I affectionately call my mattock the “Mad Axe” because of its incredible strength. It has a sturdy fiberglass handle and a stout steel head with a horizontal adze on one side and a pick on the other. This is my go-to tool for ­breaking up thick clay soil, digging trenches, and chopping through roots. I use it to score the sides of planting holes to encourage root penetration and to pry well-established plants from the ground. The heavy head takes advantage of gravity to add more force to every swing, making this one powerful tool. I plan on replacing my older mattock soon with the 5-pound fiberglass-handle steel pick mattock currently available from Kobalt (pictured). 

—Kimberly Toscano is a horticulturist based in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She is the previous host of Oklahoma Gardening, a weekly PBS television program.

Source: lowes.com

Price: $30

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Harper Super Steel 700-lb. Platform Hand Truck

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Manufactured in USA; Two position telescoping handle adjusts up to 62" in height for tall loads. 700 lb horizontal capacity, 600 lb vertical capacity. Converts in seconds from 2 wheel dolly into 4 wheel cart. Heavy-duty pneumatic all-terrain 10" wheels and 5" durable swivel casters for easy maneuverability of bulky loads. 14" x 7" Heavy gauge base plate and wheel fenders to protect the load from the wheels.

Buy at Amazon

FELCO F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner, F 2, Red

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Comfortable, lightweight, sturdy aluminium alloy handles. High quality hardened steel blades, forged aluminium alloy handles, wire cutting notch Anvil blade with sap groove, rubber cushion shock aborbers. For a medium to large hand, right Handed; the handles have a non slip coating. Lifetime guarantee, all parts replaceable. Ideal pruner for light applications and easily adjustable. Features strong blades with a wire cutting notch. Lightweight metal handles. Blades are made of high-quality hardened steel. Limited lifetime warranty.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon