Tools of the trade

Last year, Gardeners’ World ( gardenersworld.com) listed their Top 10 tools that should be in every gardener’s shed (although we’d add a pair of sturdy knee pads to this list and a holster to keep your secateurs safe). ey also listed, following intensive tests, the best in class in each category. Here are the results:

Gloves: Briers All Seasons Gardener Gloves

Before you start ripping up weeds or pruning roses, you’ll need a pair of gardening gloves to protect your hands. There are many di erent gloves available, suitable for di erent jobs and weather conditions but a good quality, multi-purpose pair like these all-seasons gloves by Briers are ideal for most tasks.

Secateurs: Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

The pruning and tidying of plants is a regular garden task and a pair of secateurs will become one of your most useful pieces of kit. Garden clippers – a bit like scissors – which can be operated with one hand, are a worthwhile investment and will set you up for seasons to come. Hand trowel: Wilkinson Sword Hand Trowel A good garden hand trowel is useful for a whole host of jobs, including hand weeding, planting, potting on and seed sowing. This trowel is made from stainless steel, so it’s rust resistant and long lasting, plus it comes with a 10-year guarantee.

Hand fork: Spear & Jackson Select Carbon Steel Weed Fork

A useful tool for planting in the garden, a hand fork will help break up compacted and clay soil and can cut through stony ground with ease. This hand fork has a strong, coated carbon steel head as well as an ergonomic, soft-grip handle to protect your hand.

Watering can: Haws Watering Can

To keep seedlings and young plants refreshed, a watering can with a “rose” (the sprinkler attachment on the end of the spout) will distribute water more lightly and evenly. A Haws watering can is a gardening classic, and this model has a seven-litre capacity as well as a brass rose for a gentle water spray.

Hose: Hozelock Pico Reel

For established plants in beds and containers using a hose for watering is quicker, easier and puts far less strain on the back than using a can. Hozelock Pico Reel is a light and easy kit for a small space. It has good features and comes with a ve-year warranty.

Fork: Spear & Jackson Digging Fork

A garden fork is just the thing for getting vegetable plots and borders ready for planting. Perfect for getting through stony soil, the back of the fork also breaks down clods, ready for raking. This digging fork has polished stainless steel tines and an ergonomic grip so it’s comfortable to use.

Hoe: Dewit Dutch Hoe

For clearing weedy ground, a Dutch hoe will skim o weeds in no time. The Dewit Dutch Hoe is lightweight and easy to use. It hoes smoothly, is excellent quality and comes with a lifetime guarantee.