10 Must-Have Landscape Tools: A Buyer’s Checklist

No matter what your needs are, there are a few essential lawn care tools that every homeowner should have. By having these tools on hand, you’ll be able to keep your lawn and landscape looking their best all year long.

1. Edger and Trimmer

An edger/trimmer is a tool used for maintaining the edges of lawns and landscapes. It is designed to create clean and precise edges along driveways, sidewalks and garden beds. Here are some specific things that an edger/trimmer can do for home landscapes:

• Create clean edges
• Trim grass and weeds in hard-to-reach areas such as around trees or along fences.
• Trenching, which is useful for installing landscape lighting, irrigation systems and other outdoor features.

Electric and battery-powered edgers and trimmers are readily available at major retail chains, local home and garden stores and numerous online retailers.

2. Push Lawn Mower

A push lawn mower is a tool used for cutting grass and maintaining the appearance of home landscapes.

• Cut grass to a desired height, keeping your lawn neat and well-maintained.
• Effortless cutting: The best push lawn mowers are powerful enough to handle even thick grass while making clean cuts, making the task of mowing easier and more efficient.
• They come with a grass disposal bagging system to collect grass clippings, a side discharge chute to expel clippings onto the lawn or a mulching feature that finely chops the clippings and returns them to the lawn as natural fertilizer.
• They offer maneuverability, allowing you to navigate around obstacles and tight spaces in your yard.
• Feature adjustable cutting heights, allowing you to choose the desired length of your grass.

You can typically find push lawn mowers at home improvement stores, garden centers and online retailers.

3. Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Alternatively, a self-propelled lawn mower is similar to a push lawn mower, but it’s designed to move forward on its own, requiring minimal effort on your part. This makes the task of mowing easier and more efficient.

• Customizable speed with adjustable speed settings, allowing you to choose the pace that works best for you.
• Self-propelled lawn mowers typically also come with options for grass disposal.
• Maneuverability, as they are designed to be easy to push and maneuver, allowing you to navigate around obstacles and tight spaces in your yard.

You can easily find self-propelled lawn mowers at home improvement stores, specialized lawn and garden retailers and various online marketplaces.

4. Sprinkler

A decent sprinkler will water slowly and close to the roots where the plants need it, reducing water losses from evaporation and overspray. Different types of sprinklers can be used to apply different amounts of water to separate plantings to match plant requirements.

Certain sprinklers can also be suitable for sloping areas and can prevent salt accumulation. Additionally, sprinklers can be used to water rain gardens, which helps to reduce stormwater runoff and the need for supplemental irrigation.

Sprinklers are available at local home and garden stores as well as through online retailers.

5. Garden Hose

A garden hose is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of tasks in home landscapes:

• Water plants
• Clean outdoor surfaces like patios, decks or outdoor furniture
• Fill pools and hot tubs
• Wash care
• Water the lawn
• Water trees and shrubs

Garden hoses come in various types, lengths and diameters. Typically, garden hoses range from 25–100 feet in length, with the choice depending on the property’s size. Smaller areas like patios and balconies can usually suffice with a 25-foot hose, while larger yards may require a 50-foot hose to reach distant spots. The most commonly used diameter for garden hoses is 5/8 inch, which is suitable for a wide range of watering needs. When selecting a garden hose, it’s important to take into account factors like length, diameter, material and overall durability.

You can purchase garden hoses at your local home and garden stores or conveniently online from various retailers.

6. Hand Pruner

Hand pruners are tools that can be used for a variety of tasks in home landscapes. A good pair of hand pruners is a must-have addition to any gardener’s tool collection.

• Trim and shape plants
• Deadhead flowers
• Remove dead or diseased wood
• Harvest fruits and vegetables
• Cut back perennials

You can buy hand pruners at local garden centers, hardware stores or online retailers for your convenience.

7. Pruning Saw

A pruning saw is similar to hand pruners but they’re designed to handle much bigger landscape tasks that hand pruners aren’t capable of completing. For example, they can cut through thick branches that are too large for hand pruners or loppers.

They can also shape larger plants like trees and shrubs, removing unwanted branches and promoting healthy growth.

The Kress 20V 5in Brushless Pruning Saw delivers more power, longer runtime and extended lifespan compared to brushed motors. It’s a powerful, compact and versatile saw for pruning, trimming, delimbing and bucking.

You can find pruning saws at local hardware stores, gardening centers or browse a variety of options online through retailers.

8. Leaf Blower

Leaf blowers can clear debris, clean outdoor spaces, clean gutters, clean shop vacuum filters, dry wet surfaces and remove light snow.

When buying a leaf blower, consider yard size, leaf volume, noise tolerance and budget to find the right one. Options include handheld or backpack designs, with battery-powered for quiet jobs and gas-powered for larger tasks. Look for high CFM (cubic feet per minute) and MPH for better performance, while noting noise levels and exploring additional features like speed control, nozzle size, detachable tubes or mulching capabilities.

Leaf blowers can be purchased at various retailers, both in-store and online.

9. Spreader

Spreaders are designed to distribute dry granular products, such as fertilizer, seeds and control products, evenly over a large area. Different spreaders are better for different needs, and many offer customizable application rates to match the instructions on the product packaging.

Drop spreaders are very accurate as they distribute even rows of fertilizer and grass seed exactly where you want it, making them ideal for smaller lawns under 5,000 sq. ft. Drop spreaders are easy to operate, making them a great choice for homeowners who want a simple and efficient way to apply fertilizer and seed to their lawn.

Broadcast spreaders are suitable for larger areas and can distribute fertilizer and grass seed in a wider pattern. Learn more about the differences between drop and broadcast spreaders here.

You can purchase lawn spreaders from a variety of locations, including home improvement stores. Garden centers and nurseries also typically carry lawn spreaders, especially during gardening seasons. Online retailers offer a wide selection of spreaders, and you can often find them at local hardware stores as well.

10. Shovel

A shovel is a versatile tool used for digging, lifting and moving bulk materials such as soil, coal, gravel, snow, sand or ore in home landscapes. Shovels are primarily used for digging holes, trenches and other areas in the garden.

Additionally, shovels can be used to lift and move bulk materials such as soil, mulch, gravel and sand from one location to another as well as for planting trees, shrubs and other plants in the garden.

In areas that receive a lot of snow during the winter, shovels can remove snow from driveways, sidewalks and other outdoor areas. Lastly, shovels are great for cleaning up debris, such as leaves and grass clippings, from the garden and other outdoor areas.

You can find shovels at local hardware stores, gardening centers or browse a variety of options online through retailers.

What are the top must-have landscape tools? – Answered

In conclusion, having essential lawn care tools like an edger/trimmer, garden hose, sprinkler or pruning saw on hand is crucial for maintaining a well-kept lawn and landscape throughout the year. Whether you need precise edging or efficient mowing, having the right tools can make these tasks easier and more efficient. With the right tools and proper care, your outdoor space will flourish and thrive.