A REVIEW + GIVEAWAY OF GARDEN TOOLS

I love garden tools. I can’t get enough of them, really. Every tool has subtle differences and I live playing around with them to see what works best for me.

Troy-Bilt came out with a line of garden tools this year and I put them to the test. I noticed two things right off the bat: They felt light, but not cheap or lacking in sturdiness. I appreciate tools that have been designed to be light, so long as it doesn’t sacrifice durability and while I can’t say I’ve used these long enough to really test their durability, I didn’t notice anything that made me think they’d be breaking any time soon.

Here’s the other thing I’m liking about these tools: the pricepoint. I’ve written a lot about my favorite tools in the past and I’m not opposed to spending a lot of money on a great tool. For that reason, I’m sometimes reluctant to take my favorite tools outside of my yard. When I garden at one of our master gardener projects I practically bring a dog along to guard my stuff because when you have a dozen people working on one garden at the same time, stuff gets mixed up. These tools are good enough quality to do everything I need them to do but not so precious that I’d cry in my cocktail if I forgot one out in the rain.

Here’s what I tested (and what you can win):

I’m not going to sit here and tell you these are the most amazing trowels the world has ever seen. They are nice, sturdy tools that feel good in your hand and serve their purpose admirably. I’m not sure I need anything else from a trowel. I like ’em and so did the other gardeners who used them at the public garden (I told you you have to guard your tools!).

I’ve never used a mini garden rake before and I can’t imagine why. What a handy little tool this is! I used it for all kinds of things but my absolute favorite was for forking weeds out my gravel paths. It worked perfectly and it was so much easier than pinching them out with my fingers. Love it. I’d happily buy this at three times the price.

I’m going to preface my comments on the pruner and the lopper by pointing out that they were both anvil style, which is not my preference. A dull anvil blade can crush a tender stem, doing damage to a plant. Troy-Bilt also offers these tools in bypass styles.

I tell you what, after trying these, I can see why I need both anvil and bypass pruners in my kit. I sought out some woody, old stems and cut them with both the Comfort Classic Anvil Pruner and my favorite bypass pruner. The anvil pruner worked better. Beyond that, I was impressed with how comfortable the Troy-Bilt pruner was to hold. I have small hands and find a lot of pruners to be uncomfortable, but that wasn’t the case here. It also has a rust-resistant coating and I purposely left it out in the rain overnight. Whereas other tools I have would have not been happy with that treatment, even in the short term, the Troy-Bilt pruner was no worse for the wear.

Newfoundland shown for scale only; he is not included in the giveaway nor did he test any garden tools.

The anvil lopper is huge. This thing will be able to go after some serious pruning tasks and because it opens so wide, you’ll be able to fit it in some odd spaces. Wanna know just how wide it spreads? Good thing I had a Newfoundland handy for scale.

So now it’s your turn to try these babies out. One lucky winner will receive a set of Troy-Bilt tools like I tested. Just use the widget below to enter. Entries close at midnight Thursday, Sept. 3.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided with a set of Troy-Bilt garden tools for review free of charge. All opinions are my own.

Comments

Britt ([email protected]) says: August 27, 2015 at 6:12 pm

brand new garden calls for new tools, we just bought a house so now seems like the perfec ttime to upgrade

Becky says: August 27, 2015 at 6:30 pm

Quality tools! I would even put my name on them so hubby can't use and misplace them!

Laura says: August 27, 2015 at 6:55 pm

I love new tools! I am really bad about leaving them laying around though, hence the need for even more tools.

Lisa Greenbow says: August 28, 2015 at 12:03 am

Those lopers are to die for. That is the tool I need. Your dog looks like a big teddy bear. I had a friend who had a Newfie. Loved him.

Suburban prep says: August 28, 2015 at 12:30 am

As Maureen

I need the trowel. I seem to have issues with getting carrots out of the ground.

Joy says: August 28, 2015 at 2:41 am

My favorite is the pruner. Always need more since I keep misplacing mine. Every once in a while, I'll discover a missing one someone in my large garden.

Katie @ Team Skelley says: August 28, 2015 at 1:26 pm

WANT. My favorite is my pruner but I use a cheapo from Lowes. My yard would really enjoy a quality pair. Although I am disappointed that the big fluffy fur ball dog is not included.

Elizabeth says: August 28, 2015 at 2:02 pm

Favorite garden tool? Probably my Rogue field hoe, that thing can really power through any weeds in the veg garden! I need a new pruner though, I use that a lot too.

The Freckled Rose says: August 28, 2015 at 3:04 pm

Wow, the Comfort Classic Anvil Pruner looks amazing! I've been looking to replace some of my old, warn out tools for awhile now. Your doggy is adorable 🙂 Thanks for providing this awesome giveaway!

chickie717 says: August 28, 2015 at 4:26 pm

My favorite garden tool is the trowel.

fee roberts says: August 28, 2015 at 5:37 pm

My favorite garden tool is my spade. I'm always adding soil to my potted plants and flower beds, and it comes in quite handy.

Pat says: August 28, 2015 at 11:47 pm

My favorite garden tool is a lopper.

Madeline B says: August 29, 2015 at 2:54 am

My favorite garden tool is this mini hoe that my father-in-law gave me. It probably has a name, but I don't know what else to call it!

Rusthawk says: August 29, 2015 at 3:45 am

My favorite garden tool is a two sided head thing on a sturdy handle with a three-tined fork on one said and a sharp weeder head on the other side.

Michael Thompson says: August 29, 2015 at 1:31 pm

weed puller tool is my favorite as it makes weeding much easier.

Liberty Thompson says: August 29, 2015 at 1:45 pm

My favorite gardening tool is the weed whacker!

sandyhills x says: August 29, 2015 at 10:51 pm

My favorite is the rake! – shaunie

Lee Mckoen says: August 30, 2015 at 3:10 am

My favorite garden tool id my hedge clippers!

Karen says: August 30, 2015 at 3:16 am

These tools look so yummy!

Carol Y says: August 31, 2015 at 12:31 am

My favorite tool is my pruners. They come in handy for so many things like picking flowers, gathering veggies, and pruning, of course!

Anonymous says: August 31, 2015 at 3:05 pm

cute doggies….I love my pruners…
tami

D Johnson says: August 31, 2015 at 11:47 pm

My pruners come in handy the most in my yard.

giovannarosa1010 says: September 2, 2015 at 6:02 am

I could use some new tools. I have a lot of work and cleaning up in my garden to do. Thanks for the chance!

James Thomson says: March 22, 2016 at 3:13 pm

Nice post. Thanks for sharing.

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