All about Tools and Garden Equipment

Cutting tools

Bypass Pruners/ Secateurs

These are used for cutting small twigs and branches. These can be used to cut back any extra growth on a plant throughout the season. Perennials that have died back can be cut back, in addition to the small branches of shrubs such as citrus plants. These tools have curved blades that act like scissors, allowing you to get right into the growth. They work best on live wood.

Anvil Secateurs

Similar to normal secateurs but used for heavy-duty cutting, the small built-in anvil helps you make thicker cuts with minimal effort. They are best for cutting dead wood as they may bruise softer stems. They are suitable for both right and left-handed gardeners.

Bonsai Snips

Tiny scissors for tiny cuts! Bonsai snips are best used for cutting herbs, flowers and small branches off young bonsai.

Shears

Garden shears have long straight blades and are best for cutting branches and stems up to 2cm in width, such as new growth on hedges and shrubs. Grass shears are smaller in size and are perfect for horizontal cuttings.

Loppers

Loppers have a short, curved blade at the end of their long handles. The elongated handles provide plenty of leverage it help you get through larger branches with ease. Perfect for hedges, shrubs and trees.

Pruning Saws

Best used on branches between the sizes of 2cm to 10 cm. There are a large variety of sizes and types to choose from, so feel free to ask a staff member which saw is right for you!

Pro Tip: Hold the branch steady and use the saw in your other hand; take breaks if you need, and create a wedge on larger branches to prevent your saw from getting stuck. Always cut as close as you can to the trunk, or leave a few centimetres when cutting back to another branch. Use pruning paste afterwards to help seal the wound.

Tree Pruner

These are loppers with extended poles. They provide even greater range and leverage. Perfect for cutting back thicker branches that are out of reach.

Digging Tools

Trowel

Trowels are used for digging in garden beds, usually digging out small holes or small plants. You can use them to apply small amounts of extra soil or mix to the area where a small plant will be.

These are a must-have for every type of gardener.
There are different types of hand trowels, like small mini spades and also long-handled trowels available for those who have back problems.

Root Trowel

Root trowels have thinner sides than normal hand trowels which are used specifically for small spaces or small pots. Best used for plants that are growing close together to create less disturbance in the soil, while being able to dig out your desired plant, roots and all.

Crown trowel

The serrated edge helps cut through hard and compact dirt with ease. Perfect for those who have clay soils in their garden.

Soil Scoop

It’s in the name! Soil scoops are best used when taking small to medium amounts of mixes out of bags, such as sheep pellets, compost, potting mix or other unique mixes. They are great when repotting plants into hanging baskets, pots and small to medium containers.

Hand Fork

Hand forks are best used to help dig up shallow-rooted weeds, finished annuals or plants for transferring around the garden, particularly when the plants are in hard or compact soils.

Garden Digging Forks

Garden forks can be used for a number of different jobs in your garden. They can help break up compact clay dirt or ground that is filled with stones. They can be used to turn over soil as you add extra compost in autumn, winter and spring. They can also be used to turn over your home compost or used to distribute straw mulch around trees, shrubs and the veggie garden. Plus, you can poke holes in the lawn to get better aeration around the roots, encouraging faster growth and healthier soil. The larger forks provide more force when digging up larger plants that need transplanting or have died out.

Spade

A spade usually has a flat surface with a shorter handle and is better for ‘cutting’ into the ground or areas with grass. Use spades for digging into hard soil and breaking it up. Best for making and digging holes.

Shovel

Shovels are heavier tools. A large curved surface is at the end of their long handles, which is used for scooping up large amounts of soil or materials and transferring them from one place to another. Best used for replanting a shrub or tree.

Garden Hoes

The head of the gardening hoe is sharply angled and is used to cultivate the soil and dig up small weeds in a gardening bed. Use on a bed while preparing the soil for new seedlings, creating small rows for seeds, bulbs or potatoes.

Garden ‘Spork’

This is a multitasking tool that combines a trowel and fork. Best used for digging small patches, losing soil, transplanting, weeding and edging.

Gardeners ‘dagger’/’digidigi’

Garden ‘daggers’, ‘knives’ or ‘digidigs’ are the swiss army knife of the garden. They can be used to cut open bags of fertiliser and soil, cut out old string on vining plants such as tomatoes, split plants in the soil, measure depth when planting bulbs and can also be used to cut through root systems. This garden tool truly does it all!

Dibblers

Many people don’t know what a garden dibbler is, but it can be a useful tool in everyday gardening. Essentially it is a hole maker, a long cone with a handle that is used to stab into the soil to make a hole for small seedlings and seeds.

Tools for Weeds

Original Weeder

Made in Lower Hutt, with New Zealand-sourced materials, the ‘Original Weeder’ is a versatile tool that was made to dig out weeds from pavers, concrete and hard-to-reach places. All of our stores use this tool and can vouch for its effectiveness.

Paver Weeder

Similar to the ‘Original Weeder’, but with a shorter handle. Giving you more control, it is perfect for clearing out weeds around pavers and in between concrete.

Weedpopper

A Weedpopper looks like a two-prong gardening fork. They make easy work of weeds with stubborn roots, such as hemlock, wild carrots and dock.

Rakes

Leaf Rake

A rake specially made to sweep up fallen leaves in the garden. These come in both plastic and metal, and are perfect for cleaning up autumn leaves.

Garden Rake

Usually, heavier rakes are used to cultivate and turn over the very top of garden beds. Used to level dirt, take out small weeds, and add a top later of fertiliser, and are also used when levelling the ground when making a new lawn. They are amazingly versatile and are a staple tool in every gardener’s shed.

Other Equipment

Brooms

There are many different sizes of brooms. Some are better for sweeping up small dirt and dust in a garden shed or workspace, while large, heavy-duty brooms are better for clearing up lots of soil, weeds or plant material in your work area.

Sprayer

We stock different sprayers for different jobs. Ask staff instore which sprayer is right for you! Whether it's for pest management, anti-fungal sprays or killing off weeds. Remember to never use the same sprayer for different jobs. We recommend getting separate sprayers and having their purpose clearly labelled on their bottles.

Edge Trimmers

Attached to a long handle is a round blade used for cutting the grass next to pavers, sidewalks and driveways. Easy to use and perfect for those who like an impressively clean-looking yard.

Kneeling pads

Another must-have for every gardener. Having a soft cushiony surface to bend down on will help keep your knees mud-free and pain-free.