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Here are the best gardening tools to get your chores done

There’s nothing like digging in the dirt! Besides the joy of seeing your little plants thrive, gardening has plenty of mental and physical benefits. But like any other chore, you’ll get your tasks done much more efficiently and quickly with the right tools. Whether you’re pruning shrubs, planting annuals, and perennials or designing a vegetable garden, there are a few must-haves such as: Hand tools for planting, pruners for trimming shrubs, a watering can and/or hose, and digging tools such as a spade if you will be planting large perennials, shrubs or trees. A sturdy pair of gardening gloves also is essential.

After you’ve checked everything off your to-do list, make sure you give your garden tools a little TLC so they’ll last longer. Before storing, rinse them off and let them air dry. If they’re starting to rust, clean the metal with steel wool or a wire brush, then apply a light coat of silicone spray or a product such as WD-40. Sand rough edges on wooden handles, then rub on a little linseed oil to keep the wood from becoming brittle. It’s also best not to store shovels or other metal tools point down in the garage on concrete, which can dull blades, so hang them up or keep them in a tool caddy in a corner of the shed.

We enlisted the help of a gardening aficionado to write this story, and she independently researched the best gardening tools on Amazon, choosing this list from her own field tests and with the help of thousands of Amazon reviewers.

These pruners, which can cut through branches up to 5/8-inch thick, are invaluable for trimming shrubs and cutting back perennials. The non-slip grip feels secure in the hand, and they’ll put up with a lot of abuse in the garden. With more than 28,000 reviews, it’s a solid tool that will last for years.

Sometimes you don’t feel like hauling out the garden cart or wheelbarrow. This flexible tub is the answer for weeding, harvesting veggies, or carting perennials or mulch around the yard. You can even use it to haul water to plants. They come in three different sizes, but the 10-gallon version is the most versatile. Reviewers love that all you need to do is hose them out after use.

If you're tired of dragging a heavy hose around the garden, this lightweight version, which comes in a few different colors, is a joy to handle. It comes in 4 sizes from 25 to 100 feet, with the 25-footer weighing just over 2 pounds. It's also made in the USA and is drinking-water safe (if you want to take a sip while you're in the garden!). Reviewers love the ease of use due to its slim profile.

It’s such a pain to have to chop through roots when you’re trying to plant trees and shrubs or edge beds. This shovel has serrated edges to cut through stubborn roots. Reviewers say it’s excellent digging into hard-packed soils.

This cultivator with extending handle is like a mini-rake. It’s especially useful for weeding between rows in raised beds so you don’t have to step in and compact the soil. Reviewers love the way you can reach under shrubs and between plantings without crawling around on your knees.

No, it does not feel good to kneel on the hard ground. This pad also is oversized at 18 x 11 inches, and it’s nice extra-thick (1.5 inches). Reviewers say the bright colors make it easy to find in the garden.

Leaf cleanup is never much fun, but these wide scoops help you grab bigger bunches. They’re an inexpensive tool for spring or fall cleanups. Reviewers say they do speed up the process.

Whether you’re cutting flowers for a bouquet, deadheading plants or thinning seedlings, the slender tips of these shears fit easily between stems and leaves for precise cuts. According to many reviewers, these snips are the garden and houseplant tool you didn’t know you needed.

Use this stainless steel digging knife to cut through perennials, dig up stubborn weed or plant bulbs. Made in Japan, it comes with a leather sheath for safe storage.

This 14-inch long trowel with a beveled edges is perfect for weeding, digging deep holes for bulbs, or general planting chores. Made in Iowa, this stainless steel trowel holds up to various types of soils from sand to clay. Reviewers rave that it seems nearly indestructible.

This rake adjusts so you can squeeze in between shrubs for spring and fall cleanups. Reviewers say it’s compact for storage convenient for getting leaves out of shrubs.

Got trees? Sometimes you need more than a small handheld pruner to take off branches. These extend to reach higher up, and the rubber grips keep them firmly in your hands. Reviewers say they’ve lopped off big branches with ease, due to the ratcheting action.

A transplanter, cultivator and trowel make this a handy set for nearly any planting task. The handles have a wonderful, beefy feel to them, and the cast aluminum heads won't rust. Reviewers say they last for many seasons.