Choosing the right garden tools can make your gardening so much easier and so much more productive too. Most gardeners have a basic selection already in their possession, things like rakes, pitchforks, hoes, and maybe a spade or two. And whilst most of these will be all you might need it could be worthwhile considering a few extras to make life easier.

The hoe is probably the most valuable tool you can have in your garden. But it is vital to choose this particular tool quite carefully. There are basically two types of hoe, but push hoe and the Dutch hoe. The push hoe has a sharpened leading edge and you will find is vital for digging out weeds as it is easy to push into the soil and cut the weeds at the roots deep beneath the surface. The Dutch hoe is used in a chopping action which can loosen the soil and prepare it for planting.

Your rake is the best tool you can have for levelling out the soil surface prior to planting and also to work dressing topsoil into small areas of lawn.

A round mouth shovel is a real workhorse in the garden as it has a nice big bowl to take large loads and is generally leveraged so you can use it easily without straining your back. This is one of the biggest pluses you'll ever experience. Be sure to choose a lightweight model to maximise its utility.

A pointed blade shovel is a great alternative to have too. You will find this much easier to push into the ground sofa those heavier soils, particularly clay, you will find this one a godsend. As with all shovels you need to make sure that it has an ergonomic design by way of an angled handle which will allow you to maximise the leveraged without affecting your back.

If this shovel is not up to the task if you have a heavy clay soil then you will need to look for a mattock. Any heavy soil will take a fair bit of effort but with a mattock and the right kind of shovel you will eventually get the job done.

Garden forks need to be carefully chosen to especially for the shape and size of the handle. Don't forget that this is likely to be the most commonly used utensil when you are planting and weeding in small garden beds so make sure it feels right for you before you purchase it. Try it out in the shop and make sure it feels comfortable not to wide and not too narrow. If you don't choose this correctly you will find yourself using a pitching for more often than they might otherwise. If you follow these rules you will have a great selection of tools and find your gardening so much easier.