The First 5 Garden Tools Every Beginner Needs

When I started my first garden, I assumed I needed every tool on the shelf. Truth is, you only need a few good ones to get started — tools that make gardening easier, more enjoyable, and a little less overwhelming. These are the five I reach for almost every day in my Phoenix garden, and they’re perfect for beginners who want to grow with confidence.

1. Hand Trowel

A sturdy hand trowel is like an extra hand in the soil. Use it for digging holes, planting transplants, and pulling out weeds. Look for one with a comfortable grip and a solid stainless-steel blade — it’ll last through seasons of planting.

Pro Tip: Keep it in a bag or small bucket by your raised beds so it’s always within reach.

Here is my favorite hand trowel. It’s stainless steel and the wooden handle provides a beautiful classic look.

2. Pruning Shears

Healthy plants need occasional pruning, and good pruning shears make the job easy. Use them to trim herbs, harvest vegetables, or cut back spent blooms. Sharp blades make clean cuts that help prevent disease and encourage healthy regrowth.

Pro Tip: To reduce stress on your plants, prune in the morning when temps are cooler. Using rubbing alcohol to clean after use to eliminate the spread of disease to your plants.

Here is my favorite trio. As you start working in your garden, you will naturally find unique uses for each of these.

3. Watering Wand or Hose Nozzle

While I always recommend installing drip irrigation, watering by hand is crucial from time to time. When seeds and seedlings are young, keeping the first couple inches of soil moist is essential. A watering wand with an adjustable nozzle gives you control over water flow so you can gently soak the soil without disturbing seedlings.

Pro Tip: Water early in the morning or evening to reduce evaporation — especially if you are in a warm climate like Phoenix.

Here is my favorite watering wand. If you need a longer-neck version to reduce effort or get hard-to-reach areas, chose this one.

4. Garden Gloves

Good garden gloves protect your hands from thorns, rough soil, and heat, but still let you feel what you’re doing. I like flexible, breathable gloves that keep my hands cool and comfortable while planting or harvesting.

Pro Tip: Keep two pairs — one for digging in dirt and compost, and one for harvesting clean produce.

Here are my favorite gloves. The adjustable Velcro wrist helps keep soil on the outside of the glove.

5. Plant Tags

TRUST ME — you will forget what you planted where without these. Here’s why plant tags matter: as sprouts start to pop up, you’ll sometimes need to replant bare spots, and you’ll want to track what’s thriving (and what’s not). That information helps you learn how to care for each variety and makes it easy to decide what to replant next season.

Pro Tip: Add extra details like the brand of seeds or the planting date, and keep tags to reuse each year.

Here are my favorite plant tags. I love the look of the wood but the functionality of the plastic (BPA-Free). This comes with a marker making it super easy to label.