Leonard Hand Tools

A.M. Leonard has supplied hand tools to the horticulture trade since 1885, and the line is chosen for the durability and performance professionals need in daily use. Many growers and crews build their kit around these tools because they hold up to constant work, where consumer-grade tools bend, loosen, or fail.

A core kit covers a trowel, soil knife, hand cultivator, transplanter, and pruners, handling the planting, weeding, and trimming that make up daily hand work. Invest in quality on the tools used most. Add specialty tools as the work demands, but these core pieces cover the majority of routine tasks.

A soil knife (hori-hori) combines a digging blade, serrated edge, and point in one tool for planting, dividing, weeding, cutting twine, and prying. Its versatility makes it the tool many professionals reach for first. Models with depth markings double as a planting gauge, adding to an already broad range of uses.

Look for forged or solid construction and a secure handle connection, since the handle joint is where tools fail under stress. Quality steel holds an edge and resists bending. A well-made hand tool used daily lasts years, while a cheap one gets replaced repeatedly, costing more over time despite the lower initial price.

Clean soil off after use, keep cutting edges sharp, and dry metal to prevent rust before storing. A quick wipe and occasional oiling extends tool life and keeps cutting tools working with less effort. Sharp, clean tools do better work, so maintenance is about performance as much as longevity.

Yes. A.M. Leonard hand tools are stocked in quantities for outfitting a crew with volume pricing by quote. Standardizing the crew on the same quality tools simplifies replacement and ensures consistent results across the operation.