Best garden tools for desert gardening
Pruners, raised beds, soil tests, compost and frost cloth for gardening in Arizona's alkaline soil and desert climate.
As an Amazon Associate, Dry Heat Yards earns from qualifying purchases. Links marked Amazon affiliate link go to Amazon; prices and availability are shown on Amazon. These are product picks, not contractor listings.
Desert gardening works with a few adjustments: improve or avoid the native soil, water deeply, give young plants afternoon shade, and protect tender plants on frost nights.
These tools cover each of those steps.
Our picks
VIVOSUN dual-chamber tumbling composter
Turning yard waste into organic matter for desert soil
View on AmazonComparison
| Product | Best for | Key features | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiskars bypass pruning shears | Clean cuts on desert shrubs and roses | Bypass blades, 5/8-inch cut capacity | View on Amazon |
| Fiskars 28-inch bypass loppers | Thicker branches on palo verde and citrus | 28-inch, Bypass blades | View on Amazon |
| Fiskars Ergo garden trowel | Planting in hard soil without bending the blade | Heavy duty | View on Amazon |
| Fiskars 57-inch digging shovel | Digging in rocky ground | 57-inch, Heavy duty | View on Amazon |
| Land Guard galvanized raised garden bed | Growing above caliche in imported soil | Galvanized steel | View on Amazon |
| Rapitest soil test kit | Checking soil pH and nutrients before planting | Home test kit | View on Amazon |
| VIVOSUN dual-chamber tumbling composter | Turning yard waste into organic matter for desert soil | Two chambers, Tumbling design | View on Amazon |
| HANDLANDY thorn-resistant gardening gloves | Working around cactus, agave and bougainvillea | Thorn-resistant | View on Amazon |
| Frost cloth plant covers | Covering citrus and tender plants on frost nights | Plant covers | View on Amazon |
| Shade&Beyond 90% shade cloth with grommets | Protecting gardens and new plants from June sun | 90% shade, Grommets | View on Amazon |
| TCBWFY auger drill bit for planting | Drilling planting holes in hard soil with a cordless drill | Fits a power drill | View on Amazon |
The picks in detail
Fiskars bypass pruning shears
Fiskars · Garden & Planting
Best for: Clean cuts on desert shrubs and roses.
- Huge seller, trusted brand
- Low cost
- For small stems; use loppers for thicker branches
Fiskars 28-inch bypass loppers
Fiskars · Garden & Planting
Best for: Thicker branches on palo verde and citrus.
- Long handles for leverage
- Trusted brand
- Bigger limbs need a pruning saw or pole saw
Fiskars Ergo garden trowel
Fiskars · Garden & Planting
Best for: Planting in hard soil without bending the blade.
- Sturdy for hard soil
- Very low cost
- Hand tool only; dig big holes with a shovel or auger
Fiskars 57-inch digging shovel
Fiskars · Garden & Planting
Best for: Digging in rocky ground.
- Long handle for leverage
- Trusted brand
- Caliche may still need a pickaxe first
Land Guard galvanized raised garden bed
Land Guard · Garden & Planting
Best for: Growing above caliche in imported soil.
- Skips the hard native soil
- Steel will not rot
- Metal sides heat up in summer; give plants shade cloth
Rapitest soil test kit
Rapitest · Garden & Planting
Best for: Checking soil pH and nutrients before planting.
- Low cost
- Tells you what to add
- A lab test is more precise
VIVOSUN dual-chamber tumbling composter
VIVOSUN · Garden & Planting
Best for: Turning yard waste into organic matter for desert soil.
- Two chambers: one filling, one finishing
- Tumbling makes turning easy
- Compost dries fast in Arizona; add water
HANDLANDY thorn-resistant gardening gloves
HANDLANDY · Garden & Planting
Best for: Working around cactus, agave and bougainvillea.
- Long cuffs protect forearms
- Popular, well-reviewed
- Thick gloves cost some dexterity
Frost cloth plant covers
Unbranded · Garden & Planting
Best for: Covering citrus and tender plants on frost nights.
- Easy to throw over plants
- Reusable
- Remove in the morning so plants do not overheat
Shade&Beyond 90% shade cloth with grommets
Shade&Beyond · Patio & Shade
Best for: Protecting gardens and new plants from June sun.
- Grommets make it easy to hang
- Good over gardens and pergolas
- 90% may be too much shade for vegetables; lower percentages exist
TCBWFY auger drill bit for planting
TCBWFY · Desert Landscaping
Best for: Drilling planting holes in hard soil with a cordless drill.
- Saves digging by hand
- Low cost
- Needs a strong drill; stop if you hit solid caliche
Desert garden basics
- Raised beds filled with good soil skip caliche entirely.
- Test soil before adding amendments.
- Cover citrus and tender plants on nights forecast near freezing.
- See our desert plants guide for what to plant.
FAQ
Why use raised beds in Arizona?
Raised beds let you garden in good imported soil above hard native soil and caliche.
Is Arizona soil alkaline?
Many Arizona soils are alkaline and low in organic matter. A soil test tells you what your yard needs.
When do I need frost cloth in Arizona?
On winter nights forecast near freezing, mainly for citrus and frost-tender plants. Remove it in the morning.
Related
- Desert plants and grass for Arizona yards
- How to water desert trees, shrubs and cacti
- New home in Arizona? Your backyard guide
- Best drip irrigation systems for Arizona yards
- Essential yard tools for new Arizona homeowners
- Best patio shade products for Phoenix summers
- Best tools for installing decorative rock
How we pick: products are chosen for Arizona conditions from established brands with strong, long-running Amazon buyer feedback and clear specs. We have not hands-on tested every product. Check current price, size and specs on Amazon before buying.