A hand trowel is one of the most important garden tools there is. You need them at almost every stage of gardening. From sowing seeds, aerating soil, planting bulbs, planting or replanting pots, digging or bordering, and for every other thing relating to grass, soil, or seeds. Choosing a hand trowel is an essential garden investment. You need to get the right one that won’t bend, rust or break. We’ve put together a list of the highest-rated measuring trowels in 2023 to help you decide.
There is a great variety of measuring trowels and you can find different shapes and sizes for different tasks. They also have specially designed ergonomic grips to reduce hand fatigue and exhaustion and allow you to work smarter.
This measuring trowel is made of heavy-duty carbon steel that won’t bend or break even if you use it for rocks. You can confidently use the trowel for digging any kind of soil, heavy clay, or rocky build-ups. It also comes with prominent depth markers that tell you exact measurements for consistent transplanting and planting.
Moreover, it features a rubber grip handle for an ergonomic grip on the handle. It’s also great for leverage in rocky or heavy soils. The steel is indestructible, you don’t have to worry about it breaking, bending, or rusting with time. It is also weather-resistant and can handle exposure to sun, snow, or rains.
Fiskars brings you a big grip garden transplanter that is designed to reduce hand fatigue or cramps even after hours of use. The soft-molded grip on the extra-large handle allows excellent control and precision when digging along with comfort. The blade also has clear gradation marks that offer clear depth measurement. The head is made up of cast aluminum that has been coated with protectants to avoid rusting.
The edge of this measurement trowel is sharp enough to dig through rough and rocky areas. The handle also has a hang hole for convenient storage. You can use this trowel for easy digging, loosening soil, weeding, aerating pants, transplanting, and much more.
This garden trowel is made from highly durable materials like aluminum and rubber. The bend-proof aluminum used to make the blade will not bend or break. It comes with an ergonomically designed handle with a soft rubber grip. This rubber grip is designed to provide the hand with a comfortable palm rest and finger grip for maximum control.
It also has clearly engraved depth indicators that guide you on how deep you’re going and allow more consistent planting. The best part about this trowel? Edward tools offer to replace it with a new one if you find a fault or happen to bend it.
This is a stainless steel garden shovel with a traditional-style wooden handle. You can use this trowel to transplant, dig, aerate or put plants on basins, and bedding borders. It comes with a perfectly shaped spoon-like blade that allows you to measure the soil depth as you go. There are depth markers till 4” that guide you on how deep you’re going. This feature comes in handy when planting seeds, small plants, and bulbs.
It is made up of stainless polished steel that resists corrosion and breakage. You can transplant annuals, perennials, vegetables, and many such small plants.
This is a durable digging trowel that comes in a reliable one-piece design. The gardening tool is made from stainless steel with sharp points that make cutting and digging a lot easier. It also features a handy depth gauge that has been stamped on the surface. This will help you attain better consistency when transplanting. The measurements are listed in both inches and centimeters.
The handle is made up of plastic and comes with grooves and ribbing for a comfortable grip. These indentations help you gain maximum control as you dig. This measurement trowel features a leather wrist strap that makes it easier to carry the tool around.
You will need to keep the following considerations in mind when getting a new garden trowel.
You need to look for clearly indented depth measurements to know how deep you’re going at every stage. The extent of markings would depend on the kind of plants you mostly deal with. Most garden trowels have 4” markings that are perfect for handling medium and small-sized plants.
Garden work, especially digging, is a pretty tiring job. Comfort is an important factor to consider because you need your palm and fingers snugly placed around the handle.
Make sure that the contour complements the shape of your hand or look for a shock-absorption feature to reduce hand strain.
Consider the length and width, length, and curve of the blade. Long blades offer more leverage at every store while wide blades scoop and shift more material. A curved edge also cuts the soil better and is generally stronger than a narrower one.
You need to make sure that the measuring trowel you pick should be lightweight and easy to carry around the garden easily. You don’t want to exhaust yourself just by holding a heavy tool. Look for aluminum alloy material that is sturdy yet lightweight.
Trowels are made of different materials. Here’s all you need to know about the right one.
Aluminum is super lightweight and convenient. Aluminum trowels are great for transplanting, are rust-resistant, and are long-lasting. It won’t, however, be that great with rocky or dense soil.
Plastic trowels are lightweight. They’re made from high-impact polystyrene and are very affordable. It’s perfect for backpackers and campers who want light tools.
Stainless steel trowels are for heavy-duty digging, dense or rocky soil. These commercial-grade steel trowels are highly durable and have sharp 14 or 16-gauge blades for deep digging and maneuvering.
There are some important things you need to take care of if you want to keep your garden trowel for a long time.
A garden trowel is used for a variety of purposes. Depending on the quality, dimensions, and design of the measuring trowel, it can be utilized for diverse uses.
You can use them for weeding, digging, manure mixture, transplanting, soil loosening, seed planting, and soil smoothening. It’s a great and essential tool for camping and backpacking.
They can also be used for metal detection as well. Many professionals use it for mining mineral resources.
To learn how to best use a trowel, check out this video from essortment:
Trowels are essential for a growing garden. You need to make sure you get one that isn’t too big or heavy to hold and takes care of all your digging, soiling, and planting work. We hope this guide helped you skim through the pros and cons before you make a decision.
A: Yes. Their design and sharpness can work with snow too.
A: For heavy-duty digging, stainless steel trowels are best.
A: It’s best for planting into tight spaces or digging through clay soil.
