Keeping on top of the garden can be a rewarding way to get outside and connect with nature – so long as it doesn’t turn into hours of thankless hard graft. We’ve found the most efficient, labour-saving tools to help you power through the seasons without breaking a sweat …
The best for cutting back
Jakoti hand shears (£30)
The crème de la crème of shears, these clever cutters from Jakoti have self-sharpening straight, carbon steel blades which will make short work of snipping off faded flowers, cutting unruly grasses and tidying shrubs and perennials. They’re operated with one hand, so you can lift up stems with the other and then slice. They’re made to last a lifetime, using traditional metalwork techniques. It’s worth paying the bit extra for ease of use and those super-sharp blades.
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The best for planting bulbs
Sneeboer bulb planter (£77.85)
Bulbs look best planted in big numbers to make drifts of colour, but getting them all into the ground at the right time is a labour of love. This Sneeboer bulb planter makes it a doddle: just insert into the ground, lift out a clod of earth, put the bulb into the hole, and replace the clod that pops out when you make the next hole. It’s like a bulb-planting production line. The tool has a 63cm-long stainless steel handle for back preservation.
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The best for fast hedge trimming
Stihl HSA25 shrub shears (£94.01)
Maintaining small hedges can be tricky, especially if they are difficult to access. The HSA25 is small, lightweight and manoeuvrable thanks to the cordless design (it runs on a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery for up to 110 minutes). With two diamond-ground, double-stroke 17cm blades, it cuts branches up to 8mm in diameter. An 11.5cm grass-cutting blade means the shears can be used for neatening borders and edges, and the optional telescopic handle extends them by 95-110cm, so you can work standing up.
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The best for digging
Fiskars Xact digging spade (£32)
A lightweight spade is a game-changer when you’re faced with digging an overgrown garden bed. This one from Fiskars has an extra-strong, sharp blade to slice through the soil, roots and stubborn clods, and a non-slip step board to hold muddy boots firm. It is made of boron steel, so it won’t rust, even if you leave it out. The medium suits people who are between 5ft 3in and 5ft 9in (160-175cm) tall, and there’s a large size if you’re over that height.
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The best for strimming
Bosch Easy Grass Cut 12-230 cordless strimmer (£75)
If you only have half an hour to tidy up the garden, strim it. This cordless strimmer from Bosch makes it a breeze. It has a Lithium-ion battery with a short charge time and a rotatable head for trimming, edging and finishing. You can adjust the height, angle and function with a single click.
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The best for lopping trees
Wolf-Garten Power Cut anvil loppers (£89.99)
Overhanging branches and messy, out-of-shape trees begone with these easy to handle Power Cut anvil loppers which are best suited to dead wood and thicker branches (up to 40mm). Lightweight, adjustable aluminium handles (up to 900mm), with ergonomic soft grips, mean that you can reach overhead without straining or having to balance on a ladder.
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The best for weeding
Niwaki hand hoe (£18)
A deceptively simple bit of kit, a hand hoe is your best friend when it comes to weeding and preparing the ground for planting seeds. It has a 400mm-long birch handle, attached to a 120mm blade, which you can use to prise out stubborn roots, break up clumps and flip aside rocks and stones. There are no gimmicks here, it’s just sturdy and reliable and will make a laborious task much easier.
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The best for pruning
Wilkinson Sword ultra-light bypass pruners (£11.99)
A sharp, clean cut without any squashing or snagging of branches is key when pruning young, fresh plants, or disease can be a risk. These lightweight bypass pruners won’t bruise or tear living tissue, or cause you hand pain because they’re so light (140g) and easy to wield.
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The best for lawn edging
Burgon & Ball RHS-endorsed half-moon lawn edger (£29.99)
A crisply edged lawn can have a transformative effect, and although you can do it with a spade, this lawn edger does the job more efficiently. It has a serrated edged head to slice through the turf, and a long handle, made from FSC-certified ash, which will take the pressure off your back. There’s a wide handle bar for a firm grip and wide treads on the blade, so the edge won’t bite into your feet. The stainless steel blade is rust resistant, and there is a lifetime guarantee.
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The best all-rounder
Essential Felco secateurs 160S (£29.99)
No gardener worth their salt goes outside without a pair of secateurs, and these Felco ones, designed and engineered in Switzerland, are worth the investment. They have tough, ultra-light handles, which are easy to hold, and blades made from hardened steel, which can be sharpened over time. Add a leather cone holster, £19.99, and clip them on a belt so you’ll never lose them. This pair is suited to smaller hands, but larger sizes are available.
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To find discount codes for the best garden tools from major home and garden retailers, visit discountcode.theguardian.com/uk
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