Save yourself a lot of hassle, right from the beginning, and invest in a good shovel. You'll need one that's not going to break when you start trying to move hard dirt. The edge should also be durable and easily handle rocks and clay. It is best to have at hand a combination of different types of shovels when undertaking gardening projects.
A square ended shovel, while harder to drive into the dirt, can handle heavier loads. These types of shovels are best suited for loose or soft dirt and moving earth that has been put in piles already. Compost and manure-based fertilizer are easily distributed with this type of shovel as well.
A triangular spade is the best choice for digging large holes for planting and transplanting. If you can have only one shovel, this type will prove useful for most landscaping tasks. A telescope handle shovel has a long handle and a narrow blade, similar to a trowel. This type of shovel is useful for many weeding jobs and any jobs that require digging smaller holes.
You will definitely need a good set of gardening shears. With the many varieties that are available, you should have no problem finding a set that fits your hand. A lot of gardening shears have crescent-shaped blades. One side will be concave, while the other is convex. These are perfect for trimming dead branches and flowers. Some have a nice safety feature that allows them to lock in the closed position. It also makes them easier to store.
Another must have for your gardening arsenal is an ordinary rake. There is more to them than meets the eye as they can be used for a greater variety of tasks. Many people prefer to use a power leaf blower, but many times the job ends up being more neatly done by using a rake. These tools are perfect for cleaning up twigs and stones from your lawn in the Spring or Fall.
Rakes are great for working seeds into the soil in a small area. It is strongly advised that you use a rake to get rid of objects from your garden, like stones and weeds. It is getting increasingly difficult to find metallic rakes but they are far more lasting than plastic rakes.
A wheelbarrow is another essential piece of equipment for landscaping jobs. You'll be glad you have one when you start transporting your many small pots of flowers around.
You'll find that whether it's manure-based fertilizer or topsoil or whatever the case may be, the job will be much easier if you dump it out of the wheelbarrow and spread it with the rake. Shaking your materials out of a 40 lb bag can get old in a hurry, especially if you have to carry them any kind of distance.
There are many other tools that can make your landscaping jobs much easier. It is actually quite simple to prune trees with a pole saw or folding saw. O good tool for loosening dirt for weeding and transplanting is a mattock. A hoe will be very useful, especially for planting. Gloves are a very good idea, not only for picking up prickly weeds, but also for preventing blisters. There are many others as well, including trimmers, watering cans and weeding tools just to name a few.
