The 12 genius gardening gadgets actually worth buying, as chosen by experts

With a bevy of positive reviews to its name, the Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Swoe Style Hoe promises some serious bang for its buck. 

Use yours to, as suggested by Danny Clarke, weed around tight spots, safe in the knowledge that it comes with a 10-year guarantee.

Not one but two of our garden experts cited Felco's range of pruning shears and secateurs as the ultimate gardening gadget for any amateur horticulturalist. 

Garden designer Jacquie Felix-Mitchell  dubs her pair her 'best friend', while garden designer Annika Zetterman praises them as 'outstanding' quality that will 'last a lifetime'.

Annika also rates this large watering can from Haws, which she says serves as 'a decorative item in the garden.'

With the capacity for 2-gallons of water, she adds that it is more than 'big enough for larger plants, so watering can be efficient even when a hose is not an option.'

Zoe Claymore, who won a gold medal at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival, says this is the same heated propagator she has in her office. 

'It makes germination quicker,' she says. 'Also, it has enabled me to germinate many more difficult things in a small space without the need for a big greenhouse.

Joseph Clark of @JoesGarden fame says 'plant labels are an absolute must, but please stay away from those cheap nasty plastic ones, as they will become brittle in the sun!' 

'I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve got my plant varieties mixed up because I forgot to label the seeds when I sowed them, and it is very annoying,' he adds.

Top tip, if you write on these with pencil, you can rub it off and reuse the label next season. 

'I bought my Burgon & Ball hand trowel at Chelsea Flower Show 2018,' says Annika. 

'It is designed with care, so that hands and wrists are comfortable when digging.'

'I am always getting asked what this tool is in my videos, and it is one of my favourites,' says Joseph. 

'It's fantastic for giving you control over seed sowing depth, aids with transplanting seedlings and will speed up your seed sowing, too.'

'Sometimes simple things are the best,' says Zoe. 

'To help water seedlings, I'm a fan of this very inexpensive (and very useful) plastic watering top.'

Zoe also likes the fact that 'you can attach it to different standard drinks bottles, so you are recycling some things at home at the same time'. 

'Arguably my most used tools in the garden are my watering cans,' says Joseph. 

'Please make sure you have a rose attachment for the end, as this will help water fragile plants, without damaging them.'

'Capillary matting from 'Rhino' saves my bacon when we go on holiday,' says Zoe. 

'It enables plants to be constantly watered from the ground up and makes things lower maintenance when I'm rushing around in the spring.'

It's always a good idea to have a smaller watering can on standby for seeds and seedling, hanging baskets, and tricky to reach potted plants.

It's also handy if you have, like this writer does, an enthusiastic toddler trying to 'help' you out, as it means they can lift it without struggling too much (just don't fill it to the brim!).

'This one might seem a little bit random, but the day you start gardening, it will make perfect sense,' says Joseph. 

'I prefer to garden without gloves, as I like to feel in contact with the soil. Inevitably, dirt finds its way under even the most well kept trimmed nails, and can be a nightmare to remove!

Good hand hygiene is very important for gardeners, and a nail brush just makes it that little bit easier.