As a gardener, do you require a lot of tools to get your work done? If you said yes, I’m right there with you! But if you could choose one tool over the rest, which one would you pick? Personally, I’d opt for a gardening trowel. It’s so effective, not to mention entirely versatile. As a small hand shovel with a pointed blade and a long handle, I can’t get enough of the Wilcox All-Pro Garden Trowel. If you’re in the market for a new garden trowel yourself, I encourage you to check out our list of the best garden trowels out there! We also included a buying guide, so be sure to read our tips and tricks before purchasing a new gardening tool. Best of luck!
Our Top Picks For Garden Trowels
The Best Garden Trowels
Best Overall
The Wilcox garden trowel has a one-piece, heavy-duty stainless steel design that features sharp points for easy cutting and has an easy-to-clean surface. It also comes with a depth gauge stamped on it in both centimeters and inches, making it the perfect tool with proper measurements.
Plus, the handle grip features ribbing and grooves so you can hold onto it while positioning yourself comfortably. Also, it has a leather wrist strap if your hands get sweaty from all those hours out there working hard digging up dirt. You won’t want to miss out on this amazing tool as it has a knack for lessening your burden.
Pros
- Has a sturdy and durable composition
- Digs up nice, deep holes
- Has a pointy sharp end
Cons
- May not be suitable for professional usage
Runner Up
The Edward Tools garden trowel is the perfect tool for anyone who loves digging holes or planting seeds. This remarkable tool can make your life much easier and rewarding. It has been forged from heavy-duty stainless steel, which doesn’t break or bend on rocky soil or clayey ground. Additionally, the blade doesn’t rust even after direct contact with water and sunlight.
You can have this garden trowel by your side for years to come. Moreover, its oversized head makes quick work out of any project with little hand fatigue.
Pros
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Has an ergonomic design
- Convenient to use
Cons
- It may not work well in hot weather
Honorable Mention
Many gardeners are fed up with their tools breaking. That’s where the Fiskars garden trowel comes to your rescue. Even if you hit a rock or root while digging, the cast-aluminum head doesn’t snap off as other trowels do.
As this tool is built for your ease, all you have to do is pick it up and get back to gardening. Furthermore, the handle has a special design that decreases fatigue so you can work longer without getting tired.
Pros
- Comes with a polished aluminum head
- Easy storage
- Has non-slippery handles
Cons
- Contains lead that can cause health issues
Also Consider
The Gardena garden trowel is lightweight and convenient to use, making it ideal for all kinds of planting and transplanting work in flower beds, flower boxes, or flower pots. Also, its working width of 8 cm makes it ideal for digging deep holes. Once you get your hands on this product, you’ll never want to put it down again.
This durable trowel is made from high-quality steel with a Duroplast coating that gives it optimal corrosion protection. The designers knew how much time gardeners spend outside in harsh weather conditions, so they designed this garden trowel with an ergonomic handle that provides maximum comfort when using it for long periods.
Pros
- Comes with a 25 years warranty
- Does not require much force
- Handle is firmly glued to the blade
Cons
- May not be suitable for heavy tasks
Most Ergonomic
The Garden Guru garden trowel is the perfect tool for any gardener. It has an ergonomic handle that minimizes hand stress and fatigue. Plus, it has a rust-resistant blade designed to be strong enough for professional-grade applications like transplanting or mixing soil, in addition to having wide concave edges so you can scoop properly.
The tines on top are also made from thick, high-quality steel making this gardening essential last longer than most other competitors. From planting to transplanting and mixing soil to getting rid of stubborn weeds, this garden trowel can perform all tasks. Other than that, it can also compost or scoop fertilizer without creating a mess.
Pros
- Can be used in multiple ways, along with gardening
- Has an ideal weight and size
- Comes with a 100% money-back guarantee
Cons
- The handle may bend if you exert too much force
A Buyer's Guide: The Best Garden Trowel
What Should You Keep In Mind While Buying Garden Trowels?
Garden trowels come in all shapes, sizes, and prices, so it can be a bit difficult to choose the best one. To make things convenient, keep these essential pointers in mind.
Size
Make sure you take into consideration your size and strength when buying a garden trowel. Don’t buy a product that’s too heavy or bulky for smaller hands, arms, or people who are less physically active, as this task might become extremely difficult to perform in the long run.
Handles with good length
Try to look for trowels with good length handles as it will give you more control, especially if you’re taller than most people. The right garden trowel is the one that fits your needs and preferences.
Lightweight and durable
Buying cheap often means getting cheap quality. If you’re looking for towels that are easy to use, lightweight, and made from durable materials, then it’s best to buy the ones that come with a warranty, even if they are a bit pricey.
What Are the Types of Garden Trowels?
There are two main types of garden trowels:
- The first one is the standard flat blade with a wooden or metal handle attached at an angle that provides much-needed control and precision when working in tight spaces, digging along with roots, or transplanting smaller plants. It’s also great for breaking up soil clumps before planting seeds or seedlings.
- The second type is the scooped blade with a thick handle, making it perfect for digging in large spaces and mixing soil, compost, and fertilizers. It’s also suitable for adding mulch to flower beds and removing weeds from your lawn as its blades are much larger than the other types.
How To Use a Garden Trowel?
A garden trowel is often used for planting, digging, and weeding. Follow these steps to use a garden trowel:
- Hold the handle of your tool in one hand and place the blade flat on the ground with the edge pointing away from you
- Press on it with your foot or knee while pulling up on it with both hands until you make contact with whatever needs to be removed – weeds or hard-packed soil
- After digging, if dirt still remains, loosen it by scraping at the surface with the blade and using your foot to step on it again
Check this video from Garden Phillippines to learn more about garden trowels.
How To Maintain Garden Trowels?
A garden trowel can be a valuable tool for your garden and landscape. But if you don’t take the time to maintain them, they will soon become useless. That is why:
- Clean it after every use with soap and water
- Use mineral oil or silicone spray on metal surfaces such as the blade, shaft, and joints
- Polish metal surfaces with steel wool or sandpaper when needed
- Store in a dry location away from dirt and moisture
- Never put a garden trowel in the dishwasher, oven, or microwave since the heat from these appliances will damage the metal and wood and cause the blade to rust
People Also Asked
What is the best kind of garden trowel to buy?
There are many kinds of garden trowels that you can purchase, but one of the most popular options is a stainless steel option. These types of trowels are excellent and can last for years.
How much should I expect to pay for a good quality garden trowel?
A good quality stainless steel garden trowel costs around $10 to $15.
What are the uses of a garden trowel?
A garden trowel can be used to transplant the seedlings after digging plant holes. Unwanted weeds can also be extracted with this tool.
