10 Basic Yard Tools for New Homeowners

by Kim Toscano

Buying your first home also means buying your first landscape. No matter the size, every yard requires some maintenance to keep things looking good. This can feel like a daunting task to first time gardeners. Before tackling the lawn or bushes, start by filling the tool shed. Having the right tools on hand can save you hours of time and energy.

 

  1. Garden Hose and Attachments

    Plants need three things to grow: soil, water, and sunshine. Rain doesn’t always come when needed, so you will need a water-delivery system including sprinkler heads and a hose or hoses long enough to reach across the yard. You’ll also want an adjustable nozzle for hand-watering containers, hosing down tools, washing the car…you name it.

 

  1. Lawn Mower

    Unless you live in a desert, you probably need a lawn mower. Cordless, electric mowers like WORX 40V 17″ Lawnmower provide a lightweight, environmentally-friendly alternative to gas mowers. There’s no gas or oil spills, and electric mowers are much quitter (your neighbors will thank you). The WORX 40V Mower also has a mulching blade, giving you the option to leave clippings in place or collect them in a rear-attached bag.

 

  1. Hand Pruners

    This small tool is indispensable. There are many types of tools for cutting plant material. As their name suggests, hand pruners fit in one hand and are used to harvest cut-flowers, trim small branches, cut-back perennials, shape plants, deadhead (remove) spent flowers, and so much more. Hand pruners used on living plant material are called Bypass pruners. Look for a pair that fits comfortably in your hand.

 

  1. Loppers

    Larger than hand pruners, loppers have longer handles used with two hands and a larger blade for taming overgrown bushes and shaping young trees. The long handles provide more leverage for cutting bigger branches up to 1 ½ inches thick. For anything larger than that you will want a small hand-held saw.

 

  1. Hedge Trimmer

    If you have long hedgerows, formal hedges, or shaped shrubs, you will want a powerful trimer like WORX 40V 24″ Hedge Trimmer. Many evergreen shrubs including boxwood and yew, and even deciduous hedges such as privet, require shaping once or twice a season. That is a lot of work to do by hand, so you will definitely want the power and versatility WORX 40V trimmer offers. Before long you’ll be sculpting topiaries like Edward Scissorhands.

WORX 40V Hedge Trimmer wg280

  1. Shovels

    As with pruners, there are many types of shovels. Two great tools to start with are the round-point spade and a small hand trowel. Look for a sturdy, tempered-steel spade with a long handle for easily digging holes, planting trees, and mixing compost. Trowels are used for small jobs like planting annuals and potting up containers. A sturdy blade and comfortable grip are ideal.

 

  1. String Trimmer

    A mowed lawn doesn’t look complete until the edges have been trimmed. Mowers can’t clip right up to the edges of walls, fences, or landscape edging. That’s where WORX 20V GT Revolution Trimmer/Edger/Mini-Mower comes in handy. Use the trimmer setting to clean up bed lines and fencerows. The Revolution easily converts into a wheeled, walk-behind edger for edging driveways, sidewalks, and patios. Or switch to mini-mower mode and trim between bushes, beneath picnic tables, and other hard-to-reach areas.

WORX GT Revolution Grass Trimmer

  1. Protective Equipment

    Safety is important when working with power equipment and pointy plant material. A good set of gloves will protect your hands against thorns, scrapes, and blisters, while long-sleeved shirts and pants will keep your arms and legs from getting scratched. Depending on the job at hand, also consider wearing protective eyewear and sturdy work boots.

 

  1. Leaf Collection

    Sure, you can rake autumn leaves, but why do all that extra work when the WORX TRIVAC all-in-one leaf blower, mulcher & vacuum does so much more? Vacuum up leaves and let the All Metal Mulching System shred them into a fine mulch perfect for dressing beds or adding to the compost pile. And when you need to clear porches or patios, shift to a powerful leaf blower with the flip of a switch.

WORX TRIVAC Blower Mulcher Yard Vacuum

  1. Garden Rake

    Different from a leaf rake, the garden rake has a flat head and short, thick tines. Garden rakes are used for working the soil in planting beds, preparing seed beds, removing dead grass (thatch) from lawns, and spreading mulch.

 

As you stock the shed, invest in quality tools that will work more efficiently and last longer. It’s worth spending the extra few dollars to invest in sturdy materials and a name you can trust. Also look for padded grips and ergonomically designed handles to reduce muscle stress and increase comfort while you work.

Find great tools for new homeowners by clicking HERE.

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10 Basic Yard Tools for New Homeowners
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10 Basic Yard Tools for New Homeowners
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No matter the size, every yard requires some maintenance to keep things looking good. These are the tools you need to buy as a new homeowner.
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WORX
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