Everything you need to know about essential tools for creating beautiful garden borders

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Are you looking to create beautiful garden borders but not sure which tools are truly essential? 

You’re not alone! 

That's why I asked some of the best private gardeners on our website to share all the tools they use when installing or maintaining borders for their clients. 

In this article, you’ll find a summary table, details on each tool with its features, average prices, and even photos to show you what they look like. 

Ready to transform your garden? 

Let’s get started:

Summary table of all the useful tools for creating garden borders

If you just need a quick list, the table below summarises all the tools I'll be talking about in this guide, clearly and concisely. 

If you want more details and photos of each tool, scroll down past the table!

Below, I’ll explain in detail what each tool does, its pros and cons and you’ll also find a photo to see what it looks like!

Essential manual tools for creating stunning borders

If you're not in a hurry and enjoy working the soil by hand in peace and quiet, you’ll need the following tools:

Edging spade

• Use: For cutting and precisely defining borders. It's the best tool for working on your garden edges!
• Pros/Cons: It’s very precise, but a bit difficult to use for very long borders.

Shovel or spade

• Use: For digging the soil and preparing the space for the border. I recommend using a spade, but a square shovel works just as well. 
• Pros/Cons: Great for larger jobs, but can be tiring to use.

String line and stakes

• Use: For marking out the space for the border and ensuring it’s straight.
• Pros/Cons: Ensures precision, but adds extra time to the process.

Measuring tape

• Use: For measuring distances and ensuring the border is accurate.
• Pros/Cons: No drawbacks!

Rubber mallet

• Use: For hammering in wooden, metal, or plastic borders without damaging them.
• Pros/Cons: Pros – Protects materials; Cons – Less effective on very hard materials.

Weeding knife

• Use: Perfect for removing weeds along the border.
• Pros/Cons: Precise for getting rid of weeds, but you'll need to work on your knees!

All the machines to create effortless garden borders

If your garden is particularly large, you’ll understand the importance of having machines that help you get your gardening tasks done quickly.

The tools below will allow you to work on your garden borders much faster:

Electric edger

• Use: Used to create clean and precise borders along paths, flowerbeds, and lawns.
• Pros/Cons: Great for creating very neat and well-defined borders, but it can struggle on uneven or particularly hard ground.

Electric strimmer

• Use: Best for areas with tall and dense grass. Ideal for clearing borders overrun by vegetation.
• Pros/Cons: Very effective for overgrown or hard-to-reach areas, but it can be heavy and require some strength for extended use.

The essential tools to maintain your garden borders

As you know, the hardest part about garden borders is the maintenance!

Luckily, you don't need to buy a lot of tools to keep them looking great:

Rake

• Use: For leveling the soil and clearing away debris.
• Pros/Cons:
  • Pros: Simple to use and effective for cleaning surfaces.
  • Cons: Can be tiring to use on larger areas.

Manual edge trimmer

• Use: To trim grass and plants along the borders. Perfect for maintenance!
• Pros/Cons:
  • Pros: Allows for precise trimming.
  • Cons: Requires more time and effort compared to an electric model.

Hoe

• Use: For weeding and aerating the soil along the borders.
• Pros/Cons:
  • Pros: Efficient for removing weeds.
  • Cons: Requires significant physical effort.

Secateurs

• Use: For trimming small branches and plants near the borders.
• Pros/Cons:
  • Pros: Provides precise and clean cuts.
  • Cons: May struggle with thicker branches.

Now that you know what these tools are for, let’s talk about the cost!

💶 How much will it cost to buy the tools from this guide?

As mentioned in the table at the beginning of the article, buying all the tools can be a significant investment.

Wondering about the exact amount? I’ve done the maths for you:

Do you really need to buy all these tools?

Not necessarily! It really depends on the size of your borders. The longer they are, the more you'll need electric tools.

Especially for the maintenance of garden borders, which needs to be done regularly (they grow quickly!).

If you do decide to purchase all the equipment, here's the total cost you can expect:

Buy the tools or hire a gardener: what’s the best option?

If you enjoy working in the garden, this question might not even come up!

But if you'd rather not spend all your weekends working instead of relaxing, this is a worthwhile consideration.

Especially because gardeners available on Yoojo charge an average of £16 per hour!

This means that if you buy all the tools mentioned above, you'll need to use them for about 24 hours to justify the cost.

Why not book all your home gardening services with Yoojo... you’ll enjoy beautiful garden borders and all the free time you’ll save!

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