12 Outdoor Must Have Tools Every Home Owner Needs

Owning your own home is exciting and allows you to put your personality into it, this includes the outside landscaping. This is the first thing people will see when they come to your new home. Here are the 12 tools that you need to keep your yard looking amazing.

1. Lawn Mower

This is the most important tool that you need to keep your yard maintained if you have grass. A nicely manicured lawn makes a huge difference in the appearance of your home. There are so many varieties of mower these days. You can choose from:

• An old school push mower
• A gas mower
• An electric mower that you plug in
• A battery operated mower
• A ride on Mower
• Robotic Mower

Basically it comes down to how much lawn you have and what your budget is. If you have a small yard your not going to go out and buy a $3000 ride on lawn mower, or if you have an acre of land your not going to buy an electric mower you need to plug in. Do your research and find the best type of mower that will do what you need it to do and get the job done right and efficiently.

2. Edger

An edger is not a shovel! This is a tool that you use to create straight edges for gardens or grass areas, and clean up the boarders for a clean and finished look. You can get just a simple manual edger as in the picture above or you can get ones that you push with a wheel or even electric ones. This all depends on how much you are willing to spend and the jobs you are going to be doing with it.

3. Leaf Rake

Raking leaves can be a pain but it is necessary in order to keep your lawn healthy, which is why this tool is on this list. Removing leaves reduces the amount of a leaves that could be harboring diseases that can affect your trees, plants and grass. Keeping a thick layer of leaves on your lawn can delay the growing process by preventing sunlight from getting to it, which is essential to creating strong roots. Just like so many other tools, there are many varieties of rakes on the market. You need to decide what works best for you and your needs, as it depends on the materials your rake will come in contact with for example; rocks or soil. You don't need a fancy rake if all you need is to remove leaves off your lawn, just a standard medal or plastic rake will do the trick.

4. Leaf Blower

This tool is great not just for leaves but for removing dirt off your driveway and removing those pesky grass clippings from your gardens. Who wants grass to grow in their garden! When it comes to leaves there are always those tight, hard to reach spots that a rake does not reach, this is where this handy tool comes in or you can use it to do the entire job if you desire. You can get either gas powered or electric depending on your needs. This is a huge time saver and is highly recommended for any home owner! You can also get blowers that will also suck up debris, which is great for xeriscape and rock areas.

5. Loppers

What are Loppers?

These are long handled tools that are used to cut through thicker branches. They are a larger version of pruning shears, which allow you to reach farther and give you some more leverage. They can cut through branches up to 2 inches in diameter, which is great for fruit trees and smaller tree branches. If you have any sort of trees on your property this is a must have to ensure your trees do not get over grown. This tool can be heavy due to its size but you can get light weight aluminum or carbon-composite handles which will reduce the weight.

6. Pruning Shears

These are a must have when in comes to keeping your yard trimmed. These are basically your outdoor scissors, allowing you to trim your plants and flowers, keeping your gardens looking their best.

7. Hoe

This is a must have for any gardener! This tool will save you your back as you can loosen the soil and remove weeds without having to bend over for hours. Loose soil will allow plants to get oxygen and give roots room to grow.

8. Hand Garden Tools - Trowel & Fork

These are great little tools for the garden. They are perfect for transplanting small plants, digging small holes and getting rid of weeds. Getting hand tools that are made with stainless steel heads are the best choice as they are going to last you longer and will not rust.

9. Gloves

Gloves are so important in protecting your hands from damage. You should get a heavy duty pair for when you are using your loppers and pruning shears to protect you from scrapes and cuts. You should also have another pair for gardening, as working in the soil can take its toll on your hands. You never know what may be lurking you soil! Gloves are great when using equipment like lawn mowers and weed whackers as well as you can get blisters from the handle. Purchasing a pair of gloves that are puncture proof is a good idea as you may need to pull weeds that have thorns. You can get all kinds of gloves that various in price range, but I would suggest getting a good solid pair of yard work gloves and garden gloves as you get what you pay for as far as quality.

10. Garden Hose with Sprinkler

This is pretty straight forward. All your grass and plants need to be watered in order to keep them alive! Make sure you have enough hose length to be able to reach all the areas of your yard. Ensure you have a nozzle that has various spray patterns and is good quality, to ensure it lasts you longer than a month. It would also be a time saver to get a hose and nozzle for the front yard and a separate hose and nozzle for the backyard, as most houses have an outdoor water hook-up in the front and backyards. Keeping your hose coiled neatly after use is ideal for the longevity of the hose. It is always good to get a something to store your hose, and there are so many to choose from. This comes down to personal preference as it can become a part of your outdoor decor.

11. Spade or Shovel

First what is the difference between a shovel and a spade? A shovel has a scooped and rounded head with a point at the end. This is great for digging and breaking up the earth. The scooped head is ideal for moving soil or other debris. A spade on the other hand is is flatter and has a rectangles shape to it, and is great for gardens as it is more able to get into small spots. It is great for breaking up roots and trenching or even digging up areas where you need straighter edges. Many jobs require a shovel or spade, anything from simple debris removal to digging a hole for a new tree. You just never know when you will need to dig something up or move something so always best to have one or both on hand.

12. Wheel Barrel

This may be at the bottom of the list but is no less important. Doing any kind of yard work is made 10 times easier if you have a wheel barrel on hand! They are handy for transporting soil or debris from the yard to a vehicle to dispose of or to transport a plant to its new home in your yard. No home is complete without a wheelbarrow on hand, they are the unsung hero's of yard maintenance.

You don't have to break the bank on each of these items but bear in mind you get what you pay for in quality.

Not comfortable doing your yard work on your own, or you do not have a specific tool to do the job needed...Look Out Landscaping Ltd and our amazing crew would love to give you a hand.

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