My husband has worked as a professional gardener for years, and during that time he's tried a lot of tools. Like, a lot of tools.

From expensive gear to the latest must-have gadgets, he's seen plenty of products promise to make gardening easier. But after countless hours spent maintaining gardens of all shapes and sizes, he's learned that the tools he relies on most? Well, they aren't necessarily the flashiest ones.

Case in point? When I asked him which tools every home gardener should own, he didn't list off loads of specialist equipment; instead, he immediately picked out three simple tools that earn a place in his van every single day.

The Tools A Pro Gardener Never Starts a Job Without

Now, his reasoning for picking out these tools makes a lot of sense, because he's made a point of picking the ones that aren't just good at one job; instead, they're versatile enough to tackle multiple tasks, durable enough to withstand years of regular use, and reliable enough that you don't have to think twice about reaching for them.

Whether he's pruning overgrown shrubs, digging out stubborn weeds, or tidying up flower beds, my pro gardener husband says that these are the tools that consistently save him time. So much so that, whenever he arrives at a new job, these are the first three tools he unloads from the van because he knows they'll be useful, no matter what's on the day's to-do list.

If you already have these in your gardening kit, you're well on your way. If you don't, they're where he'd suggest starting...

1. A Hori Hori Knife

“If I could only take one hand tool with me, it’d probably be my hori hori knife.”

Yes, according to my husband, a hori hori knife is one of the most versatile gardening tools you can own. While it looks like a large knife, it doubles as a trowel, making it ideal for digging, planting, dividing perennials, and cutting through roots.

According to my husband, it's also the best tool for removing stubborn weeds because the sturdy blade lets you get underneath deep taproots without fighting with the soil. “I probably use it more than anything else I own,” he says. “Whether I’m planting, digging out weeds, or working in compacted ground, it’s almost always in my hand.”

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2. Felco No. 2 Pruners

Every professional gardener needs a reliable pair of pruners, and my husband's choice is the Felco No. 2. “They’re built to last,” he says. “Mine are always on my tool belt because I’m constantly reaching for them.”

Unlike cheaper pruners that often end up in the trash once they wear out, Felco’s tools are designed so that many individual parts can be replaced if they become damaged or worn. That means a quality pair can last for many years with proper care.

It makes sense, then, that, whether he’s pruning shrubs, deadheading flowers, trimming small branches, or tidying up plants, these are the pruners he trusts every day.

3. A Retractable Leaf Rake

Most people think of a leaf rake as one of those tools you only use in the fall, but my husband says a retractable model earns its place year-round.

Oh sure, it’s excellent for clearing leaves and lawn debris, but that’s only part of its job; my husband also uses it as a mini scarifier to loosen small patches of moss in the lawn, and the adjustable width makes it much easier to work in flower beds and borders. By narrowing the head, he can reach between plants to level the soil and pull out fallen leaves or other debris without damaging surrounding plants.

“The adjustable width is what makes it so useful,” he says. “You can open it up for larger areas or narrow it down when you’re working in tighter spaces.”

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And there we have it; the must-have tools that every gardener needs in their arsenal. Still, if you're looking to build out your gardening kit even further, my husband says these are the next investments he'd make:

• A quality digging fork and spade for heavier landscaping work.
• A battery-powered STIHL KombiSystem, which lets you swap between multiple attachments using one power head.
• A dependable lawn mower if you're maintaining larger lawns and want professional-quality results.

Personally, I would consider splashing out on something like this nifty little All-In-One Raised 2x2 Garden Bundle, too, especially if you want to take a lot of the legwork out of watering.

Still, it makes sense to follow my husband's advice and to start with the three everyday essentials first as, in his experience, buying fewer (but better-quality) tools usually pays off in the long run. And, as these are the three he reaches for time and again, they make a pretty good starting point for building your own gardening arsenal.