Essential Garden Tools: The Only Checklist You Need

Spring calls. A few quality tools beat a shed full of gadgets. Here's the core kit:

1. Spading fork: Breaks winter-compacted soil, mixes compost/manure. Wider tines, shorter handle than a pitchfork.
2. Hoe: Weeds and cultivates surface for water/feed penetration. Keep it sharp — dull hoes make weeding misery.
3. Round-ended shovel: Digs holes for plants, shrubs, trees; breaks soil; removes grass/weeds. Smooth, sturdy handle at comfortable height.
4. Bow rake (not fan rake): Short tines on metal frame. Removes rocks/clods, levels soil after digging. Flat side packs soil smooth; tines trace planting trenches.
5. Quality shears/clippers: Prune, shape, remove old growth. Comfortable, sturdy. Cheap ones frustrate and fail mid-season. Good ones pay for themselves over years.

With these five, you're ready for spring. Specialty tools exist, but this set handles the essentials.