“Made by Cyclone”—so why does this ‘must-have’ tool make gardening feel harder?

June 18, 2025

The hidden truth about must-have hand tools for beginner gardens

They promise convenience — but here’s what they really cost you

“Made by Cyclone,” the packaging said. You grabbed it, thinking: one tool to do it all? Yes please. Less clutter, less confusion. But weeks later, you’re standing in the shed, holding the same tool, wincing as you chip soil around a seedling, again. Something’s not working—

If multi-purpose hand tools are supposed to make gardening easier, why does it still feel so fiddly?

Here’s what many DIYers and influencers don’t tell you: the convenience of a combo tool often sacrifices results. And when you’re just starting out, that can chip away at your confidence faster than a cracked terracotta pot.

One-size-fits-all tools aren’t made with you in mind

Those all-in-one gadgets promise versatility, but let’s be real: would you use the same brush for your teeth, your hair and your walls? No? Same goes here. Gardening tools, like gardens, need the right shape and purpose to thrive.

Let’s break down why so many well-meaning gardens stall because of this simple mistake:

Wobbly folding shovels struggle to cut through compact South Australian clay soil — especially in colder months.
2-in-1 trowel/forks often bend under pressure or lack the grip control needed for delicate planting jobs.
Telescopic everything can leave you with sore hands and unpredictable reach that’s more slapstick than precise.

The shift: from multi-tool confusion to task-specific confidence

A local grower we know once swapped back to a classic Gardenmaster hand trowel after wrestling with a supermarket-special multi-tool. “I planted my new tomato seedlings without breaking a single stem,” she said. “It felt like driving a manual after stalling an automatic all week.”

There’s a quiet power in using the right tool at the right time. It’s not about owning dozens—it’s about owning the ones that work. When digging becomes satisfying instead of frustrating, it changes how you feel in the garden. Like you belong there.

Why most people don’t talk about this upfront

Because it goes against the “easy fix” narrative. More tools aren't sexy, and they don’t go viral on TikTok. Garden centres look trendier when they sell flashy, all-in-one gadgets. But confidence doesn’t grow from convenience. It grows from easy wins—and those come from tools that match the job.

Here’s a helpful way to think of it:

If a tool isn’t making your garden feel calmer, smoother or more fun—it’s not helping.

The 3 tools that matter most (the sooner you swap, the better)

You don’t need 20 (you’ll never use them all). You need:

A fitted hand trowel — Look for one that suits your grip and doesn’t flex at the neck. Lightweight and sturdy is the ticket.
A pair of good secateurs — Sharp enough to glide through rosemary or prune dying stems in one clean click.
A watering can you don’t hate lifting – Ergonomic handles and slow pour make all the difference in young seedlings’ survival.

Want to level up? A simple kneeling pad and a rubber-gripped weeder will soon become your weekend MVPs. But only when you’ve nailed the basics.

Here’s what this tells us about growing confidence

This isn’t about ditching hand tools entirely. It’s about being pickier with what earns a spot in your garden basket. A cluttered bag means a cluttered brain—and when you’re just figuring things out, the last thing you need is doubt creeping in at every dig.

For everyday gardeners who want a space that’s calm, thriving, and actually manageable—the win isn’t more gadgets. It’s fewer, better ones.

If you were waiting for permission to ditch that clunky 11-in-1 tool...

This is it.

Real gardening isn’t about perfection or productivity hacks—it’s about noticing things. That new mint sprouting near the edge of the planter. The way the soil smells after a late summer rain. You don’t need multi-function everything to feel like a capable grower. You just need what works.

Happy pottering,
Candeece

Stay Connected