The Complete Guide
The Monty Don Gardening Tool Guide
The hand-forged trowels, heritage spades, and essential tools behind Britain's most-watched garden. With honest reviews and where to buy.
Explore His Essential 7Monty Don's Gardening Tools
The Essential 7
"You really only need a spade, fork, rake, hoe, trowel, secateurs and a knife." These are the seven tools Monty Don says every gardener truly needs.
Buy once, buy well. A good tool will outlast you.
Monty Don · BBC Gardeners' World
In-Depth Guide
Monty Don's 7 Essential Garden Tools
Every tool he uses at Longmeadow, why he chose it, how he uses it, and where you can buy the exact same ones.
12 min read · Updated April 2026
Read the Full GuideQuick Pick
What Are You Looking For?
Starting a Garden?
The three tools you need on day one to dig, turn, and plant.
- Digging Spade
- Border Fork
- Sneeboer Trowel
Pruning Season?
The cutting tools Monty reaches for when shaping and tidying.
- Bypass Secateurs
- Garden Knife
Gift for a Gardener?
Premium hand-forged tools that last a lifetime.
- Sneeboer Dutch Trowel
- Quality Secateurs
Why These Tools
Why Gardeners Trust Monty Don's Tool Recommendations
Monty Don is not a product endorser. He is a working gardener who has spent over three decades cultivating Longmeadow, his two-acre garden in Herefordshire, in front of millions of BBC viewers. Every gardening tool he recommends has been tested through years of daily use — in heavy clay, in frost, in the relentless English rain. When he says a tool works, it is because he has broken the ones that don't.
As the presenter of BBC Gardeners' World since 2003 and the author of more than twenty books, Monty has become Britain's most trusted voice on practical gardening. His tool philosophy is refreshingly simple: you need fewer tools than you think, but the ones you have should be the best you can afford. No gimmicks, no gadgets, no unnecessary complexity.
That philosophy is why this guide exists. We've documented every gardening tool Monty Don uses, cross-referencing broadcast footage, interviews, and his own writing to identify the exact makes and models. The result is a resource built on evidence, not sponsorship.
30+
Years of gardening at Longmeadow
20+
Seasons presenting BBC Gardeners' World
7
Essential tools — all you truly need
OBE
Awarded for services to horticulture & broadcasting
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Monty Don's Gardening Tools
Everything you need to know about the tools Monty Don uses, where to find them, and whether they're worth the investment.
What gardening tools does Monty Don use?
Monty Don uses seven core tools in his garden at Longmeadow: a Sneeboer Old Dutch Style Planting Trowel, a digging spade, a border fork, bypass secateurs (he favours Felco), a flat-headed garden rake, a Dutch hoe, and a folding garden knife. He has said repeatedly that these seven are all any gardener truly needs.
Where does Monty Don buy his gardening tools?
Monty Don's favourite tools come primarily from Sneeboer, a Dutch family forge making hand-forged garden tools since 1913. He also uses secateurs from Felco and knives from Opinel. These can be purchased from the manufacturers' websites, specialist retailers like the Garden Tool Company, and Amazon.
What is Monty Don's favourite gardening tool?
Monty Don has described the Sneeboer Old Dutch Style Planting Trowel as his single favourite tool — the one he reaches for more than any other. Its narrow, hand-forged blade and ash wood handle make it ideal for planting, weeding, and working in tight spaces between established plants.
How much do Monty Don's recommended tools cost?
Monty Don's recommended gardening tools range from about £15 for a quality garden knife to around £90 for a premium digging spade. His iconic Sneeboer trowel costs approximately £50. While more expensive than budget tools, Monty's philosophy is that well-made tools last decades, making them far cheaper over a lifetime.
Are Monty Don's gardening tools worth the price?
According to Monty Don, absolutely. His philosophy is 'buy once, buy well.' Hand-forged tools from makers like Sneeboer use superior steel alloys that hold an edge longer, resist rust, and won't snap at the weld joint like mass-produced tools. With proper care — cleaning after use and occasional oiling — these tools will outlast their owner.
Spring 2026
This Season in the Garden
Spring is here. Time to sharpen your hoe, prepare your beds, and get your trowel dirty planting bulbs and seedlings.