3 Ryobi Garden Tools You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

People often say that the month of March comes in like a lion and comes out like a lamb, but the reality for most of the US is that it’s hot and humid one day and cold and snowy the next. This month of change, however, is a great time to start preparing the garden for spring with smart new gadgets and power tools, especially if you like another old saying: April showers bring May flowers!

Depending on where you live, it may not be planting time yet, but you can start cleaning up those flower beds and making plans for your spring and summer gardens. You can even plant hardy trees and shrubs if your soil works. You can also inventory your tools and supplies and make a shopping list. If you love to garden, you probably have the basics in your garage or shed, including trowels, rakes, pruning shears, and gloves, but there are an array of gardening tools, both power and hand, that you may want to add to your arsenal before winter finally releases its icy grip. Whether you already own a few of Ryobi’s signature green tools or it’s your first time exploring the brand, here are three gardening tools you probably didn’t know existed.

You may have used an earth auger before planting a tree or drilling holes for a new fence, but Ryobi also offers battery-powered augers that you should consider if you plan on doing some serious planting. They can also be used to help you install a new mailbox, build a new deck, or patio foundations.

At the time of this writing, the 40V HP Brushless 8-inch Earth Auger is available for $369 for just the tool or $449 for the tool plus battery and charger. Interested buyers should note that it requires a Ryobi 40V 4Ah battery. The Ryobi auger is more powerful than the 52cc gas auger, and can dig up to 30 holes per charge with both forward and reverse power. It’s also light, just over 40 pounds, and vibrates under most augers. Ryobi offers a five-year limited warranty.

This tool currently has a 4.8 out of five star rating on Ryobi’s website. While it was advertised for gardening, one reviewer used it as an ice auger in the winter. Many other reviewers use it for digging holes for fencing and gate installation. A few noticed that it stopped working after only a few uses, and several had a difficult experience with customer service.

The Ryobi 18V One+ 1/6 Telescoping Pole Pump Kit may not seem like an obvious garden tool, but it can be a lifesaver if you have a pond, ditch, or rain barrel. It uses Ryobi’s 18V One+ 2Ah lithium battery, which you may already have in your arsenal if you own other Ryobi products, and has up to 26 minutes of runtime. Instead of pumping water manually, this device has a ⅙ horsepower motor that can transfer 15 gallons of water per minute, pumping it 23 feet above the well’s level. It has a 3.5-foot telescoping pole, which allows users to move water to rain barrels, ponds, and flooded yards.

Users can set an automatic shut-off timer for five, ten, or 15 minutes, and it has an automatic shut-off that will trigger when it no longer sees water. There is an LED light for those dark work areas, and you can also use it inside flooded basements or clear areas. This kit, currently priced at $189, comes with a telescoping pole pump, battery, battery charger, garden hose adapter, hose hook, removable sediment filter, drain hose, and more.

As you shop, it can help to know the difference between a Ryobi pole pump and its submersible pump. If you’re looking for something you can reuse in your pool or spa, a Ryobi submersible pump might be a better option.

If you have a few small flower beds to prepare now that spring is just around the corner, you may want to consider an electric planter. This tillage tool can be used for weeding and loosening or turning the soil in preparation for planting or composting. It’s not as heavy duty as a rototiller, the tool of choice for creating new garden beds, but it’s a great way to aerate the soil and help you maintain your beds.

Ryobi markets this planter as ideal for flower beds and raised gardens. Currently priced at $189 for the tool only or $279 for the tool plus battery and charger, the cultivator has four blades that can adjust your binding width from six to eight inches. It has low, medium, and high settings, and is compact and easy to store. Compatible with the Ryobi 18V One+ platform of tools, batteries, and chargers, this cultivator has a three-year limited warranty. Reviewers generally give positive reviews for use in their home gardens, and like the battery is compatible with other Ryobi tools. A few users complain that the cultivator is not designed for heavy use, but it has 4.7 out of five stars at the time of writing.