16 Must-Have Tools for Every Budget-Friendly Gardener

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You don’t have to spend a fortune on gardening. Whether you’re growing herbs on your patio or creating an oasis in your backyard, the right tools can make or break it. Fortunately, with a little savvy shopping along with a little creativity, you can create a reliable gardening arsenal without breaking the bank.

As any gardener will tell you, there is a rhythm to digging, planting, pruning. The right tools not only make these tasks easier, but also more fun. Let’s dig into some essentials you’ll want to consider for your gardening journey, and save yourself some money while keeping your garden thriving.

Garden Rake

A garden rake is indispensable for cleaning up leaves, leveling soil or spreading mulch. The affordable and durable options are aluminum or steel. Bonus tip: At the end of the gardening season, check out your local hardware store’s clearance section for some great deals.

Kneeling Pad

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Gardening can be hard on your knees, but a simple foam or gel kneeling pad can really make a difference. They’re cheap, widely available, and won’t break the bank. Or you can use an old yoga mat or folded towel as makeshift cushion.

Plant Markers

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Track your plants without breaking the bank on fancy markers. Popsicle sticks, broken pottery shards, or even painted stones do the trick and add a personal touch to your garden. Some gardeners swear by wooden clothespins clipped onto sticks for their labeling requirements, how cheap and cheerful!

Hand Cultivator

This is a great claw like tool to loosen soil around plants and mix in fertilizer. Save your hands from blisters by looking for one with a rubber grip. If you’re tight on storage space, look for a multi tool that will combine a cultivator with other gardening functions.

Spray Bottle

A simple spray bottle can be used for misting delicate plants, applying homemade pest sprays and even cleaning tools. They’re often sold at dollar stores, making this one of the most affordable entries in your gardening arsenal.

Gardening Gloves

If you’re sick of nursing scrapes and scratches after a day in the garden, invest in a good pair of gardening gloves. Gloves protect your hands while maintaining dexterity by having reinforced fingertips and a snug fit. Fun fact: According to Study Finds, wearing gloves can really help decrease skin contact with harmful bacteria in soil, protecting your hands.

Seed Starter Trays

Instead of those pricey seed starter kits, get a few cheap trays or repurpose your egg cartons to get your seedlings started. They’re perfect for germinating seeds prior to moving them to your garden. And they’re typically reusable, so you’ll save money in the long term.

Compost Bin

You don’t need to purchase a fancy composting system to recycle kitchen scraps and garden waste. You can build one using wooden pallets or a large plastic bin with drilled holes for ventilation. Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and enriches soil, making it a win win for your wallet and the planet, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Hoe

For breaking up soil and shaping rows, and also for removing weeds in large gardens, a hoe is a lifesaver. Pick a lightweight option with an easy to handle so that your work is easier. If you’re trying to save cash, hoes are often available for free to check out at some community tool libraries.

Wheelbarrow

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A wheelbarrow comes in handy when you’ve got soil, mulch, or heavy pots to move and want to save your back and your sanity. If you don’t have much money, watch the online marketplace or the local garage sales. Sometimes it only takes a little TLC to get an old wheelbarrow back to its fully functional self.

Watering Can

You don’t need a fancy, expensive can to water your plants. The trick is a simple plastic or galvanized metal watering can. If you’re feeling crafty, you can repurpose a large, clean milk jug by poking some small holes in the lid. It’s an inexpensive, eco friendly option that works just the same.

Garden Fork

The stiff garden fork is your best friend for working with your soil: loosening, mixing compost, or letting air in. Look for a model with strong, sharp tines and a comfortable handle. Forks are goldmines at yard sales, and you can pick up a nice one with a little history behind it for a fraction of the price.

Weeding Tool

Nobody wants a weedy garden but trying to pull them out by hand is a never ending battle. For stubborn roots, a weeding tool with a v shaped blade is the best tool. If you are on a budget, search for multipurpose tools that will do multiple things all in one, such as weeding and digging.

Rain Barrel

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A rain barrel is an excellent investment if you are trying to save on your water bill. Put one under a downspout to save rainwater for your garden. DIY kits run for less than $50 or you can DIY a large food grade drum and some basic plumbing supplies.

Garden Trowel

Gardening’s bread and butter is a garden trowel. Useful for digging, transplanting and breaking up soil, this small hand tool is perfect. If you don’t have a lot of money to spend while shopping, choose one with a stainless steel blade and a sturdy handle. It will wear better. Pro tip: Look for vintage trowels at secondhand shops, as the craftsmanship is often better than on newly made cheap trowels.

Pruning Shears

A reliable pair of pruning shears will step in when your plants look like they’ve been partying a little too much. For trimming stems and smaller branches, and promoting healthy growth, they’re perfect. A cheap pair will likely only last you a few months, but you can get a mid range, durable pair that you can keep for years. Some local gardening clubs will even arrange tool swaps where you can bag a pair of quality tools for virtually free.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.