3,863 Gardening & Irrigation

What garden tools do I need?

When it comes to planting and maintaining your garden, your arsenal of tools should include at least a pruner, spade, shovel, rake and hoe plus shears, along with a wheelbarrow to haul away the unnecessaries. To keep your garden organised, you will need twine to designate specific plots and garden labels to distinguish between similar-looking plants. And finally, don’t forget to water! Have a garden hose or watering can on hand to make the irrigation process a breeze.

If you need to tackle a large garden or one that’s been overrun with weeds, you’ll need larger tools for the job. Lawn mowers, strimmers, leaf blowers and even chainsaws may be needed to tame your garden back to submission.

As a gardener (or soon-to-be gardener), you’ll likely spend a good portion of your Saturdays toiling out in the dirt, so be sure to buy the necessary accessories to protect yourself, too. Wearing gardening gloves makes the process of pulling weeds a little less arduous, while a hat and sunglasses can help you avoid sunburn during those long days in the garden.

What else might I need to consider when redesigning my garden?

Your garden doesn’t just have to be about the plants, there are plenty of other aspects to an outside space that you can improve upon. Garden sheds, or other garden structures, can be extra rooms, studios or offices that get you closer to the outdoors, or, of course, they can offer bags of extra storage space for outdoor items. On a slightly smaller scale, you can create an outdoor shelter with awnings, gazebos and canopies. Simple and lightweight, a gazebo or awning can instantly create a shaded, private area in your garden, perfect for outdoor dining, parties or simply relaxing.

If you’re planning a whole redesign of your garden and considering a patio or paved area, you’ll also need to look at paving stones and other hardscaping to determine what look and style you’d like. Garden gates and fencing are also important for security, privacy and tidiness, so take a look through the different garden fencing and gate options available online, too. You could stick with traditional wooden gates and wooden garden fencing, or go more contemporary with steel, or vintage with cast iron.

When it comes to more practical gardening and irrigation items, don’t forget compost bins, hoses, lawn mowers and watering cans to keep your garden looking spick and span.