The essential garden tools every home gardener should own

Buy fewer, better tools

A handful of well-made tools will outlast a shed full of cheap ones. Look for forged steel heads and comfortable, replaceable handles.

• Bypass secateurs for clean cuts on living stems.
• A hand trowel and fork for planting and weeding.
• A long-reach watering wand to water at the base of plants.
• Gloves that fit — loose gloves cause blisters.

Look after them

Wipe blades after each use, sharpen secateurs twice a season and store tools dry. A light coat of oil before summer stops rust in humid months.