Heirloom-Quality Gardening Tools

Buy it once, use it forever

(Courtesy of Sneeboer, Homestead Iron, Gardenheir New York, Bridgetown Garden Tools, DeWitt Tools USA)

With spring on the horizon, it’s time to take a look at the tools in the garden shed; if any need to be replaced, consider the following, which are built so well that you’ll be bequeathing them to future generations of gardeners.

(Courtesy of Homestead Iron)

A Handy Claw

Homestead Hand Forged 3-Tine Cultivator

$40

Those gardeners who are new to using a cultivator are often astounded to discover just how useful a claw tool can be to prepare soil for planting by loosening and aerating dry, packed dirt or declumping clay, while also removing rocks. Crafted of hand-forged steel with a wooden, tool-quality handle, it’s engineered to serve several generations of gardeners.

(Courtesy of DeWitt Tools USA)

Dig Deep

DeWit Forged Trowel

$29.18

You can find less expensive trowels, but few are made to endure decades of use digging planting holes in dense or rocky soil, removing weeds from around delicate plants, mounding soil around plantings, or breaking up soil that needs to be aerated. The sharpened and tempered boron blade makes digging easy, while the hardwood handle provides a sure grip when wet or muddy.

(Courtesy of Sneeboer)

A Short Spade

Sneeboer Perennial Spade

$99.00

Designed for gardeners who spend a lot of time on their knees digging holes for new plantings or dividing shrubs while working in flower beds, this compact spade is built to provide many seasons of use. The forged blade is sharpened, and the ash wood “T” handle, available in 11-inch or 16 1/2-inch lengths, provides the torque needed to lever plants out of the ground.

(Courtesy of Bridgetown Garden Tools)

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe

Bridgetown Gardener’s Gift Bundle

$62.99

The never-ending task of weeding and cultivating can be made more efficient with this set of specialized hoes. It includes a Nejiri Gama hand hoe for surface weeds such as chickweed, a Handy Hoe for trenching and removing deep-rooted weeds, and a stirrup-style Garden Ninja to easily remove weeds immediately adjacent to delicate plants. A light-duty pruner and a bar of Gardener’s Hand Soap round out the collection.

(Courtesy of Gardenheir New York)

Have a Drink

Haws England 1 Gallon Watering Can

$128

A proper watering can is an essential tool for serious gardeners; this traditional design can hold a full gallon of water, making it well-suited for areas the hose can’t reach. Made in England of galvanized steel that is powder-coated to resist corrosion and last pretty much forever, it features a large-diameter brass spray rose for a fast, coarse flow to thoroughly wet plants.