When planning the jobs that need doing in the garden it's important that we spend some time preparing to get those jobs done properly and safely.  It's a good idea to draw up a list of tasks that need doing and assigning them a priority, as well as whether they need to be done on a sunny day (outside) or a rainy day (inside).  Armed with this list we then need to get the right equipment for each job, and ladders are likely to be on that kit list for most jobs.

Tripod ladders are the ladder of choice for many garden tasks, as the unique design provides access into the heart of fruit trees for picking and pruning, and they are more stable on uneven ground than ladders with four legs.  We have budget tripod ladders which are ideal for the casual user, for example a homeowner with a small orchard or a few fruit trees here and there.  We also have professional adjustable tripod ladders, which are ideal for regular use and in environments where uneven ground poses a bigger problem.  These ladders are fully adjustable on all three legs, so they're fantastic when you have slopes and steps in the ground, as they can be set up to fit perfectly where they need to be used.  Tripod ladders are stable on softer ground, but if your lawn is still quite wet and soft it is best to wait until the ground has firmed up a little to prevent avoidable accidents.

If you have tall hedges, a rose-walk or pergola, or you have climbing plants on your house, then maintaining them can be a tricky business.  You will often be dealing with different ground surfaces, low walls, flowerbeds and other features that make access difficult using a normal ladder or even a tripod ladder.  Our top pick for these jobs is the Henchman Hi-Step, which comes in five different models.  These ladders have the option of adding extension kits to the legs to increase the available height, and the large working platform with a guardrail allows you to spend a long time at height safely and without getting pain in your feet from balancing on a narrow rung.  Stability is provided between the front and back legs by way of cross braces which are positioned quite far up the legs, allowing a lot of free space for bridging low walls and other features which can't be moved.

The great thing about the Henchman Hi-Step garden ladders is the fact that each of the four legs is adjustable individually, so uneven ground is never a problem.  This also means you can set the ladder up so that the front legs are parallel to the wall or other structure, which gets you really close to the action with all the stability of a step ladder.  Standard step ladders position you quite far away from a wall surface in front of you, making reaching that wall dangerous.  These ladders get you in the right place safely and securely. If you have long expanses of wall, hedge or climbing plants to attend to then a multi-purpose scaffold is a good choice, as you can get more done without moving the equipment as frequently.  These are great if you have high-maintenance plants where a lot of different tools are needed, as the extra space on the platform can accommodate tools, buckets and sprays easily without encroaching on your working space.

The alternative to investing in garden-friendly ladders is paying someone to do the jobs for you, but you will find that the cost of this far surpasses the cost of these ladders even in the short term, so if you want to have a go yourself and save some money then these garden ladders are the answer.