Which Garden Tools Do You Really Need?

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We gardeners all have our favorites. I would be lost without my trusty bypass pruners and sturdy digging fork. One of my favorite garden bloggers is so fanatical about hoes that she dedicated an entire day to them. But if you're a new gardener, chances are that the garden tool aisle is a bit overwhelming. How many shovels does one need (and, for that matter, what's the difference between a shovel and a spade??) and which pruners are best, and do you really need a special tool just for edging a garden bed?

It's very easy to waste good money buying gadgety uni-taskers. A better plan is to buy a few essentials that will do a wide variety of jobs around the garden. With efficiency and economy in mind, I came up with ten garden tools that every gardener should have. There's nothing fancy here--just good, basic tools to help you accomplish most basic garden chores.