You need to have a shovel in-hand before you can dig into the ground...right? Having a solid understanding of the different types of tools you'll need can make the hefty task of starting a garden much less daunting. Keep reading for a general list of tools you'll need beginning with the most critical ones.

Gloves

Soil, while not necessarily harmful, contains billions of microbes in a single gram. Wear gloves to protect any open cuts and underneath the nails. Plus, they can be super cute. You may want one heavy duty leather pair and one lighter, washable pair.

watering can

Sure, you can use a hose, but watering cans may help to evenly water the garden at the right pressure if you don't have a nozzle on your hose. They can also make for great pieces of decor!

long handled shovel

Good for turning beds, digging holes, adding and removing soil, you name it. It's just a good thing to have around.

long handled pitchfork

When practicing no-till agriculture, a pitchfork is useful to turn the soil, aerate it, and integrate organic matter.

long handled wire-weeder

The many tines in this tool allows for the even spreading of soil in a bed or the even distribution of compost. I've used this tool for my edible spring flower mix seeds, which I sprinkled atop the soil and gently raked in.

long-handled rake

Again, good for spreading things out and removing leaves or other debris.

hand-held shovel

Useful for digging out plants like lettuce heads, cabbage or removing roots. Also good for drawing rows in the soil for direct-sowing seeds.

wheelbarrow

Not necessary if you have limited space, but great for transporting large amounts of compost or soil, or even for large harvests.

hat

The hot sun can be dangerous as you spend hours upon hours in your garden, especially if you have thin or little-to-no hair on your scalp. Protect yourself with a garden hat! You can get creative with these...I personally thing a wide-brimmed straw hat is the perfect touch. Remember, gardening is a creative, meditative process. As a gardener, you can have as much fun with your outfits as you do your plants.

boots

This is more for the gardener who has tons of space, trudging through mud to plant, weed, and harvest. If you are working with a raised bed, you might not need to worry about ruining your shoes. A sturdy pair of rubber boots might be good to have handy, especially after a summer rain when the air is cool, the garden is lush, and harvesting must be done. This can also apply to the early morning dew that settled overnight, making for a soggy earth.

Coveralls

Having a pair of designated cover-alls is great because it reduces guilt and spares your nice clothes! Go ahead and get them as dirty as possible...that's what they're there for!

flower snips

If you're growing flowers, special flower snips are wonderful because they fit in the palm of your hand nicely, allowing you to snip away with minimal wrist pain.

garden sheers

These are great for cut-and-come-again crops like spinach which will continue to produce leaves as you harvest the outer layers. Having a special pair of sheers means your more likely to keep them sharp...important for a clean cut.

Cloche

For the early spring frosts, protect your seedlings with these primitive, glass domes that allow for trapped heat during the cool days.