• Cutting Capacity: 1 inch

Pros:

✓ Titanium coating prevents corrosion
✓ Large cutting capacity
✓ Blades are replaceable
✓ Adjustable blade alignment means cleaner, more accurate cuts
✓ Has a wire-cutting notch
✓ Sap groove helps prevent blades from sticking
✓ Ergonomic design reduces wrist and hand strain
✓ Equipped with locking mechanism and spring

Cons:

✗ Some users report the steel blades had knicks and dents only after a few uses
✗ Some users say this pair of pruners has an inadequate locking mechanism

6. Best Anvil Pruners: Gonicc 8″ Professional SK-5 Steel Blade Sharp Anvil Pruning Shears (GPPS-1001)

Anvil pruners cut dead plant limbs with a sharp top blade that presses down against an unsharpened, flat anvil, and our favorite is the Gonicc 8-inch Professional Anvil Pruning Shears (GPPS-1001).

What makes this anvil pruners so special? This Gonicc 8-inch tool touts a sharp, high carbon steel blade and ergonomic design. Users with arthritis report the anvil pruners are exceptionally easy on the hands.

Here's why you need an anvil pruners and bypass pruners: An anvil pruners is for trimming the dead and dying plant life, and a bypass pruners works best with living greenery.

Specifications:

• Blade Material: High carbon steel
• Cutting Capacity: ¾ inch

Pros:

✓ Ergonomically designed, non-slip handles
✓ Equipped with locking mechanism and spring
✓ Affordable
✓ Users with arthritis report the tool is comfortable to use
✓ Has a high carbon steel blade
✓ Large cutting capacity

Cons:

✗ Does not advertise a built-in sap groove or nonstick coating
✗ Does not advertise replaceable parts
✗ Some users report that the shears have a short lifespan

7. Best Heavy-Duty Garden Hose: Bionic Steel PRO Garden Hose

A good garden hose should last 5 to 10 years, and the best one in our book is the Bionic Steel PRO Garden Hose.

This garden hose is made of commercial-grade 304 stainless steel, and its heavy-duty, durable design is rust-resistant, leak-free, and kink-resistant. The tool boasts a 500 PSI burst pressure, brass couplings, and a convenient on/off valve.

Weighing only 2 pounds, the Bionic Steel PRO won't tire out your muscles as you lug it around to fill your watering cans. This garden hose also withstands extreme temperatures, which means you'll still be able to water your plants after leaving it in the sun (or a block of ice) for days.

Specifications:

• Weight: 2 lbs
• Burst Strength: 500 PSI
• Hose Material: Stainless steel
• Coupling Material: Brass
• Diameter: 5/8 inches

Pros:

✓ Made of stainless steel
✓ 500 PSI burst pressure
✓ Crush-proof brass couplings
✓ 5/8 diameter
✓ Lightweight
✓ Convenient on/off valve
✓ Leak-resistant
✓ Kink-resistant
✓ Handles extreme hot and cold temperatures
✓ Comfort grip handle
✓ Withstands rough surfaces (such as gravel or concrete)
✓ Designed to maneuver easily around tight corners
✓ 304 stainless steel is UV-resistant

Cons:

✗ Expensive
✗ Some Bionic Steel PRO users report leakage issues with this hose

8. Best Drinking Water Safe Garden Hose: Flexzilla HFZG550YW Garden Lead-In Hose

Taking a swig of water out of your garden hose can be a refreshing boost on those warm summer days, but not every garden hose is drinking water safe. If you want a hose you can safely drink from, we recommend the Flexzilla HFZG550YW Garden Lead-In Hose.

Flexzilla advertises this hybrid polymer hose as entirely safe to drink from (as long as the water you're drinking is safe, too). The garden hose is highly flexible and kink-resistant, making it easy to maneuver around the garden. This garden hose remains flexible in freezing temperatures down to -40 degrees and summer heat up to 140 degrees.

Bonus points: The Flexzilla HFZG550YW has a 150 PSI working pressure, crush-proof aluminum fittings, and over 24,000 five-star ratings on Amazon.

Specifications:

• Weight: 8 lbs
• Maximum Working Pressure: 150 PSI
• Hose Material: Hybrid Polymer
• Coupling Material: Aluminum
• Diameter: 5/8 inches

Pros:

✓ Over 24,000 five-star ratings on Amazon
✓ Advertised as drinking water safe
✓ Lead-free
✓ Affordable
✓ Flexible, memoryless design
✓ Can withstand cold temperatures down to -40 degrees
✓ Can withstand hot temperatures up to 140 degrees
✓ 150 PSI working pressure
✓ Crush-resistant aluminum fittings
✓ Abrasion-resistant outer covers
✓ Kink-resistant
✓ 5/8 inches

Cons:

✗ May be too heavy for some users
✗ Not as durable as a rubber hose
✗ Some reviewers report mold growing on their Flexzilla hose. Others note that you can avoid this problem by keeping the hose clean and storing it in a dry place.

9. Best Lopper: Melnor 84770-IN Telescoping Bypass Lopper

Need to trim hard-to-reach shrubs or tall trees? Turn to the Melnor 84770-IN Telescoping Bypass Lopper for an extended reach. This lopper's long handles can extend up to 37 inches when you need to snip those higher branches.

This lopper has a thick cutting capacity, too, slicing branches up to 2 inches in diameter. And did we mention it comes with a pair of hand pruners and a lifetime warranty? Now that's a bargain.

Specifications:

• Cutting mechanism: Manual
• Blade type: Bypass
• Handle length: 28 – 37 inches
• Weight: 3.34 pounds
• Cutting capacity: 2 inches

Pros:

✓ Forged steel blades
✓ Rust-resistant titanium coating
✓ Extendable handles
✓ Ergonomic grips
✓ Shock-absorbing bumper

Cons:

✗ Telescoping mechanism means the handles are hollow, making them weaker than non-extendable lopper handles
✗ Some users report a faulty lock mechanism

10. Best Garden Spade: Radius Garden 25102

A garden spade is a must-have tool for edging flower beds, slicing sod, and transplanting shrubs, and the Radius Garden 25102 takes home our blue ribbon for the best garden spade.

The highlights? This garden spade's lightweight carbon steel blade, fiberglass shaft, and ergonomic grip handle create a comfortable user experience packed with strength. Carbon steel blades are stronger and more durable than stainless steel blades, and fiberglass shafts will far outlast wood.

With the Radius Garden 25102 Garden Spade, you can easily transplant shrubs and small trees, trim roots, and dig deep narrow holes for your veggies. It has an extra-wide step to help you dig deeper without straining your back.

Specifications:

• Blade Material: Carbon steel
• Handle Material: Fiberglass
• Tool Length: 48.5 inches

Pros:

✓ Carbon steel blade
✓ Fiberglass handles are more durable than wooden handles
✓ Fiberglass handles are lighter than steel handles
✓ Long, comfortable design for tall users
✓ Affordable
✓ Ergonomic grip handle
✓ Extra-wide raised forward step allows user to dig deeper
✓ Its long socket strengthens the connection between the blade and handle

Cons:

✗ Fiberglass handles are not as durable as steel handles

11. Best Draw Garden Hoe: Bond Manufacturing LH004

Are weeds ransacking your garden? You need a draw hoe, and the Bond Manufacturing LH004 is the best hands down (or should that be hoe down?).

What is a draw hoe? A draw hoe has a 90-degree blade that's tough on weeds and slices through the soil.

Why does this draw hoe stand out from the rest? The Bond Manufacturing LH004 is durable yet lightweight. This draw hoe has a fiberglass handle, a tempered steel blade, it weighs just a hair over 2 pounds, and tall gardeners can manage the 54-inch tool with ease.

Remember, this tool's wide blade can whack weeds quickly and easily, but be careful around your precious veggies. You wouldn't want to hurt their roots!

Specifications:

• Blade Material: Tempered Steel
• Handle Material: Fiberglass
• Handle Length: 54 inches
• Weight: 2.05 lbs

Pros:

✓ Tempered steel head for added strength
✓ Fiberglass handle
✓ Lightweight
✓ Cushioned grip for user-comfort
✓ Users applaud the garden hoe for its sturdy design
✓ Loosens soil and removes weeds

Cons:

✗ Expensive
✗ Some users report that they needed to sharpen the tool right out of the box.

12. Best Warren Garden Hoe: Bully Tools 92354

Do you need a warren hoe to remove small weeds and loosen the soil in your garden? Bully for you! We recommend the Bully Tools 92354 warren hoe for its high-quality material and superior strength.

What makes a warren hoe a helpful tool to have as a gardener? A warren hoe's main benefit lies in its heart-shaped blade. Gardeners can use the blade's pointed end to create precise furrows or soil trenches for their seeds.

What makes this Bully Tools warren hoe a keeper? This warren hoe has a thick 12-gauge steel blade, triple wall fiberglass handle, and a cushioned grip.

Bonus points: When you buy from Bully Tools, your warren hoe comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Specifications:

• Blade Material: Steel
• Handle Material: Fiberglass
• Handle Length: 56
• Weight: 3.39 lbs

Pros:

✓ Thick 12 gauge steel blade
✓ Affordable
✓ Fiberglass handle
✓ Great length for tall users
✓ Buyers remark the tool is high-quality.
✓ Manufacturer offers limited lifetime warranty
✓ Cushioned grip for user-comfort
✓ Excellent blade shape for creating furrows in the garden

Cons:

✗ Heavy
✗ Not advertised as having tempered or carbon steel

13. Best Gas-Powered Push Mower: PowerSmart 170cc 21-inch mower

Your stunning flower garden won't get the attention it deserves when an unkempt lawn surrounds it. That's why every gardener should have a lawn mower, so nothing distracts from the roses and ornamental cabbage.

The PowerSmart 170cc 21-inch mower's affordability, performance power, and convenience make it our top choice for gardeners. For less than two Benjamin Franklins, you can own a push mower with a robust 4-stroke engine, lightweight design, and vertical storage.

Specifications:

• Power source: Gas
• Power level: 170 cc
• Cutting width: 21 inches

Pros:

✓ Powerful engine
✓ Lightweight
✓ Cheap

Cons:

✗ No bagging capability
✗ Some reviewers reported the handle breaking

14. Best Battery-Powered Leaf Blower: KB Kobalt 80-Volt Max Lithium Ion 630-CFM

You spent time and effort designing your garden's walkways and nearby patio, so why let autumn leaves cover your hard work? You also don't want piles of debris to distract from your azaleas and hydrangea.

The KB Kobalt Leaf Blower is packed with power, blowing 630 cubic feet of air per minute at 140 miles per hour. Even better? This leaf blower is environmentally friendly and does all that easy cleanup without the help of harmful gasoline.

Thanks to its 80V 2.5 Ah battery, you can use this cordless leaf blower anywhere in the garden without a restrictive power cord. Just remember not to point it at your precious plants!

Specifications:

• MPH: 140 mph
• CFM: 630 cfm
• Weight: 8.9 lbs
• Battery: 80V 2.5 Ah battery
• Performance index: 8.82

Pros:

✓ Brushless motor
✓ Variable speed trigger allows you to increase or decrease airflow easily
✓ Cruise control
✓ Affordable price for a high performing leaf blower
✓ Not too heavy
✓ 75 minutes of runtime

Cons:

✗ Only has the third-highest performance index
✗ 75-minute runtime is only on the low setting

15. Best Battery-Powered Hedge Trimmer: EGO Power+ HT2400

Don't let your garden hedges grow out of control. Shape and trim your hedges with the cordless EGO Power+ HT2400 hedge trimmer.

This battery-powered tool has a lightweight design, a 24-inch blade to reach those tall hedges, and a 3/4-inch cutting capacity. This tool may be just what you need if you are a budding Edward Trimmershands aiming to take top prize in a topiary contest.

The HT2400's real advantage? Its blade operates at 3000 strokes per minute, so you can make fast work of your yard work.

Already a fan of EGO tools? This hedge trimmer's 56-volt ARC lithium battery is compatible with more than 50 EGO tools. The EGO Power+ HT2400 and its battery are sold separately on Amazon, but if you already have the battery from buying a different EGO tool, then just buy the hedge trimmer and save some green.

Specifications:

• Weight: 6.24 lbs
• Voltage: 56-volt
• Blade Length: 24 inches
• Cutting Capacity: 3/4 inch
• Cutting Strokes Per Minute: 3000 spm

Pros:

✓ 24-inch dual-action, steel blades The 56V-volt ARC lithium battery is compatible with 50+ EGO tools
✓ Offers fast, clean cuts
✓ Blade action is stopped upon release of the electronic brake trigger
✓ Lightweight
✓ Affordable
✓ The 24-inch long blade allows the user to cover a greater area

Cons:

✗ A 24-inch blade may be too difficult to control for some users.
✗ Battery and tool sold separately

16. Best Battery-Powered Weed Eater: Earthwise LST02010

A weed eater is the perfect tool for trimming grass along fences, around storage sheds, and even around raised garden beds. Some multipurpose weed eater models can even transition into a handy edger.

We favor the Earthwise LST02010 for its lightweight design, ease of use, and affordability. This Earth-friendly weeder operates on a 20-volt lithium-ion battery that many users say has a long enough run time to trim their yards.

Other highlights? This weed eater's flip-down edge guard makes edging around your flower beds and gardens a less worrisome task. Its 10-inch cutting swatch allows you to reach those tight spots, and its auto-feed spool releases new string as needed.

Specifications:

• Voltage: 20 volts
• Line speed: 8,800 RPM
• Cutting swath: 10 inches
• Line diameter: 0.065 inches
• Weight: 4.4 lbs

Pros:

✓ Affordable
✓ Lightweight
✓ Easy to use

Cons:

✗ Low voltage
✗ Small cutting swath

Buyers Guide for Gardening Tools

We've shared with you many of our favorite tools for the garden. You might find some of them are perfect for your needs, or you might still be in search of a job-specific tool.

So how do you make the right purchase of a garden tool? These are 8 things we look for when shopping for hoes, pruners, shovels, lawn mowers and other gardening essentials:

• Handle materials
• Blade materials
• Power source
• Ergonomics
• Performance capacity
• Weight
• Handle length
• Brand

Handle Material

Tools like shovels, spades, and garden hoes all have handles made of various materials. The three most common handle materials are wood, fiberglass, and steel. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages.

Wooden handles are popular for their natural look and feel. Wooden handles are also easy to replace and absorb shock. Ash and hickory are the best hardwoods for tool handles.

However, wood is susceptible to rot and water damage, so you'll need to store it in a dry place. Wooden handles are not as durable as fiberglass and steel.

Fiberglass handles are more durable than wooden handles, weigh less than steel, and are excellent shock-absorbers. Fiberglass handles won't rot and decompose like wooden handles will over time, meaning your tool will last longer.

Steel handles are best for heavy-duty work. Keep in mind that steel is heavier than fiberglass, which can be tough on tired muscles. A steel handle also does not absorb shock as well as wood or fiberglass.

Blade Materials

Most garden tools have blades for cutting or digging in the garden. Some blade types are more durable than others. The three most common blade materials are aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steel.

Aluminum is often the most affordable blade material, and it does not rust. Aluminum also weighs less than stainless steel and carbon steel. However, aluminum is not as durable as steel and is more likely to dent.

Stainless steel is stronger than aluminum and does not rust. It's heavier than carbon steel and not as durable.

Carbon steel is lighter and more durable than stainless steel. But unlike aluminum and stainless steel, carbon steel is susceptible to rust and corrosion.

Power Source

A power tool can be a great asset for the garden, but what kind of power source do you prefer? Let's look at the various pros and cons of gas, battery, and corded tools.

Gas

Pros:

✓ Gas-powered tools are typically more powerful than corded and battery-powered tools
✓ Ideal for heavy-duty work
✓ Users are not limited to working near an outlet

Cons:

✗ You must refill the gas tank
✗ Gas-powered tools emit fumes that are harmful to the user and the environment
✗ Gas is smelly, and oil is messy
✗ Gas-powered tools are typically louder and heavier than corded and battery-powered tools
✗ Gas-powered tools are often difficult to start

Battery

Pros:

✓ You are not limited to working near an outlet
✓ Battery-powered tools are an environmentally friendly alternative to gas-powered tools
✓ No gas tank to fill or oil to add
✓ Often quieter and lighter than gas-powered models
✓ Easy to start

Cons:

✗ Limited run time
✗ Battery needs recharging
✗ Some models are not as powerful as gas tools

Corded Electric

Pros:

✓ Unlimited run times (as long as the tool doesn't overheat)
✓ Corded models are an environmentally friendly alternative to gas-powered tools
✓ No gas or oil to deal with
✓ Often quieter and lighter than gas-powered models
✓ Easy to start

Cons:

✗ Some models are not as powerful as gas tools
✗ Power cord restricts your mobility
✗ You must work in an area where an outlet is available

Ergonomics

A garden tool's ergonomic design increases your comfort and reduces muscle fatigue. Many tools with ergonomic designs have soft-grip handles to help prevent wrist strain. If you're operating a tool that feels uncomfortable to hold, pain in your hands or tired muscles may delay work.

Performance Capacity

When shopping for garden tools, compare performance capacities. For example, various wheelbarrows hold different load capacities, and pruners have varying cutting capacities.

While a higher performance might cost more money, paying for that extra boost will speed your gardening chores.

Weight

Heavy tools might feel robust and powerful in your hands, but they can tire you and delay your progress in the garden. After hours of digging with a 6-pound shovel, you might come to wish you had bought the 4-pound shovel instead.

And remember, you don't have to sacrifice power for a lightweight design.

Handle Length

Short-handled shovels, spades, and hoes can be uncomfortable for tall gardeners. There's no need to strain your back while enjoying a hobby that should calm you. When shopping for your new garden tool, remember to compare handle lengths and see what feels most comfortable for your height.

Brand

Buying a garden tool from a trusted brand often will cost more than from a small-scale manufacturer. In many cases, gardeners rely on the brand's reputation for providing high-quality materials, premier customer service, and reliable warranties.

We've mentioned many different brand names in our top picks, but here are a few garden tool manufacturers you also should consider:

• Black+Decker
• Craftsman
• DEWALT
• Greenworks
• Makita
• Milwaukee
• RYOBI
• True Temper

When to Call a Professional

The right tools will grow your love for gardening. You won't lose money replacing low-quality tools, your muscles won't ache from poor ergonomics, and you'll finish gardening tasks quicker.

Remember to shop for high-quality materials, lightweight designs, and tools that feel comfortable in your hands.

Don't have time to install or maintain your new flower beds? Need help weeding? Hire a local landscaping professional to care for your garden yard instead. How this helps you should be obvious: You're not the one sweating in the sun, pulling weeds, edging, and pruning hedges. You're sitting pretty on your garden swing with an iced lemonade in hand.

Main Photo Credit: Gary Barnes / Pexels

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Jane Purnell

Jane Purnell is a freelance writer and actor in New York City. She earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia and enjoys a warm cup of French press coffee.

Best Garden Design Tool Free

Source: https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/reviews/best-gardening-tools/

Posted by: lynntheigh.blogspot.com

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