Good quality lawn care tools are crucial to keep your lawn healthy and beautiful. The right tools will take on all the hard work and make the maintenance more enjoyable.
They are also economical in the long run as you won’t need to spend your money on hiring a lawn-care service or repairing second-rate tools repeatedly. Whether you have a small or large garden, here are essential items that you’ll need to keep your lawn in good shape.
Electric Lawnmower
Although there are many gas-powered lawnmowers available, electric models still rank high as a favorite appliance of many homeowners.
Electric mowers get the job done just as efficiently as gas-powered ones. However, they start almost instantly, produce much less noise, and emit no smelly fumes. Not to mention that they don’t need frequent maintenance.
Electric lawnmower works best for small and medium-sized gardens (under 8,000 square feet). They’re commonly 3-in-one machines, providing mulch, bag, and side discharge options.
Electric lawnmowers fall under two categories: cordless and corded. Cordless electric lawnmowers run on rechargeable lithium batteries, while corded options connect to a power cord to operate.
Both of the machines arrive almost fully assembled so that you can avoid the tiresome assembly. After supplying power for your mower, put on the bag for grass (if you go for bagging), unfold the handle, and you’re ready to go.
While mowing, adjust the deck height for desired results.
Cordless Lawnmower
As mentioned above, cordless or battery-powered lawnmowers derive power from lithium-ion batteries, which need continuous charging.
Apart from the advantages of an electric lawnmower, cordless mowers offer tangle-free use, and you don’t need to drag around an extension cord just as you would with a corded electric machine.
However, limited runtime per charge is the weak point of this type of mower. Most lawnmowers offer between 60 to 90 minutes of operating time, which is enough for you to get a small lawn tidy and neat.
Consider buying extra batteries to cover for a larger property when the original one runs out of energy.
For maintenance, you need to recharge the battery after each mowing cycle. The average battery lifespan falls somewhere between 5 or 6 years under regular use, and you’ll need a replacement after that.
Initial assembly is pretty simple. Charge the battery upon arrival as they will not come fully charged, then insert them into the machine and start mowing your lawn to perfection.
Zero-turn Lawnmower
Zero-turn lawnmowers have a zero-degree turn radius, which enables them to turn within their footprint. The mowing deck doesn’t not position underneath the machine but in front of it instead.
Zero-turns are fast and highly maneuverable. The location of the mowing deck enables zero-turns to intrude into hard-to-reach corners and approach obstacles easily. You can effortlessly maneuver the machine around trees or flower beds where a riding garden tractor would struggle to approach.
You’ll get the job done up to 50% faster with good zero-turns. They trim expansive strips of grass like a charm, making them a favorite choice at parks, sports fields, and golf courses. It’s your best bet if you want to take good care of a large property.
Driving zero-turn mowers can be tricky initially, but it’ll become your second nature with some practice. You need to get familiar with the parking brake and two levers before the actual mowing.
Keep in mind that the steering is highly sensitive, so avoid abrupt movements when riding the mower.
Walk-behind Lawnmower
Walk-behind lawn mowers have two types: walk-behind push mowers and self-propelled mowers. Unless you want some workout while mowing, the self-propelled option seems like a more reasonable choice.
Walk-behinds make a great choice for small lawns, which might take 40 minutes or less to mow. Besides, they can handle most types of terrains. They offer operators more control and stability when used on steep, hilly landscapes than other types of lawnmowers.
Walk-behind lawn mowers come fully assembled. For some models, the only assembly is to attach the handle to the base.
The walk-behind push type is the easiest to operate, and you only need to pull the handle to start the engine and keep moving the machine in the front direction. It’s also important to make sure the lawn is mowing.
The self-propelled type features a self-drive mechanism. What you need to do is squeeze the bail to engage the machine. Then, you’ll step back and monitor the mowing without breaking a sweat.
Tow-behind Mower
A tow-behind mower can be a gag reel, finish cut, or rough cut. A finish mower can deal with grass under 6 inches long, while a rough cut can tackle higher grass and weeds beyond 6 inches.
This type of mower doesn’t have its propulsion but is hooked to an ATV or UTV to operate instead. The main benefit of a tow-behind is that it can mow a large strip of grass with a single pass, so there’s no need to go back and forth that wastes time and energy.
For that reason, a tow-behind lawnmower works at its best on medium to large-sized lawns. Cutting with a tow-behind takes half the amount of time compared to other types of lawnmower.
You can haul a tow-behind as fast as 5 miles per hour and don’t go beyond the speed; otherwise, your grass won’t be trimmed evenly. Keep in mind to choose a tow-behind that is compatible to your ATV’s towing capacity.
ATV Sprayer
A large lawn is challenging to keep in top shape; especially, it needs a frequent supply of herbicides and pesticides to grow healthily. ATV Sprayer is specially made to mount on the back of your ATV, UTV, or tractor to apply sprays to expansive areas of lawn.
Not all ATV sprayers are made equal, so consider some key features and your spraying needs before getting one. The output capacity of the ATV sprayer ranges between 15 and 25 gallons.
Some of them come with a pumping power of 1 gallon each second, making spraying easier and faster. Look for a tank with a drainage option so the cleaning and maintenance will become easier.
To operate the sprayer, fill it with the chosen grass food, strap it on your vehicle and spray it as you go. Remember to make sure the sprayer faces the right direction by checking its motor before starting your ATV.
ATV Spreader
Spreading fertilizer and grass seed across your yard can be stress-free if you get the right tool. An ATV spreader can take on the mission better than any equipment.
An ATV spreader is basically an equipment with a hopper and two wheels, which mounts on the back of your ATV and sometimes on the front. The hopper is where you pour in seeds, feed, salt, or fertilizers.
Based on your needs, you can choose the right hopper size for your lawn. However, you won’t need to buy an ATV spreader with the largest hopper for spreading seeds across the lawn.
Installation of the spreader to the ATV is rather simple. First, you should know whether your spreader needs to be mounted on the back or the front of the vehicle.
Most spreaders attach to the vehicle via mounting racks. Once everything connects, you can pour in the materials and go to your starting point and begin to apply.
Lawn Sweeper
Lawn usually becomes cluttered with debris, and you might feel like clearing your lawn is a back-breaking task that takes forever. That’s where a lawn sweeper comes into use.
A good lawn sweeper can manage various kinds of debris across your yard, from leaves, acorns to twigs. A lawn sweeper is essential to cleanup tasks for large property and saves you time and sore muscles.
There are two types of sweepers: Push lawn sweeper and tow-behind lawn sweeper. The latter is more costly but collects a larger amount of debris than their manually operated counterpart.
To make the most use of the sweeper, you need to learn how to use it properly. One of the important steps you should never skip is to adjust the brush height of your sweeper.
Make sure the height is ½ inches down the tip of the grass. Control your ATV or tractor’s speed as it can affect the sweeping speed. Finally, keep in mind to dump the hopper when it’s full by pulling the rope.
String Trimmer
We know that there are still some tight corners that are out of the reach of a lawnmower. And we need to handle them all to give our lawns a manicured look. That’s when you need a string trimmer or weed eater the most.
They excel in trimming the grass along fences, around the flower beds, shrubs, or mailboxes. You can go for a gas or electric string trimmer.
Electric or battery-powered models now are widely applied to residential use, and they have what it takes to perform the job just as well as a gas-powered model, without fumes and complicated maintenance.
String trimmers come with either a straight or curved shaft. Some people prefer curved shafts as they’re lighter and give operators more control. However, others love that a straight shaft can trim grass in the areas where their curved counterpart struggles to reach.
Whichever you choose, make sure that you can get a shaft that allows you to adjust to fit your height.
Hedge Trimmer
Maintaining your lawn and garden requires a lot of cutting and pruning hedges and solitary bushes. The blade ranges in size from 16 to 20 inches. The larger the blade is, the thicker the branches it can handle.
If your garden has a lot of large hedges, you will need the largest-sized blade. Like most lawn care tools, there are electric and battery-powered trimmers available.
The battery trimmer saves you from the hassle of dragging around an extension cord, but its runtime is limited to under 60 minutes per charge.
The hedge trimmer’s blade can slice through up to ½ inch with no issues. It’s against expert advice to go out of this boundary, as doing so will strain and break the blade.
While trimming, it’s recommended to start from the bottom and move your way up. Move the blade slowly and avoid deep cutting. After that, proceed to the top of the hedge and then get rid of all the trimmings.
Edger
A lawn edger keeps your lawn look clean and manicured by creating professional-looking lines between your lawn and the driveway or sidewalk.
The good thing is that this item doesn’t cost much. For a solid edger, you only need to pay an average of $150.
An edger often comes with an adjustable shaft, which you can extend or retract to find a perfect position that works for your height. It also offers you more flexibility with different cutting depths (at least 3 options).
It’s best to buy an edger that you can stop the blade from turning whenever you want for your safety. Before taking your trimmer out to edge your driveway or walkway, make sure you mow your lawn first.
In doing so, you have an idea how short you’ll trim your grass, giving your lawn a manicured appearance.
Power Blower
Fall foliage might appear a romantic scene but turns out to be a dreadful chore to any gardener. A rake will do the job just fine, but let’s take a look at power or leaf blowers and see what it has to offer.
A power blower is a great choice to clear up your lawn when it’s laden with leaves or grass clippings. The wide-mouth tube of the blower streams out powerful air burst to sweep debris across your lawn.
It’s essential to pay attention to the CFM (cubic feet per minute) measurement of the unit, which indicates how powerful the blower could be. You can choose between a handheld and backpack blower, and the latter is suitable for longer blowing sessions.
On the other hand, the former is more maneuverable in small corners as it’s lighter and on the small side. Despite being quite loud, the power blower makes a great substitute for a rake. It gets the job done more quickly, and you don’t have to exert too much effort.
Chainsaw
The chainsaw is one of the most versatile tools to own for your garden. Its primary duty is trimming and cutting trees. Other than that, it can fell, limb, or buck trees.
A chainsaw slices through logs with a high-speed chain that runs around the edge of a blade. However, it is one of the most hazardous tools to operate; therefore, knowing what to avoid will keep you safe using this gadget.
Bear in mind that the end tip of the blade is the kickback zone, so you should not let any log come in contact with the area to avoid injuries. It’s also crucial to make sure the oil bar is full before each use.
Chainsaws range in size from 6 inches to 20 inches and beyond. Consider your needs when choosing one. If you’re only using the tool for light-duty, like pruning small branches and trees, a small to moderate-sized chainsaw will suffice.
Alligator Lopper
An alligator lopper is a pair of big scissors with a clamping jaw inside, designed for branch pruning, cutting, or tree felling.
Although it cannot take on big jobs that a chainsaw could do well, the alligator lopper is easier to handle due to its small size, run without loud noise, and safer for the operator.
The metal guards wrap around the saws to protect you from the sharp blades. If you find a chainsaw too dangerous to use, an alligator lopper makes an ideal substitute.
A typical tool’s bar is 6 inches long and can slice through woods of up to 4 inches.
With an alligator lopper, pruning and cutting is fairly simple. After applying chain oil, you position the bar to the trunk that you want to prune, close two handles, and squeeze the button simultaneously.
Don’t forget to lubricate the chain from time to time to make it work efficiently for seasons to come.
Log Splitter
You can make good use of fallen trees and cut logs in your yard by chopping them down into firewood. To do that, you’ll need the help of a log splitter.
Log splitters are available in hand-powered, gas, and electric models. Gas and electric splitters with 6 tons of splitting force can split logs of up to 10 inches in diameter.
If you need to handle a much larger piece of log, you’ll need a model with a greater pressure. A splitter that can generate 25 tons is up to most tasks. They’re a great tool for both residential and commercial uses.
Log splitter is simple to operate. After switching it on, you load the splitter vertically or horizontally, depending on the model. Then, turn on the valve if you use a non-manual splitter.
The splitter will push the log into the wedge and start splitting. You will work with the lever to split the log for a hand-power splitter, which doesn’t take much effort.
Shovel
A shovel can dig, lift, and move materials such as gravel, soil, or snow across your yard. It consists of a curved blade with a pointed or rounded end. Shovels can be used for transplanting bedding plants, digging holes, relocating mulch or compost from one place to another.
There are two common types of handles: T or D handles. D-handle is preferable as it reduces the strain on your wrist, making long digging sessions less tiresome.
Plastic and wood handles can survive light duty, but if you want a shovel that lasts you a lifetime, you’d better get a thick-steel handle.
Shovel should get into the soil or gravel at an angle. Avoid pushing it vertically like you would with a spade.
Spade
Spade is another tool for working the soil. Its sharp straight edge excels in cutting through sod, trenching, and edging. It comes with a longer hand than a shovel, allowing you to dig the soil while standing up.
A spade will have a small ledge or step on either side of the handle for you to step on your foot and add more force to the spade. These steps enable you to go deeper into the ground than a shovel would.
There are three typical materials for a spade’s handle: fiberglass, wood, and steel. Steel handles are the most durable and are up to heavy digging jobs. However, they will add more weight to the tool, making it hard for weak hands to use in a long gardening session.
If you don’t work the soil frequently, a lighter wood handle will do you just fine and feel better to hold as well.
Digging Hoe
Hoe is a must-have item in the arsenal of any serious gardener. Its main jobs are cultivating the soil and clearing weeds. You can use it to make ditches in workable ground.
There are various hoe types for you to choose from, depending on specific tasks you want to accomplish. A hoe with chopping action, for example, will be the best fit for digging holes.
If you persistently deal with annual weeds, a Dutch hoe with teeth is your best bet as you can pull the unruly weed patches out more easily.
Safety Glasses
A pair of safety glasses will protect you from flying debris, UV rays, pesticides, and fertilizers in the air while you are mowing your lawn.
Most safety glasses are made from polycarbonate, which is by far more resistant to scratch and impact than your sunglasses or prescription glasses.
It’s advisable to look for a pair of safety glasses with ANSI certification to make sure that you’ll get the best protection for your eyes. Besides, as most of your lawn care tasks are carried out in daylight, a pair that can filter out UV radiation would be perfect for outdoor use.
Additional features like non-slip nose pads will ensure more comfortable wearing of the glass hours on end. Some models also come with a dual-coated lens, which are resistant to fog and constantly provide a clear view of the surroundings while you’re mowing.
Earmuffs
Most lawnmowers produce sound levels that are beyond the safe point of 85 decibels. Therefore, if you often operate your lawnmower for hours on end, you risk damaging your hearing ability.
While earmuffs don’t block off the sound 100%, they can minimize it to a safe level that your ears can put up with. The most important consideration when choosing earmuffs is the noise attenuation to make sure you receive sufficient protection.
You can rely on the NRR rating of the earmuffs to decide. For example, if you’re riding a lawnmower with a noise level of 100 decibels, the NRR rating should be at least 25 decibels to create a safe level of 85 decibels or less under the earpads.
Conclusion
gardening101.net hope you have jotted down what you need and made your own list of lawn care tools to add to your garden arsenal and maintain your lawn properly and efficiently.
With the right tools, you will have more time to sit back and appreciate the professional look that you gave your lawn. It’s time to hit the store and spend on some worthwhile items.