Best Budget-Friendly Kids Gardening Set: G & F 10012 JustForKids Kids Garden Tools Set with Tote

Here’s a great place to start your gardening adventure with kids: this affordable set includes three tools and a tote bag. We liked the overall quality and it’s hard to beat the value here.

Quick safety reminder: these gardening sets are for kids aged 5 and up. Why? Because the tools often have sharp edges. Also important: store these tools inside your home or garage. If left out in the elements, they will rust and wooden handles may split . . . just like adult gardening tools!

What We Liked

• Three tools: trowel, shovel, rake.

• Good quality.

• Super cute. 

What Needs Work

• Tote bag is small. Yes, it holds the garden tools—but that’s about it!

• Handles can fall off with rough handling. We didn’t have a problem with this, but see reports online that if the kids are rough in handling the tools, the wooden handles can fall off.

Best Gift Kids Gardening Set: Storybook Kids Explorer Club Kids Gardening Set

If you are looking for a gift gardening set, we’d recommend the Storybook Kids Explorer Club Kids Gardening Set—nicely packaged with tools sized well for little hands. Super cute and includes wooden stakes for a vegetable garden, watering can, tools and even a book on gardening.

What We Liked

• Educational emphasis. We like the included how-to kids gardening book.

• More tools than most sets, including a rake. 

• Included canvas tote with side pockets.

• Good quality.

• Metal tools are not sharp.

What Needs Work

• Metal heads can be bent if ground is too hard.

Best Long Handle Kids Gardening Tools: G & F Products JustForKids Kids Garden Tool Set

Now that your child is hooked on gardening, this set is the next logical step: four long-handle tools perfectly sized (27″ long) for kiddos. You get a green rake, yellow leaf rake, purple shovel, red hoe—they range from 24.5″ to 29.5″ long.

What We Liked

• Great quality. Yes, these are real rakes, shovels!

• Can hang them up! The tools have holes in their handles so they can be hung up.

• Affordable.

What’s Needs Work

• Paint on the handles can transfer to kids hands, especially if they are sweaty. We didn’t see this in our tests, but we note reports to that effect. We don’t think this is a safety issue. Just something to be aware of!

Best Basic Kids Gardening Set: Toysmith Kid’s 3-Piece Garden Tool Set

If you have a small garden, you may just need a basic kids gardening set. This is the one we recommend: Toysmith’s Kid’s 3-Piece Garden Tool Seat. It’s easy on the wallet, yet well made.

What We Liked

• Rake, shovel and trowel, all in bright colors.

• Affordable.

• Sized well for small hands. 

What’s Needs Work

• No tote bag.

• Check for missing items when it arrives. Our set arrived complete, but we see a few reports that items can be missing. The best advice is always check to make sure everything is there, especially if you are ordering this in advance of needing it.

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability. When we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money. 

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!