Tripping over garden equipment every time you try to cut the grass?
Keep clutter at bay with a multi-purpose garden tool that saves space and gets everyday garden tasks sorted. Give yourself a break and make garden chores easier with a multi-use tool that quickly trims grass edging, smooths out borders and tames trees.
What is a multi-purpose garden tool?
Essentially these versatile garden tools have multiple attachments that help to ease the physical demands of gardening and tackle garden maintenance tasks with less manual labour. They are particularly useful if you have limited storage space or don’t want to clutter up a shed with lots of different equipment. A multi-use garden tool is also a money saver meaning you don’t have to buy separate gadgets to get the job done.
Why should I use a multi-purpose tool?
Traditional garden tools tend to require lots of manual effort. This means hours spent on tasks that a multi-purpose tool can get sorted quickly and efficiently. Plus using one tool is more cost-efficient than investing in lots of different cutters and trimmers that will gather dust and take up space in your shed. One of the main advantages of a multi-purpose garden tool is ease of use. No more faffing with plugging in cords or moving between appliances to get simple jobs done.
Which garden tool should I choose?
This depends on the size of your garden and the task at hand. Different garden tools come with a variety of attachments so be sure to choose the option that suits the intended use. Larger gardens with lots of hedging might benefit from the power of a petrol engine, whilst smaller gardens with one or two trees or a petite patch of grass will only need a lightweight saw and trimmer combination to keep the space neat and tidy.
With a multi-purpose tool, it’s easier to keep on top of ongoing garden tasks, especially as the weather gets warmer hedges and trees need tidying more regularly. We’ve chosen a selection of the best multi-purpose garden tools, focussing on reliability and practicality, to help you keep the garden tidy throughout the year.
Best multi-purpose garden tools at a glance:
- Best overall: Einhell Expert Cordless 4-in-1 Multi Tool - £237, Amazon
- Best budget option: Bosch Isio Cordless Shrub and Grass Shear Set - £85, Wickes
- Best for getting started: Ryobi RGS1822-120 18V multi-tool - £139, B&Q
- Best for back support: VonHaus 2 in 1 Chainsaw Hedge Trimmer - £159.99, Von Haus
- Best multi-attachment tool: BU-KO 52cc Long Reach Petrol Multi Functional Garden Tool - £189.99, Amazon
- Best long-term investment: EGO Power Plus Cordless Multi-Tool Kit - £618, Amazon
- Best for dual action blades: Greenworks G40PSH Cordless 2-in-1 Pole Saw and Pole Hedge Trimmer - £179.99, Amazon
- Best reliable brand: Flymo C-Link 20 V 3-in-1 Combi Pack - £229, Amazon
- Best for safety features: Stihl Compact Cordless Power System - £297, Garden Machinery Direct
- Best petrol option: Draper 4-in-1 Petrol Garden Tool - £253, Amazon
Einhell Expert Cordless 4-in-1 Multi Tool
The pocket knife of garden tools, this cordless multi-purpose option comes with four different attachments including a hedge trimmer, strimmer, chainsaw and brush cutter. Using Einhell batteries, you’ll get around 66 minutes of use before having to recharge.
This solid piece of equipment features a high-quality steel blade and the brushless motor comes with a 10-year warranty for peace of mind. Clever additions like the extension pole for accessing hard-to-reach places and a tilting head with seven settings on the hedge trimmer make tricky garden chores more efficient and easier to manage. This flexibility allows you to address various lawn and plant care needs efficiently with one device.
Buy now £237.00, Amazon
Bosch Isio Cordless Shrub and Grass Shear Set
This compact budget-friendly set comes with a cordless edging blade and an attachment for grass cutting. Plus there’s the bonus of extra attachments (sold separately) like the grass seed spreader and the fertiliser spraying head, making this a solid choice if you’re looking for one tool that can tackle all the garden maintenance.
Weighing just 550g, it’s lightweight and easy to use, although we recommend buying the separate extension pole to prevent backache, especially during the summer months when the lawn needs regular care. The rechargeable battery offers 50 minutes of run time from a 3.5-hour charge, and a handy indicator displays when the battery is running low.
Buy now £85.00, Wickes
Ryobi RGS1822-120 18V Garden multi-tool
Ideal for trimming grass, or tidying up borders, shrubs and hedges, this compact multi-purpose tool is a useful addition to your gardening kit. This tool includes a grass shear blade and a shrubbing blade that can be interchanged easily. It’s a compact and lightweight piece of equipment with robust steel blades that will tackle multiple garden tasks with ease. The kit comes with one battery and a charger.
Although this tool has fewer attachments than some others on our list, it is a useful addition to the shed to whip out when unruly plants need taming. Probably one for those with a smaller garden, or a small allotment to maintain. Regular use will ensure hedges and borders stay tidy throughout the year.
Buy now £139.00, B&Q
VonHaus 2 in 1 Chainsaw Hedge Trimmer
This 460W garden multi-tool is ideal for anyone with hedges or trees that need regular maintenance. One of the benefits of this option is the dual support harness that can be used to balance your upper body against the machinery when manoeuvring it across hedging and tall trees. The pole can be adjusted to reach hedges of varying heights and the head moves to suit the angle needed for the task in hand.
The chainsaw attachment has a powerful 750W performance with an 8” (20cm) Oregon chain, plus a bar and chain speed of 11m/s. Although this is not a cordless appliance, it does come with a 10-metre cable which allows you free access to move around most gardens without restriction.
Buy now £159.99, VonHaus
BU-KO 52cc Long Reach Petrol Multi Functional Garden Tool
If you are looking for a multi-purpose garden tool that covers all bases then this is the ultimate all-singing all-dancing choice, complete with strimmer attachment, brush cutter, grass trimmer, chainsaw, hedge trimmer and 75cm Extension Pole. Highly versatile, this machine will get regular use, with shears for edging and trimming unruly grass, as well as blades for pruning larger sections of shrubbery and hedges.
The chainsaw will easily cut through branches, brambles or hedging, and the handy upper body support will ease any aches and pains and allow for easy movement whilst using the machine. With this choice, you’ll never worry again about finding the right tool for the job at hand.
Buy now £189.99, Amazon
EGO MHCC1002E multi-tool kit
This universal garden tool is one of the more expensive options on our list, with variable speed control and attachments including a strimmer and hedge trimmer. Garden tasks can be physically demanding so the addition of an arm support is a godsend, and makes it easier to manoeuvre the machine.
This tool will allow you to whizz around several different garden tasks without having to recharge batteries or unplug cords, giving you more time to rest and admire your handiwork. With two attachments it has fewer interchangeable extras than some of the others on the list but would suit gardeners who need a reliable tool for regular tree and hedge trimming. A pricey investment but a reliable option nonetheless.
Buy now £618.00, Amazon
Greenworks G40PSH Cordless 2-in-1 Pole Saw and Pole Hedge Trimmer
This is a simple saw and trimmer that will get the job done and allow you to keep on top of garden tasks with ease. The 2-in-1 pole saw lets you easily switch between tools so you can cut, trim and prune low hedges and high trees with a pole that gives up to 2.4m reach.
With a 20cm blade and 8m/s speed, this tool is perfect for cutting high branches, plus it has a convenient automatic oiler so you always have the right amount of oil for the job. This machine features dual action blades that move together simultaneously offering faster results, so you can get the chore done speedily. Use the machine with a rechargeable battery that is interchangeable across any Greenworks garden tool.
Buy now £179.99, Amazon
Flymo C-Link 20 V 3-in-1 Combi Pack
A solid choice from a well-known brand, this option features a grass trimmer with a 30cm cutting width, a hedge trimmer with a 42cm blade length and 16mm blade gap, and a blower that has speeds of up to 129km/h. All this combines to become a solid workhorse if you’ve got regular garden chores to get on with.
It includes a powerful 20V 2 5Ah li-ion battery that is easy to fit and remove. Plus it’s a lightweight choice weighing under 3kg making this a savvy buy for anyone who struggles to lift and manoeuvre regular garden equipment.
Buy now £229.00, Amazon
STIHL KMA 130 R KombiEngine
This lightweight and easy-to-use KombiEngine from STIHL weighs 3.2 kg making it a hugely versatile tool for any gardener. With 14 different attachments available (sold separately) that can be easily fitted and removed, this tool can transform into a hedge trimmer, cutting tool or chainsaw at the click of a button.
The electric motor provides energy-efficient operation and the rechargeable battery is easy to change. For safety it also includes a self-resetting locking lever that ensures you won’t accidentally start the machine and a shoulder harness helps to maintain balance during use.
Buy now £339.01, Garden Machinery Direct
Draper 4-in-1 Petrol Garden Tool
One of the only petrol options on our list, this powerful multi-purpose garden tool will meet the needs of even the most experienced gardener - with four attachments to choose from. One of the greatest benefits of a petrol garden tool is increased engine power which is ideal for larger gardens with perimeter hedging or mature trees that need regular maintenance.
However, petrol-powered tools are typically louder than electric or battery-powered options so you might prefer to wear ear defenders when using this machine for lengthy jobs. The price makes this more of an investment buy, but if you are looking for a petrol machine that will last in the long term, this is a foolproof option.
Buy now £253.00, Amazon
Verdict
A reliable brand with some handy additions, the Einhell Expert Cordless 4-in-1 Multi Tool is a solid choice for a range of garden tasks. It’s a practical, affordable and lightweight tool that will keep your garden tidy throughout the year.
