Sometimes you can actually design your plant groupings to show contrasts in leaf shapes as well as all the many values and intensities of the color green. They last a long time if you don't lose them, and are easier to sharpen and maintain. I have many Felco pruners, several replacement blades for my Felco saw, a couple solid garden spades, and a fabulously designed garden fork. I use only by-pass pruners. I regularly clean the soil off the spades and forks and oil up my pruners on a regular basis.
Good gloves are essential.
But you have to be aware that gloves are a consumable. I have finally reconciled myself to the fact that even expensive gloves will eventually wear through at the finger tips. I have tried them all. My sister and I now buy Wet-Stops by the case and split them between us. These gloves are soft, flexible, have a rubbery coating on the fingers, they don't make your hands sweat, are washable, and will sometimes last a couple of weeks before wearing through at the tips.