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Most backyard gardeners don’t need an entire shed full of tools to tend to their
vegetable gardens—a few sturdy hand tools will do the trick! This is especially true
if you garden in raised beds or containers. Using a big rake on a raised bed is like
using a sledgehammer to put in a push pin—there is such a thing as too much tool.
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<p>
The right tools for the job will make it so you can plow through your garden to-
do list more efficiently. We’ve tested lots of <a
href="https://www.rhinogardening.com/garden-hand-tools/">Garden Hand Tools</a> in the
Growfully gardens, and this list is out best of the best. Let’s dig in!
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<strong>What hand tools do I need?</strong>
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There are hundreds of different kinds of garden hand tools—trowels, spades,
weeders, pruners, hoes, cultivators, oh my! But a savvy gardener just has a few,
high-quality tools that they use every day. If you are just starting out, here is our
list of must-haves:
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<ul style="list-style-type: disc;" class=" list-paddingleft-2">
<li>
<p>
Trowel—AKA: a mini shovel. A <a
href="https://www.rhinogardening.com/garden-hand-tools/hand-trowel/">Hand Trowel</a>
is a must-have hand tool for every gardener. Invest in a good one with inch markings
and a sturdy handle.
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</li>
<li>
<p>
Cultivator—AKA: a manual rototiller or mini-rake. Use this <a
href="https://www.rhinogardening.com/garden-hand-tools/hand-cultivator/">Hand
Cultivator</a> to mix in soil amendments, aerate the soil, rake in seeds, or rake
back mulch. Many tools have a cultivator on one side, and a hoe on the other (like
this one).
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</li>
<li>
<p>
<a href="https://www.rhinogardening.com/long-handle-tools/hoe/">Hoe</a>—
A sharp hoe is a must-have for removing weeds in your beds and containers. There are
at least a dozen different shapes of hand hoes, but we really like either a classic
hoe, circular hoe, or Nejiri Gama hoe.
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</li>
<li>
<p>
Harvest/Weeding Knife—Growing up, there was always an old knife stuck
into the top of the fence post in my parents’ garden, and I have one now, too! An
old kitchen knife works, but you can also upgrade to a <a
href="https://www.rhinogardening.com/garden-hand-tools/hand-weeder/">Hand Weeder</a>
and harvest knife if you want the real deal.
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</li>
<li>
<p>
Scissors or Shears—A good pair of garden scissors or shears is a must-
have for harvesting herbs and greens. These small pruning snips have a permanent spot
in my garden harvest basket.
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</li>
<li>
<p>
Hand Pruners—AKA: secateurs. A good, sharp pair of hand bypass pruners
will make your life so much easier!
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</li>
</ul>
<p>
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</p>
<p>
<strong>How do I store hand tools?</strong>
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<p>
For the longest life, keep <a href="https://www.rhinogardening.com/long-handle-
tools/">Long Handle Tools</a> covered and out of the weather. Make sure they are
clean before you put them away. On tools with exposed metal, a thin layer of mineral
oil can keep them from rusting if stored in a humid environment.
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<p>
<strong>How do I clean and disinfect hand tools?</strong>
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<p>
Hand tools should be regularly cleaned and disinfected. This is especially true
if you used your tools on a diseased plant—you can easily spread bacterial and
fungal diseases among plants on your tools.
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<p>
For most (non-diseased plant) purposes, a gentle wash under the garden hose to
clean off dirt and debris will do the trick. Make sure the tools are completely dry
before you store them—you can dry them in the sun or by using a cloth.
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<p>
Use a metal file to lightly sharpen the edges of tools. Again, you don’t want to
grind away too much of the metal, just use it to smooth out nicks, remove burrs, and
give a nice clean edge. On some <a href="https://www.rhinogardening.com/garden-
cutting-tools/">Garden Cutting Tools</a> (like hedge clippers and axes), you’ll need
to follow up with a sharpening stone lubricated with oil for a finer edge.
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