Landscaping Tools And Equipment Every Professional Landscaper Should Buy

Help your landscaping business thrive with this checklist.

Table of Contents

How to Choose the Best Landscaping Tools
Landscaping Tools List
How to Take Good Care of Landscaping Tools and Equipment
Safety Tips to Eliminate the Risk of Occupational Injuries
Final Thoughts

Having professional landscaping tools and equipment makes all the difference between success and failure for any landscaping project. You may already be familiar with the basics, such as spades, lawnmowers, and pruning shears. However, other equipment can save you much more time and money.

This article will provide you with all the essential landscaping tools and equipment required for a successful business — from proper attire to field service software and specialized machinery. By being aware of the tools available on the market today, you can make sound decisions when investing in your assets.

How to Choose the Best Landscaping Tools

You must consider certain factors to ensure you get the most out of your purchase. Here’s a list of steps to follow when searching for the optimal tools for a landscaping business:

1. Determine Your Budget
   Consider the size and scope of the job and determine how much money you can realistically invest in new or used equipment. Knowing your budget upfront will help narrow down your selection process and make it easier to decide what suits your needs most effectively.
2. Find a Reliable Dealer
   When selecting a dealer, look for one with experience in the industry who can offer quality advice and reliable service. It’s also important to ensure they have good access to parts if you need them later. Check their reviews online and ask around to find out if people are satisfied with their product offerings as well as their customer service.
3. Choose Quality Products
   Look for landscaping tools and equipment from reputable brands with high-quality components that can endure frequent use and heavy workloads over extended periods without breaking down or requiring maintenance or repair too soon after purchase. Asking around within your network for trusted brand recommendations is often a great place to start when choosing quality products and long-term satisfaction.
4. Check the Accessories Available
   Ensure whatever machine you invest in is compatible with any additional attachments that are readily available. Specific landscaping business tools may feature additional components or attachments that save time, improve performance or increase maneuverability — all elements that could boost efficiency onsite.
5. Look Into Warranties
   For expensive commercial landscaping equipment, look into warranties available such as extended repair coverage plans and repair part deals offered directly by manufacturers, which can prove more cost-effective than short-span repairs caused by unexpected breakdowns over time.

Landscaping Tools List

With countless gadgets and tools promising to make your job easier, it is challenging to choose which ones truly deserve a spot in your toolkit. This comprehensive landscaping tools list helps you make informed choices to ensure your projects flourish to their fullest potential.

Landscaping Hand Tools

From shovels and rakes to pruners and loppers, some indispensable low-tech tools will help make any garden look like its best version all year round. Let’s explore some must-have landscaping tools to keep gardens looking beautiful no matter what comes your way.

1. Garden Shovels
   With a broad scoop at the end of a long handle, this tool is used for digging and moving soil in gardening and landscaping work. When selecting one, prefer ergonomic handles so you won’t get tired too quickly.
2. Garden Hose
   It is a flexible tube to transport water for lawn and garden projects. It is typically made of plastic or rubber and can be either coiled or straight. Garden hoses are available in various lengths and diameters depending on the intended use.
3. Leaf Rake
   A leaf rake is a long-handled tool used to gather and move leaves, mulch, and other debris on lawns and other terrains. The head of the rake usually has tines that are separated to create a fan shape to disperse material over a wide area efficiently.
4. Wheelbarrow
   A wheelbarrow is a hand-propelled vehicle consisting of a single wheel in the front and two handles in the rear, used for carrying loads or other materials.
5. Landscape Tamper
   A tamper is used to flatten land, fill in depressions, tamp down debris, and shape soil when creating landscapes. It typically consists of a heavy metal plate attached to one end of a long wooden handle or pole.
6. Pruning Shears
   These specialized tools are used for cutting and shaping live plants, shrubs, and other foliage. They have a sharp blade on one end to make precise cuts in stems and branches, while the other is shaped like a handle that provides leverage to help with cutting.

Landscaping Power Tools 

For professionals, hand tools, even the best ones, are not enough to get ahead of jobs. This lawn care equipment list will help you always be effective on site:

1. Mower
   A lawn mower is a machine that cuts grass to an even height. The most common type is a walking-behind, propelled by a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine.
2. Trimmer
   A trimmer for landscaping is used to trim and shape trees, hedges, and other foliage. It typically consists of a motor-powered head with a cutting blade at the end and is operated by hand. The motor can be electric or gas-powered, or it may be cordless for convenience.
3. Leaf Blower
   A gas-powered or electric leaf blower is a gardening tool that uses a concentrated blast of air to blow away leaves and other debris from hard surfaces. The air is typically propelled by gas or electric motors and may be either handheld or in backpack form.
4. Edging Tools
   Edging tools are gardening tools used for creating and maintaining precise edges around plant beds, pathways, or other decorative features in a landscape. They include edgers, shears, weeders, and trimmers.
5. Lawn Aerator
   A lawn aerator is a mechanical device to puncture and loosen the soil to improve drainage. This is often done on lawns and gardens to promote healthy grass growth, allowing air, water, and other nutrients to reach deep into the turf's root system.
   

Productivity Tools for Landscapers

For professional landscapers, staying ahead means more than just wielding a shovel or a rake. It involves integrating innovative tools that not only facilitate design and planning but also make managing everyday tasks and processes a breeze.

1. Digital Solutions and Applications

Essential productivity tools and apps that every landscaper should consider include:

• Service work order software streamlines job processing and progress tracking, ensuring landscaping jobs and projects stay on schedule.
• Customer database software enhances client interactions by keeping contact information and job history organized.
• Landscaping design tools such as SketchUp or iScape assist landscapers in visualizing projects, providing clients with a clear picture of potential designs.
• Quoting software integrated with QuickBooks or Xero simplifies billing processes and improves cash flow management.

Landscaping job scheduling tools in Orderry

2. Landscaping Measuring Tools

Landscaping measuring tools are essential instruments to accurately assess and plan outdoor spaces. Common tools include:

• Measuring tapes for precise measurements of length and distance.
• Laser distance measurers provide quick and accurate readings over longer distances without physical strain.
• Garden rulers or yardsticks are ideal for smaller areas and detailed measurements.
• Landscaping tools like the clinometer help measure elevation changes, while the level ensures that surfaces are even.
• Stakes and flags to mark measurements on-site and create visual layouts for designs.

3. Landscaping Leveling Tools

These tools come in various forms, including laser levels, string levels, and leveling bars, each designed to help achieve precise elevation and grading in the landscape. A laser level projects a beam of light that provides a reference line for consistent height measurements across large areas, while a string level uses a taut line and bubble level to check the alignment of surfaces. Leveling bars, often equipped with a flat edge, assist in smoothing and grading soil or mulch to achieve the desired contour. Landscaping leveling tools help ensure proper drainage, enhance the visual appeal of gardens and lawns, and lay the groundwork for successful projects.

How to Take Good Care of Landscaping Tools and Equipment

When it comes to lawn care, having the right tools for the job is essential. But even if you have all the necessary resources, they won't last through the season if you don’t take good care of them. To get the most from your lawn care tools, follow these steps:

Clean Tools After Use

Wip your garden tools down with a wet cloth and buff off any dirt or grime with a dry cloth before storing them away. This will help extend their lifespan and prevent rust and corrosion.

Sharpen Blades Regularly

You must have sharp blades on garden shears, pruning saws, lopper blades, hedge trimmers, and mower blades all the time to do your job efficiently. Sharpen them at least once a season (and more often if possible). Dull blades can tear up plants instead of making clean cuts that promote healthier growth.

Keep Tools Organized

Organizing your tools in an easy-to-reach space helps ensure that you can always find what you need quickly when needed, as opposed to having to search around for them or rummage through drawers in frustration just before starting a job. Keep shovels, hoes, and other long-handled tools upright to save space and reduce handle wear.

Automate Inventory Management Tasks

Inventory management software provides a centralized system for tracking and managing all your business assets. By automating inventory tracking, you can quickly identify what tools are available, what needs repair, and when it is time to reorder supplies.

When using Orderry’s landscape business management software, you can create individual digital warehouses for each group of your business assets. Effortlessly avoid costly errors, improve employee productivity, and control consumables usage.

Screenshot of an asset warehouse in Orderry

Store Cords Out Of Reach

Keep cords wrapped up securely when not in use to avoid damage and provide protection from inclement weather conditions such as rain or wind. Doing this also makes storage much easier because corded landscaping tools tend to take up more space than most battery-powered ones do.

Fill Fuel Tanks Before Storing

For gas-powered landscaping tools like leaf blowers, chainsaws, and trimmers – fill fuel tanks before storing them away for the winter months, so they stay lubricated while not being used during that inactivity, but make sure oil levels are checked first, too.

Safety Tips to Eliminate the Risk of Occupational Injuries

As a professional landscaper, you know there is an inherent risk of injuries daily. From chainsaw mishaps to sprained ankles to bug bites and sunburns, landscaping is a dangerous job. But there are numerous steps that you can take to minimize your risk of injury:

Wear Protective Gear

One of the best ways to ensure occupational safety is by wearing protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, ear protection, and face guards. This helps protect workers from sharp objects and flying debris.

Take Breaks During Working Hours

Regular breaks during working hours will help ensure your body isn't overworked or pushed too hard and risk potential strain or fatigue-related injuries. It's vital to ensure that you're getting adequate rest in between shifts while giving yourself enough time to recharge to stay productive throughout the rest of your day.

The work order app significantly enhances productivity for landscaping professionals. You can plan your workday, prioritize tasks, and streamline communication and scheduling in the field. With real-time updates, access to project details, and updates on progress, the app minimizes downtime and reduces the likelihood of miscommunication.

Orderry App for landscapers

Learn Proper Lifting Techniques

It's easy to forget sometimes, but lifting heavy equipment incorrectly can lead to serious back injuries if not done correctly. Therefore landscaping workers must learn proper lifting techniques to limit their chances of being injured while on the job. Make sure you always lift with your legs instead of your back, as this puts less strain on your spine when lifting heavy items like tree limbs, rocks, and soil bags.

Implement Use Machinery Safety Protocols

To avoid crushing or even fatal injuries, every landscaper should carefully understand how the equipment works, check for any potential hazards before starting its operation and follow any instructions on electrical safety listed in its user manual.

Final Thoughts

Even if you have an eye for design and know exactly what plants will work in a specific space, it's crucial to have the appropriate equipment and toolset. Use the list of essentials described above to create lasting beauty through the seasons while staying efficient and productive.