If you want a beautiful green lawn, invest in proper lawn care equipment to give better results and save time. Whether you are a beginner or a lawn enthusiast, lawn tools are essential to your arsenal. If you are just starting and have less to invest, you can look for refurbished or rental tools. Or, if you are a seasoned lawn caretaker, you can upgrade and expand your collection. Lawn care equipment will make maintenance more accessible and more effective.
Once you get started with lawn care tools, you will also need to take care of them so they can stay efficient and functional. With technology advancements, you will find high-performing, battery-operated, and good-quality lawn equipment. You can select the most suitable equipment according to your lawn requirements and the features of the tools. They will also motivate you to try and test the tools out on your lawn.
Here are the essential and best tools for your lawn equipment collection. Additionally, they have tips for their maintenance to make them functional and long-lasting.
Essential Lawn Care Equipment and its Maintenance
Using the proper lawn care equipment gives the lawn a trimmed and lush look. This adds significant value to your home. You also require less professional help once you get started with your lawn care and maintenance. Lawn tools and their correct usage help you elevate your maintenance game. They make mowing, weeding, watering, aerating, and seeding easy and enjoyable. Therefore, these are the tools you must have in your lawn care equipment collection.
1. Lawn Mower
The most common and basic lawn care equipment is a lawn mover. It cuts and neatens your grass, giving it a tidy and fresh appearance. There are a variety of lawn movers that you can purchase from the market[1]. You can pick the one that fulfills your lawn needs and falls within your budget.
- Self-propelled mowers
- Ride on mowers
- Hand mowers
- Hover mowers
- Rotary cut mowers
- Cylinder cut mowers
- Reel mowers
- Out front mowers
- Zero-turn mowers
- Robot mowers
A lawn mover must be maintained to keep it functional over the years. This requires tuning up its mechanism. You can check its oil, replace the air filter and blades, and clean it thoroughly. Make sure to clean up all debris after each use. Additionally, you can sharpen the mover blades so that they cut the grass rather than tearing it and damaging the turf.
2. Rake
Rake is equipment that can serve many purposes in a lawn by using it in various ways—the different types of rakes, such as leaf rake and a garden rake [2]. A garden rake is much stronger and makes for a more demanding clearing of stones, gravel, and compost. A leaf rake is a lighter tool for removing leaves, thatch, and debris.
The maintenance of a rake is easy as you just have to ensure that all the dirt from them is cleaned before storing them. However, do not water the wooden parts of it as they can swell up and rot. You can oil the wooden parts if needed.
3. Trimmers
If you want to give your lawn a professional finish, grass trimmers must be added to your arsenal. As the name suggests, they trim the edges of the pathways, sidewalks, and beds precisely. Trimmers give you a close cut around areas you can not reach, such as trees, shrubs, border fences, and flowerbeds.
When you are done using these trimmers, make sure that you inspect them and clean them before putting them away. This includes replacing trimmer lines, changing oil, and replacing the air filter. Use a stiff brush to scrub off any debris it contains after the trim.
4. Blower
Saving you a lot of time and energy, blowers make your life very easy. They clean up all the fall leaves and debris, along with snow and buildup. Blowers are an efficient way to collect and clear up in all seasons. Their versatility makes you use them on patios, pathways, and porches to remove dust, cobwebs, and buildup.
To keep the blower from functioning at its total efficiency, it is necessary to maintain it. This requires dusting all the air vents, cooling fins, and flywheel blades with a small brush. Then, inspect the blower to check for damages. Replace the air filter and clean the spark plug.
5. Spreader
A spreader helps you perform a meticulous job of evenly distributing the grass seed and fertilizer. The spreader has two types: a broadcast spreader and a drop spreader[3]. The broadcast spreader distributes the seed in a circular motion as it is pushed through the lawn. The drop spreader regulates seed and fertilizer application by distributing through a steak of openings.
After every use, it is essential to clear the spreader to increase longevity. Wash the lawn spreader and let it dry completely. Check all of its fasteners and components to fix any replacements needed. The functioning of a spreader determines the quality of the application. Hence, inspect the spreader before working with it.
6. Aerator
Aeration is an excellent method to improve the circulation of water and nutrients in the root system and is essential for healthy turf growth. Aeration can be done through manual methods, such as using a rake. However, getting a power aerator can make aeration convenient and easy. Aeration can be done annually or biannually.
Aerators have a lot of dirt and soil on them that causes rust if it is left as it is. Remove this mud and soil stuck in the aerator spikes using an air chisel. Using a power hose, remove any dirt stuck in it. Oil and lubricate the aerator to protect moving joints and prevent rust.
7. Spade
A spade is an essential part of the lawn tool kit. Its importance is understood when you need to remove sod for planting, edging sidewalks and garden beds, and digging holes. There are different types of shovels: narrow shovel, broader shovel, short-handled shovel, and long-handled shovel[4]. Each type has its benefits and usage.
Its maintenance is also simple as you can clean all its dirt. Wash the blade and let it dry. Then, apply a light coat of oil on it to protect it.
Conclusion
When working on the lawn, you require different tools to boost the soil health and maintain the overall look. Your tools make the job more accessible, efficient, and convenient. They make your lawn tidy and beautiful. Initially, you can rent these tools. You can start building upon lawn care equipment collection if you have limited investment. Over time, your lawn care knowledge and skills will improve, and these tools will be a significant investment to enhance your turf’s beauty.
FAQS
1. How do I select the best lawn tools fit for my lawn?
When selecting your lawn care equipment, there are some factors that you need to consider. These are the size of your lawn, the conditions of the terrain, all the obstacles in the area (trees, flowerbeds), the quality of tools you want to purchase, and your budget. Depending on this, you can find the right tools for you.
2. How do I level my lawn?
You can use a leveling rake to even out your lawn. This tool will help you smoothen out all the uneven surfaces of the lawn by shuffling the materials and filling the holes and cavities with them.
3. What digging tools can be added to the lawn care equipment?
Some lawn tools have multiple usages. Such tools are shovels, axes, spades, digging forks, hoes, and trowels. They can be used for digging, edging, planting, digging up weeds, and more.
4. What is the safety equipment required when working with lawn tools?
It is essential to wear safety equipment when working using lawn tools. This means wearing protective gloves, goggles, safety shoes, and long pants. It is common to get injuries when using the power tools. You must also protect yourself from insects, bugs, fertilizers, and pesticides.
References:
[1]https://fgadamsonandson.co.uk/blogs/lawnmower-help/types-of-lawn-mowers-explained
[2]https://www.bobvila.com/articles/rake-types/
[3]https://www.solutionsstores.com/pros-cons-of-lawn-spreaders
[4]https://www.moglix.com/articles/guide-to-shovels-and-spades-meaning-uses-and-differences