A well-maintained lawn requires the right lawn care tools for the job. From cutting grass to managing weeds, having the proper equipment makes all the difference in achieving that picture-perfect yard you’ve always wanted.
Investing in quality lawn care equipment isn’t just about appearances — it’s about efficiency and effectiveness. The right tools can reduce your workload, prevent damage to your lawn, save you time and money, and help you maintain consistent results throughout the growing season. They’re the difference between struggling with yard work and enjoying the process.
This guide will walk you through the essential tools every homeowner needs, from basic equipment like lawn mowers and rakes to specialized items such as edgers and sprayers. We’ll help you understand what each tool does and why it matters.
Lawn mower
To cut your grass in a uniform and timely manner, you’re going to need a lawn mower. There are many mower options available to homeowners, from manual push mowers to bigger riding mowers. Mowers also have different power sources, including gas, corded electric, or battery-powered.
Alec Kowalewski, a turfgrass specialist at Oregon State University Extension, advises you to research and select a product that fits your budget. He also suggests checking whether the brand you’re considering offers a commercial version, as that quality translates to the models for homeowners.
Choosing a lawn mower can be overwhelming with so many options. However, you can simplify the process by asking yourself the following questions before deciding on the best lawn mower for your yard:
How big is my yard? The bigger the yard, the more powerful the mower you’ll need. On the flip side, you can get away with a lighter, cheaper option if you have a smaller yard. If you need ideas, our guides can help you decide:
Do I need a reel mower or a rotary mower? Reel mowers are better for mowing low (below an inch) and cleaner cuts, while rotary mowers cut through long and wet grass more easily. Rotary mowers are also better for higher cutting heights.
What power source do I want to use? When choosing between electric vs. gas mowers, you’ll need to consider power, noise level, and maintenance costs (among other things). Here are some product reviews that can help you choose the best mower based on the power source:
My tip: If you’re choosing a battery-powered mower, you’ll also have to consider its brand if you’re planning to buy other battery-powered lawn equipment. Equipment from the same brand tends to use the same batteries, so you can share one or two batteries among all your tools instead of buying multiple.
Do I want to grasscycle? Grasscycling is the act of mulching grass clippings instead of bagging them. It has a lot of benefits, but it’s not a feasible option for all homeowners. If you want to grasscycle, consider buying a mulching lawn mower.
What’s my budget? The main limiting factor for picking a lawn mower is how much money you’re willing to spend. On average, a lawn mower can cost as little as $123 or as much as $2,547. Below are our guides that offer a wide range of mowers for various budgets:
It’s okay if you’d rather hire a local professional to mow your lawn. Lawn Love can connect you with an expert who can handle the job, so you won’t need to buy a new lawn mower.
String trimmer
Also known as weed whackers and weed eaters, string trimmers use a fast-spinning nylon string to cut instead of a blade.
String trimmers are great multipurpose tools, but they’re mostly used to cut grass and weeds in hard-to-reach places, such as flower beds and around structures like your house, fence, or a playset. You can also use them to edge and trim your turf.
Much like lawn mowers, they can be either gas or electric — either corded or battery-powered. The factors influencing the choice between gas vs. electric weed eaters are similar to those of lawn mowers, like power, noise, and maintenance.
Here are some product reviews that can help you pick out the perfect weed whacker for your lawn:
- 9 Best Gas String Trimmers
- 7 Best Electric String Trimmers
- 7 Best Cordless String Trimmers
- 6 Best Battery-Powered String Trimmers
You’ll also need a quality string that can hold up to routine lawn care. You can read our articles, 7 Best Weed Eater String and 6 Best Trimmer Lines, for recommendations.
Edger
Clean edging is the secret to a well-manicured lawn. While you can use a string trimmer to edge your lawn, it won’t be as refined as an actual edger. A quality edger will give you that crisp edge between your lawn and your landscaping, garden beds, driveway, walkways, and other surfaces.
Edgers come in two distinct types:
- Manual edgers include spade and half-moon edgers, manual rotary edgers, and hand shears.
- Motorized edgers can be either gas-powered or electric. They can be standalone pieces of equipment or built into string trimmers.
Manual edgers typically cost between $30 and $100, with electric edgers generally ranging from $70 to $200. Corded models are on the more affordable end ($70 to $120), and cordless battery-powered options command premium prices ($120-$200) depending on battery capacity and power.
Irrigation tools and systems
Your lawn needs around 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly. So, you’ll need a reliable way to water your lawn. Some lawn irrigation options include sprinkler systems or hoses with a watering attachment.
There are many types of sprinklers, such as stationary, oscillating, or even drip irrigation. Sprinkler systems can also be above-ground or in-ground/underground. If you’re not sure about what sprinklers to install, our guide on choosing lawn sprinklers can be of help.
Read more: How Much Does it Cost to Install a Sprinkler System?
Leaf blower
Having a leaf blower makes yard cleanup a breeze. It’s not just for getting rid of fallen leaves; you can also use it to remove debris or blow away grass clippings after mowing your lawn. If you live in an area that gets snowfall, you can also use a leaf blower to blow away light snow.
Leaf blowers come as either handheld or backpack models. They can also have different power sources: gas, corded electric, or batteries. If you need help picking out a leaf blower, you can read our product reviews:
Why do I need to remove fallen leaves? When there are too many leaves and debris on your lawn, they can smother your grass and house pests.
My tip: Keep in mind that you don’t have to throw away your leaves. Instead, you can use them as mulch, compost, or make art out of them. You can read our article, What to Do With Fall Leaves on Your Lawn, for more information.
Rake
Rakes can be used in multiple ways, such as leaf removal, lawn prep, and dethatching. There are many types of rakes, but the two you need the most are these:
- Leaf rake: This type of rake is lightweight and wider than other rakes, with its tines typically fanning out. As their name suggests, leaf rakes are made to remove leaves and debris without disturbing the grass and soil underneath.
- Garden rake: Also called a soil, bow, or ground rake, this rake is heavier than a leaf rake. Garden rakes are used for spreading mulch, leveling soil, promoting seed-to-soil contact, and other lawn and garden tasks.
My tip: Invest in a thatch rake if your lawn is prone to thatch issues. It will make your life easier when you need to dethatch your lawn.
Shovel
Some gardening tasks, such as mulching and planting, require a shovel — at least if you want to do them efficiently. Consider getting these common shovels:
- Handheld shovels: Also known as garden trowels, these shovels are used for small jobs and general maintenance, such as hand-pulling weeds and removing faulty sprinkler heads.
- Full-size shovels are used for shoveling mulch, dirt, and sand. They can also be used for tree removal.
- Snow shovels are a must if you live somewhere that gets snow in the winter. Snow shovels are wider, so they can easily cut a wide path through the snow.
Cutting tools
Having dedicated cutting tools in your arsenal is important, as regular scissors or shears won’t cut it. Cutting jobs around your yard will range from deadheading flowers to trimming hedges. Here are some manual cutting tools you may want to get for your yard:
- Pruners are the most basic tool that you will use. Also called pruning shears, they have curved blades. They’re used for day-to-day cutting, small-scale trimming and pruning, deadheading, harvesting flowers and fruits, and jobs of a similar scale. There are many types of pruners: bypass, anvil, and ratchet.
- Loppers are pruners with much longer handles. They’re also stronger than regular pruning shears.
- Snips have smaller and thinner scissor-like blades than pruners. They’re better for precise and gentle cuts for plants with thin, soft stems.
- Garden shears have bigger, straight blades and are designed to be used with two hands. Also called hedge clippers, they’re better for shaping and trimming hedges.
My tip: When trimming hedges, I prefer using powered hedge trimmers. It makes the job so much easier than their manual counterparts. Check out our guides for suggestions: 5 Best Battery-Powered Hedge Trimmers and 6 Best Gas-Powered Hedge Trimmers.
Weeding tools
Weeds are the bane of homeowners who want a well-maintained lawn. While spraying herbicides are effective, there are also non-toxic ways to kill weeds. One of these ways is by hand-pulling or digging out weeds. Here are some weeding tools that can help:
- Weed pullers remove the whole weed — roots and all. This works best on weeds with shallow roots.
- Dandelion diggers, also called weeding forks, are more effective at removing weeds with deep taproots. Some of these weeds include dandelions, burdock, and broadleaf plantain. For these types of weeds, it’s important to pull up the whole taproot to permanently kill them.
- Garden hoes are multipurpose tools and can be used to cut weeds at the soil level, separating them from their roots.
My tip: If your lawn is overwhelmed with weeds, consider hiring a professional. Local lawn care experts can efficiently address all your weed problems and restore your yard to pristine condition without you having to deal with the time-consuming process yourself.
Lawn spreader
Several lawn care procedures require a tool that evenly distributes products. Lawn spreaders — or fertilizer spreaders — are what you need if you need to apply granular products on your lawn. These products include:
- Granular fertilizer
- Herbicides (typically, pre-emergent herbicides)
- Pesticides
- Soil amendments (like agricultural lime)
- Grass seeds
- Ice melt
There are many types of lawn spreaders:
- Broadcast spreaders are best for large, open areas.
- Drop spreaders are precise but spread product slower.
- Hand-held spreaders are easy to use, but better for smaller jobs.
You can read our product review of the 8 Best Fertilizer Spreaders if you need help picking out the best fertilizer spreader for your lawn.
Sprayer
Sprayers are used to apply liquid products evenly. Some products that you can use with a sprayer are:
- Liquid fertilizers
- Herbicides (typically, post-emergent herbicides)
- Pesticides
- Soil amendments (lime can be in liquid form too)
Sprayers can be handheld or worn like a backpack. Hand sprayers are typically better for smaller jobs (like spot treatments), while backpack sprayers are for larger, lawn-wide applications.
Some liquid lawn products come with their own sprayers or a hose-ready attachment. You won’t need your own sprayer if you decide to buy these.
Safety gear
When doing yard work, you will most likely be using chemicals and power equipment. For your own safety, it’s best to invest in some safety gear to wear while working on your lawn. Here are the most important pieces of equipment:
- Gloves will protect your hands while you’re handling chemicals that can burn you like fertilizer, herbicide, pesticides, and ice melt. It will also protect your hands from cuts and scrapes, as well as give you a better grip.
- Goggles or safety glasses will protect your eyes from chemicals and debris that may fly out while you’re using power equipment.
- Ear protection such as earmuffs and ear plugs will protect you from damaging your hearing while using loud power equipment, such as a mower or leaf blower.
- You may also need a safety mask if you’re handling powders and other fine products.
To learn more about safety during lawn maintenance, read our article about yard work safety.
FAQs about lawn care tools
If your area has a lot of clay soil (such as the Northeast) or if your lawn gets a lot of foot traffic, you may need to get an aerator. Clay soils and heavy traffic can cause soil compaction, which can stunt grass growth by blocking off nutrients, water, and air from reaching the turf’s root system.
There are two types of aerators: core aerators and spike aerators. You can learn more about them in our article, Core Aeration vs. Spike Aeration.
It depends. While home soil test kits are good enough in a pinch, they’re unable to give you detailed results regarding your soil. If your lawn is struggling, you may need those detailed results to rule out nutrient deficiencies, improper soil pH levels, and other soil issues.
Consider sending a soil sample to your local extension office or a soil testing lab instead if you need detailed soil test results. You can learn more about soil testing in our soil testing guide.
If you’re growing grass that produces a lot of thatch, you may want to buy a dethatcher. Excess thatch can lead to stunted turf growth, pests, and disease. So, you’ll need to dethatch your lawn if the thatch layer gets too thick (more than ½-inch thick).
Some grasses prone to developing thatch are:
● Bermudagrass
● St. Augustinegrass
● Zoysiagrass
● Creeping bentgrass
Hire a pro to care for your lawn
Don’t want to buy all of these lawn care tools? Consider hiring a lawn care professional to handle lawn maintenance instead. They’ll bring their own equipment, plus they know how to use it too. Lawn Love can connect you with a local lawn care pro who can mow your lawn, fertilize it, and more. They can care for your garden too.
Sources:
Main Photo Credit: Freepik, Text added using Canva Pro.
Related Posts:
