Whether you’re an old hand in the garden or about to embark on a new gardening venture, green fingers are only half the battle won.

No volume of gardening brilliance can overcome the need for a few essential gardening tools, so we’ve sifted through the bells and whistles and put together a list of useful tools for the most important gardening tasks:

A sturdy spade

What’s a garden without a trusty spade? You’ll need a substantial one for digging large holes when you plant trees and shrubs. A spade takes quite a beating, so it’s worth spending a bit more on a quality spade that will last longer.

A large garden fork 

This is useful for breaking up heavy soil before you plant. It also works wonders for aerating your lawn and the areas of the garden where the soil is dense or compact.

A watering can or a fine sprinkler hosepipe attachment

Either of these is very necessary for watering seedlings gently (so that the spray doesn’t cause them to wash away), as well as for watering container plants and hanging baskets.

A set of hand gardening tools

These sets vary slightly, but the essentials include a trowel, a small garden fork and a transplanter. You’ll use these for planting seedlings and weeding.

A good pair of secateurs

A gardener’s best friend. You’ll use these for just about everything, including pruning, deadheading, cutting and trimming. It’s worth investing in a good quality pair that will last you for many seasons, and remember to clean and dry them well after each use to prevent them from rusting.

Gardening gloves

There’s bound to be something scratchy in that patch of green. Whether you’re pruning or weeding, gloves allow you to get stuck into your gardening chores without coming out covered in nicks and scrapes. They also help to keep your fingernails clean when planting seedlings.