We love to garden, don’t we? But if you have gardened for long enough, like a hands on gardener, and repotted, pruned, raked, aerated soil and done pest control you know the importance of gardening tools. We don’t realise how easy they make our work until we use them well into our gardening journey and I too am guilty of this. I can’t explain the joy of using my pruning shears for the first time, it is a miracle I dint prune away all my plants that day, pruning with kitchen scissors just doesn’t cut it anymore (pun intended!).

While I agree that gardening tools are an extra expense, especially for us frugal gardeners who would rather buy that elusive angel wing begonia than a trowel when spoons work fine, what we forget is that it’s a onetime buy and it is for all plants. Easier gardening with lesser efforts means more gardening with more plants. Do the math and buy that tool.

Here is a list of some of the basic but absolutely necessary gardening tools every home gardener should have.

1. Pruners/pruning shears/secateurs

One tool, many names but what a brilliant invention. It cuts through woody branches like a hot knife through butter. We all know how important pruning is to plant health and clean cuts are essential to reduce damage to your plants. Invest in a pair of good shears, keep them clean and dry and don’t cut paper with them and they will last you a lifetime. The Pyramid magnum anvil secateurs by Ugaoo is a good choice.

2. Raking tools

Digging the topsoil to add a layer of compost every month, uprooting weeds, aerating soil, and breaking up tight garden soil to mix with coco peat and compost before repotting can be made easier with this one tool. Pretty undervalued and unassuming, it is versatile and a great addition to you gardening toolbox. Pyramid Cultivator with Wooden Handle.

3. Trowel/transplanter

The OG gardening tools that our grandparents has too. Well, what can be said, dig soil, mix it, break up bigger chunks, use it as a scoop and what not. If there is only one tool other than a pruner that you can have, it is this. Buy a heavy duty variety and you will not have to worry about buying another for a lifetime of gardening. Pyramid Trowel with Wooden Handle

4. Watering can

While bucket watering is traditional, it also results in overwatering and the more the water flows out of you drainage hole the more nutrients will leech out of your soil. So watering cans are a good addition. They allow us to control the flow of water, especially plants that don’t like wet foliage and it also helps reduce water wastage. There are so many stunning ones out there that they can very well be garden décor, some pop coloured ones can also be used as rustic vases. Sky Bird Watering Can

5. Spray Pump

Whether it is misting your plants, cleaning the leaves of dust or bird shit, or spraying that very essential neem oil every fortnight to keep pests at bay, spray pumps are a saviour. They come with a rotatable nozzle to control water flow from a sharp jet to a fine mist. Get the ones with air pressure pumps to last you forever. The barber shop spray pumps will betray you in a few months, however cheap and cute they are (speaking from experience). So get yourself a good air pressure spray pump and make your plants happy. Hand Pressure Sprayer Pump