If you are just getting into gardening the array of tools at the nursery or hardware store can be overwhelming. Sunset's Steve Lorton has a short list of the absolute basic tools for gardeners of all skill levels. This list will be a firm foundation for any tool shed. Gardening is, at its most basic, about digging holes for planting.
Every gardener needs a basic shovel for turning soil and digging holes.
Steve says that later you might want to add a spade to your tool collection for detail work. Steve says to forget the flimsy, plastic-tined rakes. Where there is a garden, there will be weeds. You will need a hoe to remove them. As the garden grows, it will need to be pruned.