Buying garden tools

30 Sep.,2024

 

Buying garden tools

Creating and maintaining a garden requires skill, time and patience &#; and equally importantly &#; the right equipment. Before buying garden tools, the first thing you should do is understand your garden&#;s needs. Will you have a hedge that needs trimming? A rose bush that requires pruning? Consider the size and layout of the garden, the types of plants you will grow and what specific tasks need to be performed.

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Material matters

Although they can be expensive, it&#;s important to invest in high-quality tools for both efficiency and longevity. Look for tools made from durable materials that can withstand the rigours of regular use. Materials can also range from lightweight to heavy, so keep this in mind when purchasing &#; you don&#;t want a pair of shears you can&#;t wield!

&#;My secateurs and hedge shears are made from lightweight Japanese steel with some plastic cushioning on the handles,&#; says Judy Horton. &#;And when using a digging tool such as a spade or trowel, I find a wooden handle is pleasant to hold.&#; Wood is durable and absorbs shock better than other materials, such as plastic. Plastic on the other hand, is light and affordable but tends to break easier.

The colour of your handles is also an important consideration. &#;Having brightly coloured handles helps make the tools easier to locate if you&#;ve lost them in the garden&#;, says Judy. &#;Alternatively, get out the paint pot!&#;

Wooden handled stainless steel hand trowel and hand fork tools.
Photo credit: iStock Tools with brightly coloured handles are easier to locate in the garden.
Photo credit: Getty Images

Stay in your comfort zone

Assess what your physical limitations are &#; your strength, size and ability &#; and choose tools that will work for you to prevent strain or injuries.

&#;Lightweight and sharp are the most important features for me,&#; says Judy. &#;Comfortable handles help, too.&#;

Ergonomic handles with comfortable, non-slip grips will reduce wrist and arm strain. Also, consider tools with ratchet action, an extra mechanism that allows you to cut things in stages. This is a great option for those with reduced hand strength as it provides extra power when cutting.

Where to buy good garden tools

Shopping in store, such as a hardware store or garden centre, gives you the chance to test out different tools for yourself. Mimic the motion you will likely be doing in the garden to see if the tool is the right weight and grip for you.

There&#;s also a huge range of gardening tools available online, and you can find some great deals. However, it&#;s important to do your research first. Compare different brands and read the product reviews before purchasing.

&#;I mostly buy my gardening tools from the hardware store although I bought secateurs and hedge shears from an online arborist supplier. I&#;ve also been fortunate to inherit some tools from my father,&#; says Judy.

Power tools vs. hand tools

For some gardening tasks you may prefer to use a power tool over a hand tool. Power tools are good for covering a large area in a short amount of time. The tools are doing most of the heavy lifting, which means less effort and strain for you. Hand tools on the other hand, allow for precise cuts and control but require more grunt work.

Hand tools are also fairly low-maintenance, requiring a clean, sharpen and oil here and there. Power tools require more regular maintenance. And then there&#;s the price&#; With power tools you&#;re paying for the convenience and power, so be ready to spend more upfront!

A few power tools that might be worth investing in include lawnmowers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers.

&#;I recently bought a small battery-operated saw with a 150mm blade and I absolutely love it. It makes it so much easier to prune small branches. It&#;s like a mini chain saw so the chain needs to be tightened regularly,&#; says Judy.

Photo credit: iStock

What are the essential garden tools I need?

It&#;s easy to go overboard when purchasing gardening tools. But if you&#;re just starting out, here are some tools that are especially handy.

&#;Secateurs, pruning saw, hedge shears, spade, trowel, garden fork and mulch fork are all essential items for a tool kit,&#; says Judy. &#;I love to use good quality scissors as well for quick clipping and deadheading. And an old-fashioned hoe is handy for chipping weeds.&#;

Task: Pruning. This is done to shape a plant, remove dead branches and to encourage new growth and flowers.

Tools: Depending on the size of a plant&#;s branches, you will need either:

  • Secateurs. Choose between three types; bypass, anvil and ratchet. Bypass secateurs have blades that &#;pass by&#; each other, much like scissors. They are used to cut through living material up to about 2&#;2.5cm in diameter. In anvil secateurs one blade cuts, the other essentially stops the cut, like a knife on a chopping board. They are best used for thicker or dead wood as they have a crushing action. Ratchet (usually bypass but also available in anvil) has a mechanism that allows you to cut the branch in stages with a squeeze and release action.
  • Loppers. They are similar to secateurs but are designed to cut branches with a larger diameter (2.5&#;4cm). They have longer handles to help reach into shrubs and trees.
Photo credit: Getty Images

Task: Hedging. This a practice of trimming shrubs or trees regularly to form a dense, linear barrier or boundary.

Tools: Shears. They have long blades that get a nice sharp, straight cut. You use both hands, which means you have good control over what you&#;re cutting. Shears are used on new tip shoots, not woodier branches (and bear in mind that Americans call secateurs shears, which can be confusing!).

Photo credit: Getty Images

Task: Cultivating

Tools: A shovel, spade and fork are the perfect trio for digging holes, moving soil and mulch, cultivating beds, harvesting root crops and turning compost. Here&#;s the difference:

  • Shovel. Perfect for shovelling or moving loose material, such as soil, gravel or sand, from one location to another. It typically has a square or round mouth with raised edges so you can easily scoop and lift materials.
  • Spade. Features a flat, square mouth with sharper or more tapered edges to help with precise digging and cutting through compacted soil and roots. It can be used to create neat edges, which is handy for gardeners with lawns.
  • Garden fork. Used to break up, lift and turn soil. They&#;re ideal for working organic material and fertiliser into the soil.
Photo credit: iStock

Want to shop pots and planters don&#;t know what features to look out for? Read our pots and planters guide now.

Text by AB Bishop, Tammy Huynh & Loren Desbruslais

Best cordless garden tools: in-depth buyer's guide

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While this new technology is exciting, the jargon that comes with it tends to be a bit confusing. To help, we&#;ve put together a cordless garden tool buyers guide, with all the information you&#;ll need to confidently choose the best cordless garden tool for you.

Looking for a new mower? Check out our round up of best cordless lawn mowers to buy this year. Or perhaps you'll be after a hedge trimmer, leaf vacuum or leaf blower this autumn? If so, we've got it covered with our pick of the best hedge trimmers, leaf vacuum buyer's guide and leaf blowers buyer's guide. For your next DIY project, take a look at our best cordless drills and best multi-tools.

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Five reasons to buy cordless garden tools

  1. Cordless tools are light, quiet and efficient.
  2. They don&#;t need fuel or an outdoor power source so there are no trailing cables or emissions to worry about.
  3. Lithium-ion batteries charge quickly, hold their charge and don&#;t degrade in storage, which is important for gardening tools as they might not be used on a daily basis.
  4. If you&#;re looking to buy more than one tool, you can use the same battery across a brand&#;s range of power tools, which reduces cost.
  5. Cordless tools also don&#;t need as much maintenance as their petrol counterparts, which saves time and money.

There are a number of cordless tool system brands, below we've listed some of the most popular. And if you&#;re looking for specific cordless tool, you can see how various tools go head to head on test in our round-ups for the best hedge trimmers, the best cordless lawn mowers and the best pressure washers.

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Worx

Worx&#;s PowerShare outdoor tool range includes:

  • Hedge trimmer
  • Grass trimmer
  • Lawn mower
  • Pressure cleaner
  • Leaf blower
  • Chainsaw

The PowerShare range uses a 20V battery, which can also be used with their DIY power tools in the same collection.

Read our Worx WG779E cordless mower review and Landroid S300 WR130E robot mower review, which both won Gardeners&#; World magazine Best Buy awards.

Buy Worx cordless tools on Worx, Amazon and Ebay.

Stiga

Stiga&#;s cordless tool range includes:

  • Series 100: Multi-tool system, lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer and leaf blower. The tools in this range are powered by a 20V 4Ah battery.
  • Series 500: Multi-tool system, lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower and chainsaw. The tools in this range are powered by two 48V 2Ah batteries.
  • Series 700: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower and chainsaw. The tools in this range are powered by Stiga E-Power E440, 4Ah batteries, which are sold separately.
  • Series 900: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower and chainsaw. The tools in this range are powered by Stiga E-Power E475, 7.5Ah batteries, which are sold separately.

Read our Stiga Collect 136AE Kit cordless mower review and our Stiga 500 Multi Tool System review, both of which won Gardeners&#; World magazine Best Buy awards.

Buy Stiga cordless tools on Stiga, Amazon and Just Lawn Mowers.

Stihl

Stihl&#;s cordless tool ranges include:

  • AI: hedge trimmer, grass trimmer and leaf blower, which all have built in batteries.
  • AK: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, leaf blower, scarifier and shrub shears, which are powered by AK10, AK20 and AK30 lightweight 36V batteries.
  • AP: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, pole pruner and chainsaw, which are powered by AP100, AP200 and AP300 36V batteries.

Read our Stihl Compact Cordless Power System review, HSA 56 Hedge Trimmer review and iMow 422P robot mower review, all of which won Gardeners&#; World magazine Best Buy awards.

Buy Stihl cordless tools on Stihl, Amazon and Just Lawn Mowers.

Bosch

Bosch&#;s Power For All cordless tool ranges include:

  • 18V System: shears, hedge trimmer, hedge pole and grass cutter
  • 26V System: lawn mower, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer and leaf blower

Read our Bosch Power For All 18V Cordless System review and Rotak 32Li review, as well as the ALS Leaf Blower review and EasyHedgeCut 12-35 review, which both won Gardeners&#; World magazine Best Buy awards

Buy Bosch cordless tools on Bosch, Amazon and Tooled Up.

Makita

Makita Power For All cordless tool ranges include:

  • 18V System: leaf blower, hedge trimmer, grass shears, pole hedge trimmer, string trimmer, line trimmer, brush cutter and wheelbarrow
  • Twin 18V System: lawn mower, pressure washer, leaf blower, leaf vacuum, chainsaw, pruning shears, brush cutter and line trimmer
  • 40V System: leaf blower, hedge trimmer and line trimmer

Read our Makita DLM460PT2 Cordless Lawn Mower review, which won a Gardeners&#; World magazine Best Buy award, and our Makita DUH551Z Hedge Trimmer review.

Buy Makita cordless tools from Amazon, My Tool Shed and Tooled Up.

Ryobi

Ryobi cordless tool ranges include:

  • One+: lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers and chainsaws, which are powered by an 18V battery
  • MaxPower: lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, grass trimmers, leaf blowers and chainsaws, which use 36V batteries

Read our Ryobi One+ System review, which won a Gardeners&#; World magazine Best Buy award

Buy Ryobi cordless tools on Ryobi, Amazon and Ebay.

Greenworks

Greenworks cordless tool ranges include:

  • 24V: Multi Tool, lawn mower, hedge trimmers and grass trimmers, which are powered by a 24V 2Ah battery
  • 40V: lawn mower, hedge trimmers, grass trimmers and pressure washer, which are powered by a 40V 4Ah battery
  • 60V: lawn mower, hedge trimmers, grass trimmers and pressure washer, which are powered by a 40V 4Ah battery

Read our Greenworks 24V Multi Tool review.

Buy Greenworks cordless tools on Greenworks, Amazon and Ebay.

Flymo

Flymo cordless tool ranges include:

  • 2 C-Link: Multi tool system, lawn mower, hedge trimmer, blower and grass trimmer

Read our Flymo 2 C-Link Multi Tool system review

Buy Flymo cordless tools from Flymo, Amazon and Homebase

What&#;s the difference between a cordless tool set and a cordless multi-tool system?

Cordless Tool Systems

These are individual tools, sold separately and usually with the choice of with or without a battery and charger. Therefore once you've bought your first tool, battery and charger from a particular range you only need to buy 'bare' tools from that range in the future. Tools available can include:

  • Strimmers
  • Hedge trimmers
  • Pole pruners
  • Leaf blowers
  • Vacuum blower
  • Lawn mowers

  • These usually come as a set that is made up of one pole with interchangeable heads

To find out more, watch our cordless tool system buyer&#;s guide:

Are you interested in learning more about Cordless Garden Tools? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Cordless tools can require a bit of forward planning to keep your batteries charged - there&#;s nothing more frustrating than waiting for batteries to charge when you&#;re ready to start the job at hand.
If your cordless tool uses a rechargeable battery pack, it&#;s often a good idea to have a spare, which can be charged while the other one is in use, but batteries can be expensive because they are complex to manufacture.

Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries need a special charger to match the battery&#;s specific size, but this can increase the costs. Some cordless tools don&#;t come with the battery and charger included, while others have a range of different sized batteries that fit the range and provide more power - great news, but they will require a specific charger to fit their size.

How to choose the best cordless tool system for you?

Think about your garden and what sort of tools you&#;ll need to tackle different jobs and choose your range accordingly.

  • Consider the run time and charge time of batteries. For example how tall and long is your hedge and how big is your lawn - if you have small hedges, a short battery life isn&#;t such an issue as it won&#;t take too much time to cut. On the other hand, if you have a large lawn, you&#;ll want to feel confident a cordless mower won&#;t run out of battery half-way through the job. If the run time is short, you may want to consider choosing a model with a quick charge time or buy a second battery, so you&#;re not delayed for too long.
  • Look out for cordless tools that show how much charge or run time they have left with an LED display on either the battery or charger (or both).

Everything you need to know about cordless tool batteries

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What do the terms voltage (V), amp-hour (Ah) and brushless motors mean?

Once you&#;ve chosen which type of cordless power tool you&#;re looking for, it&#;s time to think about power. Most brands offer a range of cordless garden tools, which vary when it comes to the power they offer, from entry level needs to a higher spec that is designed to be used in large gardens, and by professionals.

Three factors determine the power of your cordless power tool:

  • Voltage (V) - indicates how much power the lithium-ion battery can provide. The higher the voltage, the more powerful the battery, which is important if it&#;s powering a tool that requires a bit more oomph, like a mower or leaf blower.. Keep in mind that more power generally means the battery will be heavier and more expensive too, so it&#;s important to gauge what you need for your size garden or task
  • Amp-hours (Ah) - tells you how much charge the battery can deliver in an hour. If you have 2 batteries, you can double the run time.
  • Brushless motor - which means no energy is lost by the friction caused by traditional brush motors that rub against things. They are more energy-efficient and can run on batteries for up to 50 percent longer, but they're more expensive.

Sometimes cordless tools can be bought with an integrated battery, in other words the battery is built into the tool and you charge the whole tool as opposed to just the battery, but most often they come with a chargeable battery pack - usually lithium-ion - which is removed from the tool to charge and can be used to power other cordless tools in a brand&#;s range. Integrated batteries are smaller than battery packs, making this type of cordless tool cheaper and lighter than those with removable batteries but the batteries don&#;t hold a charge as long so they&#;re ideal for smaller jobs.

Cordless tools with a chargeable battery pack might be a little heavier and more expensive but if you&#;re happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range. While you can expect to pay a little more for them, if you&#;re happy to stay with one brand, you can use the same battery with other tools in the range assuming their size and voltage is compatible.

What do I need to know about Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries?

The most common batteries used in cordless tools are lithium-ion. Technology behind lithium-ion batteries has dramatically improved in recent years, because they&#;re the same batteries used to power electric cars and energy storage. Significant investments have been made to develop the battery&#;s efficiency and performance and you can now expect the same power from cordless tools as you would get with corded and petrol alternatives.

Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries are ideal for cordless garden tools because they provide a decent amount of power, and, despite being relatively small, can cope with being charged time and time again regardless if it&#;s fully or half used, so you don&#;t have to worry about charging it at the right time and in the right way.

How long do lithium-ion batteries last?

While this will always depend on use and storage, lithium-ion batteries hold their charge for months, even if only partially charged.

Lithium-ion batteries hold their charge for months, even if only partially charged.

In the long term, lithium extraction may have a detrimental impact on the environment, (according to earth.org, Lithium is extracted through &#;water-mining&#;, which requires an enormous amount of water throughout the process and toxic chemicals are needed to process lithium, leading to frequent water contamination and shortage lithium-producing countries). Ultimately, if lithium could be recycled, this would help manage the demands and make it a more sustainable option. In the meantime, they are a much better alternative to fossil fuels and signify a move towards sustainable development.

How do I dispose of lithium-ion batteries?

Although these rechargeable batteries come with a healthy lifespan of several years, ultimately when they need replacing they must be recycled. Some manufacturers will have the batteries back and recycle them, otherwise find your local recycling depot that will accept them.

Cordless garden tool systems on test

Stiga 500 Series

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Stiga 500 Series cordless tool system product review

Pros:

  • Range of batteries and chargers to choose from
  • Excellent performance and power
  • Helpful indicator lights
  • Tools well thought out with excellent features

Cons:

  • Heavy
  • Expensive - Battery and charger must be bought separately
  • Limited range of tools in the system

Our testers found the SHT 500 AE Cordless hedge trimmer was able to cut woody growth well and the rotating head locked easily into five positions. The battery on this tool is quite large meaning it could be heavy for some users. The SGT 500 AE Cordless grass trimmer is easy to assemble and the wide head cuts efficiently. The tool is very adaptable as the shaft is telescopic, the handle adjusts and head also rotates, with a wheel for effortless edging.

This tool set sits at the higher end of the price-range and is best for committed gardeners. The tools performed every job well so we judged it a Best Buy.

Read the full review at: Stiga 500 Series review

Stihl Compact Cordless Power System

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Stihl Compact Cordless System product review

Pros:

  • Available with or without battery
  • Very easy to set up
  • Light, comfortable and well balanced to use
  • Tools have good features
  • Good value once you have a battery and charger

Cons:

  • Long charge time
  • Limited range of tools in the system

The hedge trimmer HAS 56 cuts woody growth efficiently and comes with a handy safety lock. The grass strimmer FSA 56 has an adjustable shaft and handle and copes with most rough lawn areas well. The leaf blower BGA 56 is light and quiet with an adjustable tube so it&#;s suitable for most heights. There&#;s only one speed setting but it handles leaves and smaller debris well.

There&#;s no assembling as the tools arrived ready to go and the batteries charge in 80 minutes. We found the system was efficient and good value money and would suit regular gardeners or bigger gardens. We judged this a Best Buy through our expert cordless garden tools reviews.

Read the full review at: Stihl Compact Cordless Power System review

Bosch 18V Power for ALL Cordless System

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Bosch 18V Power for ALL cordless tool system product review

Pros:

  • Extensive range of tools in the system
  • Choice of batteries and chargers
  • Very light and comfortable
  • Good manoeuvrability
  • Tools have some good features

Cons:

  • Feel flimsy
  • Lack power
  • Short run time

We found the Universal Hedgecut 18-500 and Universal Grasscut 18-260 from this cordless garden multi tools system were simple to set up and the battery was easy to swap and recharge. The charger has indicator lights to let you know when the tool is fully charged. The hedge trimmer felt well-balanced and the &#;Antiblocking system&#; stopped growth jamming the blades. However, it was less powerful than other tools and felt a little flimsy, although the blades were longer.

The grass trimmer head rotates easily for trimming although the cutting diameter is quite small. We liked the ergonomically designed handle and the way the battery tucked comfortably under the arm during use.

Read the full review at: Bosch 18V Power for ALL Cordless System review

Greenworks 24 V Cordless Series

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Greenworks 24V Cordless Series cordless tool system product review

Pros:

  • Extensive range of tools available
  • Fast charging time
  • Good warranty length
  • Light, simple tools

Cons:

  • Limited range of batteries and chargers
  • Batteries and chargers purchased separately
  • Unusual handle design for some testers

The 24 V string trimmer and hedge trimmer cordless garden multi tools set comes with battery and charger included, which is unusual for this style of tool.

The grass trimmer has a rotatable head for edging but a slightly small handle meant the tool was uncomfortable for some testers. The hedge trimmer also had issues with the handle, as testers felt it was insubstantial. It is a light tool but struggles with thicker growth. The leaf blower was more comfortable to use and felt powerful, with two speeds plus a nozzle for more focused blowing.

Read the full review: Greenworks 24 V Cordless Series review

Save £30.99 on the Greenworks G24HT 24 V cordless hedge trimmer on Mad4Tools

Save £50.99 on the Greenworks line trimmer in a bundle with the Greenworks cordless mower on Mad4Tools

Individual cordless tool reviews

Our experts have also put a number of individual cordless tools through their paces, from various tool systems, including:

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If you want to learn more, please visit our website Cordless Power Tools Manufacturer.