Garden Tools You Actually Need (And What You Don't)
Walk into any garden center and you'll face walls of specialized tools, each promising to make gardening easier. It's overwhelming, especially when you're just starting out and aren't sure what you truly need versus what's marketing hype.
The truth is, you can start and maintain a productive vegetable garden with a surprisingly small collection of basic tools. Save your money on the essentials, skip the gadgets, and invest in quality where it matters.
This guide covers the must-have tools for Santa Cruz County vegetable gardening, what you can skip, where to buy locally, and how to avoid wasting money on things you'll never use.
The Essential Starter Kit (What You Actually Need)
These seven tools will handle 90% of your gardening tasks. Start here.
1. Garden Hoe
What it does: Weeding, creating furrows for planting seeds, moving soil, breaking up clumps.
Why you need it: Weeds are inevitable. A good hoe makes quick work of them. It's also essential for creating planting rows and soil prep.
What to buy: A standard stirrup hoe (also called a scuffle hoe) with a 6 to 7-inch blade. The oscillating blade cuts weeds just below the soil surface on both the push and pull stroke.
Cost: $25 to $40 for a decent one
Where to buy locally: San Lorenzo Garden Center, Scarborough Gardens, Mountain Feed & Farm Supply (9550 Highway 9, Ben Lomond)
Budget option: A basic traditional hoe works fine. $15 to $20 at hardware stores.
2. Spading Fork or Digging Fork
What it does: Loosening soil, turning compost, harvesting root vegetables, breaking up clay, mixing in amendments.
Why you need it: More versatile than a shovel for vegetable gardening. The tines penetrate hard soil better and don't damage roots as much.
What to buy: A 4-tine spading fork with a D-grip handle. The D-grip gives you better leverage.
Cost: $30 to $60 depending on quality
Where to buy locally: Any local hardware store, San Lorenzo Garden Center, Home Depot
Pro tip: For heavy clay soil common in Scotts Valley and inland areas, a broadfork (also called a U-bar digger) is a game-changer. It loosens soil deeply without turning it over, preserving soil structure. But it's not essential for beginners. Wait until year two or three.
3. Hand Trowel
What it does: Transplanting seedlings, digging small holes, scooping compost, container planting.
Why you need it: Your most-used hand tool. You'll reach for it constantly when planting, transplanting, and working in tight spaces.
What to buy: Forged steel with a comfortable grip. Avoid cheap stamped metal trowels, they bend and break. A good trowel lasts decades.
Cost: $12 to $25 for quality
Where to buy locally: Dig Gardens carries high-quality hand tools. San Lorenzo Garden Center and Scarborough Gardens have good selections.
Look for: Corona, Fiskars, or Nisaku brands. Japanese Hori Hori knives (multipurpose tool that's part knife, part trowel) are excellent but not essential.
4. Bypass Pruners (Hand Pruners)
What it does: Pruning, deadheading, harvesting, cutting twine, trimming stems.
Why you need it: You'll use these almost daily during growing season. Harvesting tomatoes, cutting herbs, removing dead leaves, trimming plants.
What to buy: Bypass pruners (like scissors, not anvil-style which crush stems). 8-inch size fits most hands.
Cost: $15 to $30
Where to buy locally: Any garden center or hardware store. Felco brand (Swiss-made) are the gold standard and worth the investment if you can swing $40 to $50.
Maintenance: Keep them sharp and clean. Wipe blades after use, especially if you've been cutting diseased plants. Oil hinges occasionally.
5. Garden Rake
What it does: Smoothing soil, removing debris, spreading mulch, breaking up clumps, creating level planting areas.
Why you need it: Bed prep and maintenance. You'll rake before planting, after adding compost, and when spreading mulch.
What to buy: Bow rake (steel tines) for heavy work, or a leaf rake for lighter tasks. A bow rake is more versatile for vegetable gardening.
Cost: $20 to $35
Where to buy locally: Hardware stores, San Lorenzo Garden Center, Scarborough Gardens
6. Watering Can or Hose
What it does: Watering, obviously, but also applying liquid fertilizers and compost tea.
Why you need it: You can't garden without watering. In Santa Cruz's dry summers, you'll water almost daily.
What to buy:
Watering can: 2-gallon capacity with a removable rose (the sprinkler head) for gentle watering. Metal lasts longer but is heavy. Plastic is lighter and cheaper.
Hose: 50 to 75 feet depending on your garden size. Rubber hoses last longer than vinyl but cost more. Get a spray nozzle with multiple settings.
Cost: Watering can $15 to $40. Hose $30 to $70 depending on length and quality.
Where to buy locally: Everywhere. For quality hoses, try San Lorenzo Garden Center or Ace Hardware. Budget options at Home Depot.
Better option: Set up drip irrigation from the start. It saves time, conserves water, and prevents overwatering. See our watering guide for details.
7. Wheelbarrow or Garden Cart
What it does: Moving soil, compost, mulch, plants, harvest, weeds, tools.
Why you need it: Once you're hauling 50-pound bags of compost or armloads of weeds, you'll wish you had one. Essential once you're beyond a single raised bed.
What to buy: A basic wheelbarrow with a single front wheel (more maneuverable) or a two-wheeled garden cart (more stable). 4 to 6 cubic feet capacity.
Cost: $60 to $150
Where to buy locally: San Lorenzo Garden Center, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco (sometimes has good deals)
Can you skip it? If your garden is tiny (one or two beds) and close to your house, you can manage with buckets and bins for the first year. But you'll eventually want one.
Secondary Tools (Nice to Have, Not Essential Year One)
These tools make life easier but aren't critical for beginners. Add them as your garden expands or you encounter specific needs.
Garden Gloves
When you need them: Thorny plants, rough materials, cold weather, blister prevention.
Honestly, many gardeners (myself included) prefer bare hands for most tasks. You feel the soil better, can work more precisely, and connect more directly to your plants. But gloves protect against splinters, thorns, and blisters.
What to buy: Nitrile-coated work gloves ($8 to $12 for a pack). They're grippy, washable, and dry quickly. Available everywhere.
Kneeling Pad or Garden Seat
Santa Cruz gardening means a lot of kneeling and bending. A foam pad ($10 to $20) saves your knees. Garden seats with tool storage ($30 to $50) are even better if you have back or knee issues.
Available at San Lorenzo Garden Center, Scarborough Gardens, Dig Gardens.
Hand Cultivator (3-prong claw)
For loosening soil around plants and light weeding in tight spaces. Not essential if you have a trowel and hoe, but convenient. $8 to $15.
Harvest Basket or Bucket
You'll need something to collect your harvest. A basket, bucket, colander, or bowl works fine. No need to buy anything special.
Soil Knife (Hori Hori)
Japanese-style knife with a serrated edge and measurement marks. Cuts roots, digs, saws through twine, transplants. One tool does many jobs. $20 to $40.
Great tool but not necessary if you have a trowel and pruners.
Garden Scissors or Snips
For harvesting delicate herbs and greens without crushing stems. Kitchen scissors work fine. $10 to $15 for garden-specific ones.
Tools You Can Skip (At Least for Now)
Marketing convinces us we need all sorts of specialized tools. Here's what not to buy as a beginner.
Rototiller
Why skip: They destroy soil structure, bring weed seeds to the surface, compact subsoil, and cost hundreds of dollars. Use a broadfork or spading fork instead.
Rototillers have their place in large-scale agriculture, but not in home vegetable beds.
Electric or Gas-Powered Hedge Trimmers
Why skip: Vegetables don't need hedge trimmers. Save your money. Pruners handle everything.
Fancy Ergonomic Tools
Why skip: Unless you have specific physical limitations, standard tools work fine. "Ergonomic" often means "overpriced." Once you know what your body needs, then invest in specialized ergonomic designs.
Seeders and Spreaders
Why skip: You're not planting acres. Seeding by hand is easy, accurate, and connects you to your garden. Save the $50+.
Sprinklers
Why skip: Overhead watering wastes water, encourages fungal diseases (especially in coastal fog), and waters weeds as much as crops. Drip irrigation or hand watering are far better.
Soil Blocking Tools
Why skip: These make uniform soil blocks for starting seeds. They're trendy in gardening circles but unnecessary. Buy transplants or start seeds in recycled containers.
Weed Pullers, Root Removers, Weeding Hoes (Specialty Types)
Why skip: A regular hoe handles weeds. You don't need 5 different weeding tools.
Electric Composters or Fancy Compost Bins
Why skip: Compost happens naturally. You don't need a $300 tumbler or electric composter. A simple bin or pile works fine. Free pallets make excellent compost bins.
Santa Cruz County offers free composting workshops that teach simple, low-cost methods. Check their website at cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/PublicWorks/RecyclingSolidWaste/Composting.
Buying Quality vs Budget
Not all tools need to be expensive, but some are worth the investment.
Invest in quality:
Pruners: You'll use them constantly. Quality pruners (Felco) last 20+ years with basic maintenance.
Spading fork: A good one handles tough soil without bending. Cheap ones break.
Hose: A quality hose lasts 10+ years. Cheap ones kink, split, and frustrate you.
Budget options are fine:
Hoe: Even a cheap hoe works for weeding. It might need sharpening sooner, but it functions.
Rake: Hard to mess up a rake. Mid-range is fine.
Trowel: Worth getting decent quality, but don't overspend. $15 to $20 is plenty.
Gloves: They wear out regardless of price. Buy cheap and replace as needed.
Where to Buy Tools in Santa Cruz County
Local garden centers:
San Lorenzo Garden Center (808 River Street, Santa Cruz) - Full selection, knowledgeable staff
Scarborough Gardens (33 El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley) - Good tool selection, helpful for advice
Dig Gardens (420 Water Street, Santa Cruz & 7765 Soquel Drive, Aptos) - Curated, quality hand tools
Mountain Feed & Farm Supply (9550 Highway 9, Ben Lomond) - Homesteading and garden tools, rural focus
Hardware stores:
Ace Hardware (multiple locations) - Staff usually more helpful than big box stores
Home Depot and Lowe's - Budget options, wide selection
Used and budget:
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace - Excellent for wheelbarrows, hoses, and basic tools
Garage sales - People often sell garden tools they never used
Harbor Freight - Hit or miss quality, but okay for some basic tools
Online:
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply (groworganic.com) - Organic gardening focus, ships to Santa Cruz
Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com) - Quality tools and supplies
Amazon - Convenient but support local when you can
Tool Maintenance Basics
Good tools last decades with basic care.
After each use:
Knock off soil and debris
Wipe metal surfaces with a rag
Store tools out of rain (even "weatherproof" tools last longer indoors)
Seasonally:
Sharpen hoes, pruners, and soil knives with a file or sharpening stone
Oil wooden handles with linseed oil to prevent cracking
Tighten any loose bolts or screws
Remove rust with steel wool and coat with oil
Pruner maintenance:
Wipe blades with rubbing alcohol after cutting diseased plants
Sharpen with a whetstone or file (maintain the existing bevel angle)
Oil the spring and pivot point with WD-40 or tool oil
Replace springs or blades when worn (available for quality brands like Felco)
Hose care:
Drain before winter (even though we don't freeze, it extends hose life)
Coil loosely, don't kink
Store out of direct sun (UV degrades rubber and plastic)
Building Your Tool Collection Over Time
Year One: Start with the essential seven tools. Total investment: $200 to $400 depending on quality choices.
Year Two: Add what you found yourself needing. Maybe a broadfork if you're working clay soil, a second hose for a distant bed, or a harvest basket.
Year Three+: Upgrade worn items to better quality. Replace your cheap trowel with a forged one. Invest in Felco pruners now that you know you'll use them daily.
Let your actual gardening experience guide purchases. Don't buy tools preemptively based on what you think you'll need.
Borrowing and Sharing
Before buying specialized tools you'll use once:
Borrow from neighbors who garden. Most gardeners love helping beginners.
Tool lending libraries: Some libraries and community gardens offer tool check-out. Check with your local library or search online for "Santa Cruz tool library."
Community garden plots often have shared tools on site if you rent a plot.
Split costs with friends: If multiple friends are starting gardens, buy one wheelbarrow and share it.
The Bottom Line
You need surprisingly few tools to grow abundant vegetables. A hoe, fork, trowel, pruners, rake, watering method, and wheelbarrow cover almost everything. That's it.
Resist the urge to buy specialized gadgets until you've gardened for a season and know what you actually need. Quality tools maintained well last decades and make gardening easier and more enjoyable.
Ready to start using those tools? Check out our guide to how to start a vegetable garden in Santa Cruz County, or read about building your first raised beds.
Want seasonal reminders? Sign up for our free Santa Cruz planting calendar and get monthly gardening tips delivered to your inbox.
