When digging in soils that is made up of clay or is full of stones then the best garden hand tool is the fork. It is also used for breaking up earth, aerating the lawn and turning compost. The Radius Garden Pro Border Fork with it’s revolutionary design is a fork like you’ve never held before.

Rake

A rake is used in the garden as a hand tool to break up soil after digging, for leveling and making the soil surface flat. A flexible rake is for gathering together leaves, straw, grass trimmings and hedge clippings.

Hoe

For weeding, making furrows and cultivating, the garden hand tool to use is a hoe and as it breaks up the surface of the soil it improves aeration and allows water to soak in. When looking at the different hoes available, a rolled steel blade that is riveted to the pole will be the strongest as hoes are prone to loose their heads. A hoe speeds up the weeding process and is far quicker than manual weeding. Using one will save you from having to kneel or bend down. It will also allow you to kill the seedlings which are just developing below the surface of the ground as you move the blade horizontally in the soil. It is much easier to kill a young weed than an older larger one which will require more effort. The blade of the garden hoe can become blunt with constant use and if your soil is rocky then the blades will tend to dull quickly. They need to be sharpened regularly for easier, more effective weeding and this can be done with a metal file. Hold the file at a 45 degree angle on the outside edge and sharpen in one direction only.

Trowel

A small trowel is a useful hand tool in the garden designed for digging small holes, planting seedlings and bulbs, weeding and also for use with container plants. It has a short sturdy handle with a scooped shaped blade; stainless steel is a good choice of blade material as it will not rust. It often comes in a set with a cultivator or weed fork.

Watering Can

You can use a watering can as a hand tool in the garden to water plants and apply liquid fertilizers. Make sure it is easy to fill and comfortable to hold.

Pruners

Pruners or secateurs are an essential garden hand tool for pruning plants. Anvil pruners have one blade which closes onto a flat surface they are the best for hard woody stems. A Traditional Bypass Pruner works like a pair of scissors with two blades passing each other to make a cut and are more suited to delicate stems. The best quality pruners are made with a tempered carbon steel blade to make a clean cut on the plant and should not feel uncomfortable to use for prolonged periods.
A ratchet mechanism has been incorporated into some pruners making them good for people with arthritis as they require less force. You have to press and release them making it a different technique than used with regular pruners. It also means that a stem cannot be cut at an angle as is recommended in gardening books.

Hedge Clippers

These may not be an essential item but will be a useful garden hand tool if you have hedges or bushes that need trimming or shaping. They should always be kept sharp to make clipping easier.

And finally don’t forget a pair of Gloves when using your hand tools in the garden.