Guides
Gardening Tool Guides
Honest, in-depth guides to the tools Monty Don uses and recommends — and how to choose the right ones for your garden.
In-Depth Guide
Monty Don's 7 Essential Garden Tools
The only seven tools you truly need, according to Britain’s most trusted gardener. Every tool examined in detail, with honest buying advice.
Buyer's Guide
The Best Garden Spade
Our top digging spades compared — from value Spear & Jackson workhorses to a premium stainless Draper, plus a junior spade for kids.
Comparison
Border Spade vs Digging Spade
They look alike but are built for different jobs. How to tell them apart — and which one to buy first.
Soil Guide
The Best Spade for Heavy Clay Soil
Heavy clay needs the right blade. Why stainless wins, our top picks, and the technique Monty Don swears by.
Buyer's Guide
The Best Garden Trugs
From the handmade Royal Sussex trug to Burgon & Ball wooden trugs and tough plastic Tubtrugs — our picks for every job and budget.
Buyer's Guide
The Best Garden Hand Spade
Six hand trowels compared — Wilkinson Sword, Kent & Stowe, DeWit, Niwaki and more, with honest pros and cons and the stainless-vs-carbon question settled.