Most gardeners would agree finding the best garden trowel is essential and one of their most reached-for garden tools. A useful little handheld spade, garden trowels have a myriad of uses including digging small holes, filling plant pots, transplanting seedlings, and weeding.
Your traditional trowel is capable of all of the above, but there are specialist trowels that make some of those jobs that little bit easier. For example, potting trowels have a deeper, more curved blade to help fill plant pots, and narrow Dixter trowels are brilliant when you're working in small spaces.
Best garden trowels at a glance:
• Best traditional trowel: Spear & Jackson Elements Hand Trowel - View on Amazon UK
• Best for transplanting: Draper 14312 Carbon Steel Heavy Duty Transplanting Trowel - View on Amazon UK
• Best for potting: Kent & Stowe Stainless Steel Hand Potting Scoop - View on Amazon UK
A minimum of one garden trowel is an absolute must-have for any kind of gardener, but you may be tempted to invest in a specialist tool too. To ensure you're properly tooled up for your next gardening task, whatever that may be, take a look through our savvy selection of the best and most useful garden trowels currently available.
Best trowels
Best traditional trowel
AmazonThis classic garden trowel, from Spear & Jackson's popular "Elements" range of garden tools, is a budget-friendly option that offers robust specifications. It has a hammer finish, epoxy coated head which S&J says improves resistance to rust, scratches, humidity, and alkalines in the soil. The ash wood handle has been weatherproofed and there's a handy leather hanging hook for storage.
Customer review: "This is good and sturdy and perfect for your gardening uses. I feel like it's very good value for money. I highly recommend this product."
Pros
- Epoxy coated head
- Lacquered handle
- Leather strap
Cons
- Heavy blade
Best with measurements
AmazonThis humble trowel was inspired by Capability Brown, one of England's greatest gardeners, so you know you're following in the footsteps of greatness when you're using it. This is shaped like a traditional trowel but has some useful extra features. This includes a pointed tip to break through hard ground, a serrated edge to cut through roots, a handy planting depth scale, and a metal-tipped handle that can be used as a hammer.
Customer review: "This arrived a few days days ago and I have used it nonstop ever since. I love it! It's so comfortable to use and I would have never known how handy the serrated edge would be… A fab, sturdy little tool at a great price."
Pros
- Depth scale
- Serrated edge
- Hammer handle
Cons
- Handle not weatherproof
Best Dixter trowel
AmazonAnother tool with an interesting provenance, the 'Dixter' trowel was originally designed by Christopher Lloyd, head horticulturist at Great Dixter House in East Sussex. This narrow-bladed trowel is similar to a widger, and it's also known as a rockery trowel as its thin dimensions make it ideal for working in tight spaces. This RHS-endorsed version has a strong, stainless steel blade that extends the entire length of the tool.
Customer review: "This rockery trowel is strong and robust and should, with careful care, last a lifetime. The narrow blade enables access in confined spaces and is very useful for extracting weeds in close proximity to other plants. I am very pleased with this purchase and have no hesitation in recommending it to the serious gardener."
Pros
- Stainless steel blade
- Full tang construction
Cons
- Specialist use
Best for transplanting
AmazonAs the name would suggest, transplanting trowels are used for digging, then introducing seedlings and transplants into the space you've created. The longer, narrower blade with a distinctive curve makes this process easier. This Draper transplanting trowel is a robust option, boasting a fully hardened and tempered carbon steel blade, a plated ferrule for sturdiness, and a handsome lacquered ash handle.
Customer review: "Very sturdy and comfortable to use. The tip is nice and pointed so makes weeding close to other plants very easy and precise."
Pros
- Tempered carbon steel
- Lacquered handle
Cons
- Not full tang
Best for potting
AmazonA scoop has wider uses than simply potting, it can also be used for distributing dry animal food and filling bird feeders. As far as gardening goes, this scoop has a generous curved design that makes putting compost into pots, containers, planters, and hanging baskets a simple task. This Kent & Stowe potting trowel has a rust-resistant stainless steel head and a comfortable, contoured handle crafted from ash wood.
Customer review: "The shape is great because it helps to fill even the smallest plant pot with compost without it spilling out all over the place."
Pros
- Curved scoop
- Rust-resistant
Cons
- Not ideal for digging
Best telescopic trowel
AmazonA telescopic trowel's extendable abilities can come in useful if you're trying to tend to hard-to-access areas of your garden. Its long handle can also help anyone with mobility issues who finds getting on and off their knees a challenge. This capable option from AB Tools measures 63.5cm when collapsed, but when extended with the twist-lock action, can reach to 95cm. This has a stainless steel blade and a foam-coated handle.
Customer review: "Love this extending trowel so much I bought one for my friend as well, so easy now to reach the back of my borders plus I can keep my border edges neat and tidy."
Pros
- Extendable design
- Stainless steel blade
Cons
- Foam handle
Best tulip trowel
AmazonObviously named after the iconic Dutch flower, a tulip trowel is the ideal choice when working on hard ground. It works like a traditional trowel, but thanks to that zig-zag edge, can break up soil like a hand fork. This De Wit option is crafted from hardened boron steel that has been heat-treated for extra strength, and the three points have been sharpened for improved cutting action. This has an FSC-certified ash wood handle.
Customer review: "Love it, it really digs in and it's pretty hanging on my rack."
Pros
- Zig-zag edge
- Made of boron steel
Cons
- No hanging hook supplied
What to consider when choosing a garden trowel
While trowels are arguably relatively straightforward garden tools, there are a few important qualities to consider when you're shopping for a new one.
Blade - the shape of the blade will dictate what the trowel is useful for. Narrow blades are good for transplanting and weeding in tight spaces, wider blades have more general usage.
Handle - whether you prefer traditional wooden handles or practical plastic options, look for ergonomic designs that will be more comfortable to use over long periods.
Ferrule - this is the ring that connects the trowel's blade, or head, to the handle. Metal ferrules are generally stronger than plastic to avoid your trowel snapping.
Storage - most trowels will have a hole in the base of the handle so that can suspend them for storage in order to keep them clean and dry when they are not in use.
How to look after your garden trowel
As with all tools, you should take good care of your garden equipment. A solid maintenance routine will see your trowel last longer, meaning you won't need to replace them too often.
Cleanliness is the key to trowel care. After each use, brush off debris with a stiff brush as this can cause even carbon steel to rust. If there is still residue after a good brush, you can give your tools a quick blast under the garden hose or a brief wash with soapy water.
Your trowel's wooden handles will benefit from occasional treatment - a swift coat of varnish, for example, after you've rubbed it down with some fine sandpaper. You can also oil the metal blade of your trowel to keep it pristine. A multi-purpose oil or spray will protect against rust.
You may want to sharpen any blade's edge with a sharpening stone, although do be aware of the safety implications of having recently sharpened tools around the place.
The final point to note is where to store your tools. A dry tool shed, garage, or greenhouse is ideal. If you can suspend your tools from hooks, keeping them off cold and damp ground, it's advised.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.