If you’re going to be doing any amount of landscaping in your yard, there are a few core tools you will need. There are many specialized tools too, but we’re only going to discuss your starter package.
Mower
If your lawn has grass, or grass-like plants, you need a mower of some sort. There is a wide variety of types of mowers. They range from riding lawn mowers to rotary push mowers. Before you say those are old fashion, you should know that both myself and Stuart Shefter use the Fiskar’s reel push mower. (Here’s a sponsored link to the mower we use.)
I can’t speak to Stuart’s motivation, but I like how quiet it is and the environmental benefits. The downsides are that it takes slightly more effort than a motorized push mower and does not tend to cut thickly stalked weeds. Overall, I like it. And, full disclosure, this article was not sponsored by Fiskar. Just talking about it because it is the one I own personally.
Rake
Next up, you will need a rake. This is a standard lawn rake. It is also called a leaf rake. This is what you’d use to rake up lawn clippings, leaves, pine straw, and other light weight vegetation debris. Usually it is fine to leave lawn clippings on your lawn to decay and put nutrients back in your soil, but too much coverage can harm an otherwise healthy lawn.
Fortunately, we have an article about steps to a healthy green lawn.
In Durham, we have yard waste pickup. You can place your lawn clippings in these containers for pickup. Alternatively, you can use the clippings as fertilizer for your lawn or garden by composting them.
Garden Rake
If you’re moving around anything heavy like rocks, mulch, or soil, you’re also going to need a garden rake. These are the rakes that are metal, stronger, and the prongs run perpendicular from the handle.
Unlike a leaf rake, a garden rake has the strength to move heavier substances without bending or breaking.
Shovel
Why do you need a shovel? Well, sometimes you need to dig a hole, obviously.
You’ll actually find there are many uses for a shovel. It is one of the most useful landscaping tools in this list. Often times, you’ll need to dig holes to plant new trees, shrubs, flowers, or other plants.
Additionally, the shovel is useful for water management. If you are collecting water near your down spouts, foundation, or other parts of your yard, you may want to dig trenches to allow for better flow.
You’ll probably also use the shovel for moving certain fertilizers, compost, new dirt, rocks, or many other landscaping products.
Finally, any change in your yard’s topography will requires a shovel. Even if you have a motorized digger of some sort, the shovel will be used for final touches or places the digger cannot get to.
Hose
We can’t forget about your hose. Plants need watering! There are two main things to consider with hoses. Is it long enough? Is it going to last? There are a multitude of hoses out there, and it is also hard to go wrong with any that are well reviewed. I also recommend getting a multi-function sprayer so you can choose how the water is sprayed.
Other Landscaping Tools
Like I said earlier, there are other landscaping tools for specific uses. For example, you may want a wheelbarrow for carrying large amounts of rocks or dirt around your yard. I wanted to just cover the starter package. If you get the pieces listed above, you’ll be well on your way to being prepared for whatever your lawn throws at you.
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