The garden tools the experts use

There is a sense that the tools you use in the garden say something about who you are as a gardener and your approach to the task in hand: practical and spontaneous (it takes a strong will not to get distracted by a stray weed spotted out of the corner of your eye) or more methodical and carefully planned? The more you garden, the more familiar you become with your tools and learn to love their feel and their function. What should never be forgotten though is that tools do need a little care and attention. After each session in the garden, clean and dry your tools and where necessary keep blades sharp and mechanisms oiled. This way a quality tool will last years &#; if not generations.

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Matthew Pottage's Folding pruning saw, Derry Watkins' Carbon blade scissors, Fergus Garrett's Board - @ Andrew Montgomery

Matthew Pottage

Folding pruning saw

The tool I couldn&#;t be without is my folding pruning saw by Silky. I was introduced to them when I was training at RHS Garden Wisley as a student some 14 years ago and immediately bought one, and now could never be working in the garden without it. There is nothing more satisfying than making an accurate, clean, good-quality pruning cut, and I find this is the answer. The blade tends to last me around a year and then it can easily be replaced. I use them for all manner of pruning, such as shrub pruning, dead-wooding and lifting the lower branches of trees. Their shape and style means you can get into the smallest of places, while still doing a great job, and the blade can lock into a second position that almost bends back on itself for the most awkward of spaces. To date, I&#;ve never bent or snapped the blade which can happen with some pruning saws &#; a sure sign of a quality pruning saw.

Here's our pick of the best pruning saws

Derry Watkins

Carbon blade scissors

I have a gardening bumbag with labels, pens, string and most importantly my florist&#;s scissors. I don&#;t go out for even five minutes in the garden without it. I can&#;t bear to waste time looking for a tool, so I do almost all my gardening with these carbon steel florist&#;s scissors. They are strong and sharp (carbon steel takes a better edge than stainless steel, and can be sharpened up again). With the points together my scissors root out dandelions, tease out seedlings to be replanted, or extricate weeds from between gnarled roots. Holding them flat to the ground and scuffling them back and forth, you can use them as a mini-hoe. They will cut almost anything a pair of secateurs would, up to about 5mm. For anything bigger I have to get the loppers, so it often doesn&#;t get done. Before I organised the bumbag, I used to have them in my hip pocket (your leg won&#;t bend far enough back for them to poke you). The important thing is having them to hand.

Looking for loppers?

I first saw it in use many years ago on my first visit to Japan, being used to cut rice crops in the paddy fields

Roy Lancaster

Fergus Garrett

Boards

We are on heavy clay at Great Dixter, and even though the ground has been gardened for more than 100 years, border work can turn into a slimy mess at the turn of a cloud. Crushed horticultural grit comes to the rescue, making the soil easier to handle, as does dollops of compost, which increases the friability of the soil allowing it to take more abuse from feet, knees and tools in wet weather. But total protection comes from boards. These spread your weight and allow access into the borders without putting too much pressure on the ground. They also cover up areas that have been opened up prior to planting, deflecting the rain, and allowing you immediate access to the soil without waiting for the ground to dry. We have wide ones, thin ones, long ones and short ones, all raided (with permission) from skips and left over from building works. Some hang around for years and become recognisable by their ragged edges and become favourites. I can&#;t imagine gardening without them.

Becky Crowley's String line, Tom Coward's Weeding trowel, Roy Lancaster's Japanese rice cutter - @ Andrew Montgomery

Roy Lancaster

Japanese rice cutter

My favourite tool is a Japanese rice cutter, a hand held tool comprising a light wooden handle and a curved steel blade, the inner edge of which is sharply serrated. I first saw it in use many years ago on my first visit to Japan, being used to cut rice crops in the paddy fields and I was fascinated by the ease with which the blade sliced the rice stems. One of my Japanese companions persuaded a harvester to part with his blade, which I managed to bring home in my hold baggage. I&#;ve since seen them for sale in agricultural suppliers, garden centres even. I found an immediate use for it in my garden when removing dead or unwanted top growth of perennials, especially those with leathery, prickly or otherwise obstinate growth, such as the dead leaves of dieramas. As with all such cuttings tools I wipe the blade clean after use and apply a thin coat of oil to protect it against rust.

Don't miss our round up of the best garden knives

Tom Coward

Weeding trowel

This is a tool that I learned about while guest gardening at Chanticleer, in Pennsylvania, USA about ten years ago. The thing that impressed me the most was its versatility; it can be used as a trowel for normal weeding but it&#;s also very strong and so is perfect for more robust weeds, such as ash seedlings and brambles. Because it is quite narrow, it is also useful for planting plug plants and weeding in paving cracks or between rocks; and the serrated edge makes it useful for sawing through roots when dividing perennials. After using the tool for a month at Chanticleer, my host must have seen what fun I was having with it and so kindly gave it to me as souvenir. At Gravetye Manor in Sussex with an extensive kitchen garden, herbaceous borders, meadow and orchard area to look after, I have probably used it almost every day.

Becky Crowley

String line

The cutting garden at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire comprises one third of the three-acre kitchen garden. The string-line is a vital tool to ensuring that I plant my flowers in rows in a similar style to the vegetables being grown in the rest of the kitchen garden. I usually plant into 1-1.2m wide beds, so a post will go into the ground at each end of a bed pulling the string taught and giving me a straight line to plant along. I then move the line along until the bed has been filled with three or four rows, depending on the ultimate size of the plants. This particular string-line was made by my colleagues years ago out of two metal stakes that originally formed part of the Chatsworth garden sign posts. The baler twine usually lasts a good few years before needing to be replaced &#; something that needs to be done this year before the next planting frenzy begins.

Don't miss our round up of all the best garden tools and more

The best trowels at a glance:

Our expertise

We tested a range of garden trowels, using them in the garden, planting  and weeding and lifting small plants. We used them in a variety of spots in the garden including under trees, in raised beds and on the veg plot. Each trowel has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to comfort, performance, materials and value for money. Every trowel in our round up below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.

In every review we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best trowels below:

The best garden hand trowels in

Kent and Stowe Capability Trowel

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

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BBC Gardeners' World Magazine trowel review Kent and Stowe capability trowel

Pros:

• Two blade edges for easy cutting through roots, soil, and compost bags
• Hammer end on handle for stakes
• Measuring gauge for seed and bulb depth
• Comfortable handle
• Very strong and sturdy

Cons:

• Relatively expensive

This exceptional trowel is built to last and offers great versatility alongside a stellar performance at ordinary trowelling tasks. A BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for versatility, it has sharpened and serrated edges for cutting through roots and compost bags, a depth gauge for accurate planting and even a hammer for stakes and small posts. Made from breathable ash, it sits well in the hand, and cuts through even compacted, dry soil. We found that after use there was little soil left on the blade. Despite its size, the hammer is effective at hammering in stakes.

In this in-depth video review, Alex David explains why the Kent and Stowe Capability hand trowel was awarded Best Buy status.

Read the full Kent and Stowe Capability hand trowel review.

DeWit Professional Planting Trowel

RRP: £20.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

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DeWit Planting Trowel

Pros:

• Comfortable
• Great for most jobs
• Strong and long lasting
• Excellent quality and value

Cons:

• Hanging hole rubs

This tempered carbon-steel head has been hand-crafted and has bevelled edges and a sharp, pointed tip. Ours testers loved the workmanship on this model and awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for quality and value. It's sturdy too and effectively cuts through all types of soil, plus it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Read the full Dewit Planting trowel review.

Niwaki Moku Trowel

RRP: £59.00

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

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Niwaki Moku Trowel

Pros:

• Light, comfortable, strong and sturdy
• Digs, weeds and plants effortlessly
• Excellent quality

Cons:

• Best for light use
• Small
• Short guarantee

Another hand crafted, carbon-steel tool, our experts awarded the Niwaki model BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status as the best premium performing trowel. All garden jobs, including digging, weeding and planting are virtually effortless for this Japanese tool and the beech handle is comfortable to hold when working. It comes with a two year guarantee.

Read the full Niwaki Moku trowel review.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website garden hand tools supplier.

Additional reading:
Are corded tools more powerful?

Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Hand Trowel

RRP: £12.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

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Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Hand Trowel

Pros:

• Great for scooping, digging and weeding
• Comfortable
• Light and well balanced
• Well-made and long lasting

Cons:

• Best for lighter soil

Our expert testers judged the Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Trowel as the best garden hand trowel for all round use, awarding it BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status. The narrow ash handle is comfortable to use and it's weatherproofed to keep it in good shape. The traditional head of the trowel is well scooped and sharp to help it cut efficiently through the soil but it's also useful for potting on and planting. It comes with a 10 year warranty.

Read the full Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Hand Trowel review.

The best of the rest

Although some trowels didn&#;t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners&#; World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Gardena Ecoline Trowel

RRP: £13.99

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

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Gardena Ecoline Trowel

The Gardena Ecoline Trowel is a great sustainable trowel. The blade is made of 25% recycled coated steel, the handle uses 85% recycled plastic, and the wooden tip of the handle is FSC wood. What&#;s more, the warranty is a whopping 25 years, so this will be a trusted companion in the garden for a long time. It feels very sturdy, and we like the thumb grip, but there's a little ridge on the back of the handle that&#;s uncomfortable to hold. It digs very well, although the blade is a little dull, and it doesn&#;t have a depth gauge or other extra features like a serrated edge. The handle features a hole for hanging up, but it doesn't come with a strap.

Gardena Comfort Hand Trowel

RRP: £9.99

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

• Buy now from Amazon (£23.28)

Gardena Comfort Hand Trowel

Pros:

• Light and comfortable
• Built to last
• Long warranty

Cons:

• Cumbersome for some jobs
• Not for small hands

This is a light and comfortable gardening trowel to use but one that still feels strong and works well for planting. The corrosion-resistant steel head is long and large and great for planting but it could be awkward to use during tasks like weeding, particularly for smaller hands. It's guaranteed for 25 years.

Buy the Gardena Comfort Hand Trowel from Dobbies

Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Never Bend Carbon Hand Trowel

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

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Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Never Bend Carbon Hand Trowel

Pros:

• Good leverage
• Simple but sturdy
• Long warranty

Cons:

• Stumpy handle, best for smaller hands
• Feels heavy

This gardening trowel by Spear and Jackson has good leverage and works well for both digging and planting. The carbon-steel head feels sturdy while the FSC certified ash handle is weatherproofed for enhanced durability, but it is quite short and therefore best for smaller hands. It's guaranteed for 15 years.

How to choose a hand trowel

There&#;s an array of different trowels on the market but which one is right for you? Consider the following points before you buy:

What do you need it for? The shape and size of the head of a trowel dictates the job that it's best for, so think about how you&#;re going to use it. Trowels with long, narrow heads are shaped for working among plants and in tight, congested spaces. They&#;re also useful for planting deep-rooted plants such as sweet peas, and digging out dandelions and other tap-rooting weeds. Wider, flatter trowels are best for digging and planting, while deep heads can scoop up the most compost and soil, useful when potting on or planting larger plants. Pointed and sharpened heads will slice into soil easily and are great for weeding or transplanting. If you have particularly tough ground, look for a trowel with a long tang (the neck that joins the head to the handle) for maximum leverage. Trowels with depth markings engraved on the head are useful for planting, particularly bulbs.

Is it comfortable? The length and size of the handle varies, so hold the trowel in your hand to see if it fits. Wooden handles are often shaped to sit snugly, but plastic ones can also be comfortable. They are usually moulded to suit the hand, with grips and non-slip features in all the right places. For compacted ground, a handle with a rounded end will be more comfortable in the palm. Longer handles are kinder to the back and make reaching into beds easier. Weight and balance can also affect comfort, putting strain on the wrist if you&#;re using a trowel for long periods of time. Try before you buy if you can, as this is about how the trowel feels in your hand.

Which materials do you prefer? The material of the head and handle will affect your comfort and also how long the trowel will last. Stainless steel is rust resistant, easy to clean and generally lighter, but not as strong as carbon, which will rust unless it&#;s oiled or has an epoxy or powder coating. Wooden handles are warmer in the hand and shock resistant, but will need oiling and looking after, while plastic is comfortable, but can jolt the wrist on tough ground and may snap after prolonged heavy use.

How much do you want to spend? Hand trowels can cost anything from a couple of pounds to £80. It is the one tool that you&#;ll use almost every time you garden and investing in one that lasts will save you money in the long term. It&#;s also worth choosing a few different trowels to suit the jobs you do often to spread the wear and help them last even longer.

How we tested garden hand trowels

We tested a range of trowels and each was used to plant, weed, dig, transplant and turn over soil to see how they fared. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:

Handle and blade: Looked at the sharpness, shape, and depth of blade. We assessed the size and weight of the handle, the trowel's overall rust resistance and the quality of its materials.
Comfort: Focused on comfort and ease of use, and the balance of the blade and the handle.
Performance: Assessed strength and durability across digging, transplanting, and other common trowel tasks, as well as bonus features like hammers and depth gauges.
Value for money: Considered all of the above as well as quality, design, warranty and price.

For more information on our testing process, see How we Review

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This review was last updated in September . We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

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