Spending free time in the garden is becoming more and more fashionable. As people’s lives creep into increasingly stressful territory – it is of paramount importance that they have somewhere to relax and recuperate. If you combine this with the added satisfaction gained from watching something grow and develop, you will begin to understand why gardening is taking off as a modern and practical pastime.

For a lot of people that want to get into the hobby, it can seem a too daunting and mysterious world to dive into with reckless abandon. In the following guide, I intend to introduce you to the art and put your mind at ease. It is not some thing that comes easily, and reaching a comfortable level of proficiency and competency can often be a case of trowel and error. That said – Gardening is truly a hobby for all age groups. Whether you are a wee sapling or a mighty oak, this could end up being a pastime for life.

Before you embark on your marvellously magnificent gardening adventure, you are going to need some equally magnificent garden supplies. Regardless of whether the garden centre you are purchasing from is a massive chain store or a rustic little hardware supplier out in the sticks– there are certain things you will need to bear in mind. Firstly, you will need to indulge in a little introspection or self reflection and decide what type of gardener you want be. Are you going to be a hardy, self reliant, utilitarian vegetable gardener? Working on the land to reap the bounties that lie within? Or are you going to be a true floral artist, creatively weaving the land into a rich tapestry of vibrant colours and perennial pleasures?

The chances are, if you are reading this beginners article – you probably haven’t decided and will want to sample both sides of the grand gardening aspect before settling down to a style that suits you.

They say that a workman is only as good as his tools and the following is a list of the important implements you will need to start out. I am taking the assumption that you are starting with a bare patch of ground. A daunting strip of naked nature without trees, shrubs, hedges, herbaceous plants, wildlife or any of the other things you may already have in a garden that could require special equipment to maintain.

Garden Fork- Don’t forket this one as you will have a difficult time cultivating a ground breaking garden without any means of breaking ground.

Garden Spade- This is a real ace up your sleeve and is handy for turning over ground as will as being absolutely necessary if you want to plant larger plants.

Hand Trowel- for when a spade could be considered over-kill, this little tool is perfect for planting bulbs, bedding and smaller plants.

Hoe- useful for swiftly terminating weeds- and use it before they get to big or you will need to get the trowel involved.

Rake- this is more of a want than a need, but very handy for priming seedbeds and tidying up troublesome leaves.

Now any of you that have had a brief look around for any of these vitally important garden supplies will be aware that they range pretty dramatically in price and quality. Steer clear of tools that are overly cheap. If a deal seems too good to be true- it usually is and it is likely that these tools may not be of suitable quality.

On the flip side of the coin however, there is not really any need to buy the most expensive gardening tools either- unless your garden is particularly large or consisting of heavy clay soil. When purchasing, it is important to check the handles are screwed on properly and that they are sturdy and robust- let your metal be well tempered and your shafts be un-warped.

You should take a fair consideration of weight as well. If your tools are light, this may help considerably as ploughing a straight furrow can be a strenuous task. At the same time, if your gardening supplies are too lightweight, they could be flimsy or weak.

Getting into the exciting world of gardening doesn’t need to cost a fortune, and remember- more money saved on tools can be spent on exciting new plants for your garden!