You finally have a place of your own with your own small garden and know absolutely nothing about gardening! Mum and Dad will surely have heaps of advice and, if they live close, you may even find that you have some willing helpers. They may even be happy to lend you some tools but you will eventually need to buy your own. For most first time buyers, budgets are often very limited so here is a list of some of the essentials.
If you have a garden with a lawn then you will need a lawnmower. Make sure you buy one with a grass collecting box to collect up the cut grass clippings.
For digging and planting, you will need a large fork and a garden spade. You will also need a hand fork and small garden trowel for planting and weeding individual plants. Pruners or secateurs are useful for pruning shrubs and roses and other woody stem plants, though you may find you can use a pair of heavy duty scissors instead. A dibber, usually made of metal, plastic or wood, is useful for lifting out seedlings when they are ready to be planted out and it is also used for making holes in the soil in which to place your seedlings.
If you still have money left in your purse, then you may want to buy a rake and a hoe, especially if your garden is on the larger side. A rake is used for preparing soil ready for planting and a hoe helps with weeding.
Finally, buy a lawn rake if your garden is surrounded by deciduous trees. You will find this an essential tool for gathering up dead leaves once Autumn arrives.
