Tool check end of May — what you actually pick up every day

There are these tool sets at the hardware store — 15 pieces in a fancy wooden box, 49.90 for "the ambitious hobby gardener". I had two of them. Both sit in the basement today, full, unused, because out of 15 pieces I actually need four.

End of May is a good moment for an honest tool check. The season is running, you know what you need, what annoys you, what's missing. Here's my list — what actually lives in my hand every day.

The four pieces I use every day

1. A trowel that takes a beating. Gardena Classic trowel, 6 cm working width, quality steel* — mine is 8 years old, looks like day one. Corrosion-protected, ergonomic grip, narrow enough for seed rows. If you buy just one piece of tool, this is it.

2. A larger transplanting trowel for bigger jobs. Gardena flower trowel, large (8953-20)* — wider than the planting trowel, for bigger seedlings (tomatoes, zucchini). The small one can do it too, but takes three times as long.

3. A hand fork for loosening. Bosch Garden stainless steel hand fork* — for loosening roots, breaking compacted soil, pulling weeds out with the root. Stainless steel, otherwise it rusts in one season. Three prongs is enough, five is too narrow.

4. A planter for seedlings. Gardena planter for seedlings* — the conical tool that punches a perfect hole for young seedlings. I ignored this for years thinking "I can do that with the trowel". I can. With the planter it takes a third of the time.

Four pieces. Total 50–60 Francs together. Last 8+ years. I pick them up every day.

Worth it for beginners: the complete set

If you're just starting and don't want to buy each piece separately, there are two sets I actually defend:

GardenHOME 7-piece garden tool set* — trowel, flower trowel, hand fork, weeder, plus gloves and a bag. The individual pieces are solid, not as good as Gardena alone, but 80 % there. For about half the single-piece price.

KOHRIUK 8-piece garden tool set with bag* — stainless steel, with bag, slightly higher quality than GardenHOME. Also here: the important 4 are in, the rest is bonus.

What I wouldn't buy again in hindsight

• Specialty tools for one crop. Tomato pruners, pea pickers, asparagus knives (if you don't grow asparagus). You use it once a season, it hangs 11 months in the garage.
• Knee pads with carrying handles. An old foam mat does the job and is lying around anyway.
• Planting cords and markers. Invented by someone who doesn't collect sticks from the garden every spring.
• Electric garden tools for raised beds. If your bed is smaller than 5 m², you don't need a battery-powered cultivator.

My 2026 update

Last year I upgraded: replaced the old Gardena trowel (the old one had a crack in the handle after 8 years), added the planter. That's it. Nothing more is really needed — for a normal DACH raised-bed setup.

If you're starting fresh: buy the four individuals or the GardenHOME set. Skip everything else. You save money, the shed stays empty, and you have exactly what you need in your hand.

🦔 Stachi

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Note: Links marked with * are Amazon partner links (amazon.de). If you order through them, Erntezeit earns a small commission — the price for you stays the same. The trowel, hand fork and planter are on my workbench, the sets I've recommended to neighbours and got positive feedback.