You can tell a lot about someone’s lawn by the things they keep in their garage or storage shed. Some people have an area set aside for lawn care equipment, while others only have a lawn mower stowed away in a corner. There’s no “correct” amount of tools to own but there are lawn care essentials that can make taking care of your Minnesota turf a whole lot easier.

Reference the lawn care equipment checklist below to ensure you have the necessities to create and maintain the yard you desire.

Essential Lawn and Garden Tools List

Lawn Mower

A mower is the primary lawn care tool and the one you will get the most use out of. You can find a variety of types, including ones with rotary or cylinder blades. The majority of lawn mowers run on gas, but more environmentally friendly options are available. Electric, battery-powered mowers have gotten increasingly popular, as they make much less noise than gas-powered mowers and many brands now offer long-lasting batteries making it possible to mow for extended periods on a single charge. While some mowers are able to collect grass clippings as you mow, it’s better to leave them on the lawn, as they’re a great fertilizer.

Depending on the size of your lawn, you may need to pick from having a ride-on mower, push mower — or both. If you have a quarter-acre lot or smaller, a push mower should be plenty. If your yard is bigger, it may be worth looking into ride-on options. No matter what kind of mower you choose, proper maintenance and cleaning will make your mower last longer and cut better, leaving you with a healthier, more lush lawn.

Gloves

Protecting your hands is important when you do any kind of yard work. It’s worth investing in a pair of quality gloves if you tend to get your hands dirty outside your home. From pushing your lawnmower to pulling weeds, it’s difficult to gauge the amount of damage you could be doing to your hands while taking care of your lawn. Bruised, cut, and blistered hands are never a good look – stop injuries before they happen.

String Trimmer

Your lawn mower can’t reach everywhere, which is where string trimmers come in. String trimmers are perfect for those pesky grass patches that seem impossible to cut like the areas around mailboxes, fences, bushes, decks, and rock beds. When you’re using a string trimmer, be sure to wear protective glasses, long pants, and durable shoes, so you don’t end up with an avoidable injury. More environmentally friendly electric, battery-powered string trimmers are available that have long-lasting charges. They also make less noise than gas-powered options.

Rake

Whether it’s the spring or fall, it’s time to hit the home improvement store for a rake if you don’t already have one. You might think a rake is only good for removing leaves from the yard, but it can also be used to help spread mulch and fertilizer. If you want your rake to last a long time, look for one made of steel. It will be a little heavier than plastic, but it will also be much more durable.

Spreaders

Fertilizers, grass seeds, and herbicides are useless if you have no way to distribute them throughout your lawn. You might wonder why you can’t just estimate how much of these products to spread throughout your lawn by hand, but this leads to an uneven distribution almost every time. When you have a dedicated tool for the job, you can easily spread your product with consistent results. Most spreaders have wheels that make maneuvering around your yard effortless.

Other Lawn and Garden Tools That Are Essential

When stocking your garage or shed with lawn care tools, it’s also good to have shears, pruners, forks and spades, hoes, hand trowels and a pruning saw. These tools won’t break the bank or take up a ton of space, and they will help with cutting, clipping, weeding, digging and planting. And no lawn care supplies checklist is complete without a way to easily transport gardening supplies. Imagine how much easier planting and mulching will be if you have a wheelbarrow or cart.

We know that you don’t have unlimited storage for lawn care equipment, but you shouldn’t need a ton of space for the basics. While there are enough lawn care products out there to make your head spin, it’s best to keep things simple if you don’t want to invest too much time or money into your yard.

Stress-Free Professional Lawn Care

The simplest way to maintain a picture perfect lawn is to let our pros handle the work for you. Simple and stress-free, Twin Cities-based Green Stuff Lawn uses top-of-the-line equipment that won’t take up space in your garage, and we know how to use it. Contact us today to get your lawn looking its best!