Gardening tools you can use in the new year

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Did you make a new year’s resolution to garden?

Here are some of the best tools to help you plant, prune and grow plants in 2025.

Hand Pruner

Let’s start with the basics. A hand pruner is used to prune small branches up to an inch in diameter. If you are left-handed be sure that the pruner can accommodate you. If your hand is small, try different types of pruners at the store to ensure you choose one that fits you. A pruner with one rotating handle makes the job easier.

If you are pruning live wood, you will need a bypass pruner, one that works like scissors, with blades that pass each other giving a clean cut. If you are pruning dead branches, grasses, etc., an anvil pruner, which has one flat edge and one sharp edge, should be used. Using an anvil pruner for live wood smashes the end of the branch and damages it.

Look for hardened steel blades with adjustable alignment. The handle should be forged aluminum, and the cover should be rubberized, providing some cushioning. A bright color makes it easier to find in the grass. Some better pruners have replacement parts, essentially giving you a pruner for life. You might also want a leather holder that attaches to your belt to keep the pruner handy.

Pruning Saw

A pruning saw is used for branches over an inch and a half in diameter. These are generally between 9 and 13 inches long, and may be curved or straight. Look for a steel blade. The number and shape of the teeth on the blade will determine the quality of the cut and the effort needed. The blade may either be fixed in one position or folding, which can be locked into position. A molded plastic handle is good for durability. Look for a full tang, which is the unsharpened metal section that extends from the back of the blade into the handle to provide stability. This kind of saw cuts on the pull, not on the push.

Hori Hori, or Garden Knife

Many gardeners cannot live without this tool. The blade is 6 and a half inches long, with a wooden handle and a plastic sheath (holder) which usually has a belt loop. One inch measurements are etched into the knife blade. This tool has many uses, including light digging, clearing away soil from a plant, rooting out weeds, and moving plants. The sharpness of the blade sets it apart, but also makes it somewhat challenging to use safely.

Trowel

This tool is useful for weeding, potting, planting and digging, and can be used in place of a garden knife if you keep it sharp. Look for a size and shape that is appropriate to your hand size and strength (Try them in person). A good one might be 14-inches long which is a versatile size. Look for one with single-piece steel or aluminum alloy construction, an easy to grip vinyl handle, a hanging loop, and a powder coated finish.

Gloves

Gloves come in many different designs and materials, and have optional special qualities like waterproofing, cushioning, and fabrics which help regulate hand temperature. The kind of glove you need depends on the jobs you want to complete, and when you plan to do them (outside temperature). When it is important to be able to feel what you’re doing, and to have flexible fingers, thin, lightweight gloves will do. Such tasks might include potting up, weeding and planting. For protection and support when using tools or doing hard jobs, a heavy-duty glove is important. Some gloves are inexpensive and poorly made and will wear out quickly. Some have long gauntlets which extend toward your elbow and will protect from thorns and prickles.

Garden Magazines

Another tool, for learning and entertainment is garden magazines. A unique example is “The Garden” from the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS), England. RHS publishes this magazine monthly, and it includes cutting-edge design ideas, best plants of the year, and advanced research. Your subscription to the magazine helps support many charities and research work, and will also allow you early tickets for RHS garden shows and free admission to their five display gardens. If Latin names for plants is your thing, the RHS will be a good fit.

“Horticulture” is another good magazine with a more accessible style. This magazine focuses on regional plant picks, garden design is more focused to the US, and it has excellent interviews with important gardeners.

“Fine Gardening” is another magazine, which has some unique features. It publishes an online garden visit every day, covering gardens all over the US, Canada and elsewhere. And you can get archived material and special coverage with their “all access” feature.