6 Essential Landscaping Tools for DIY Lawn Care

Here in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota communities, many homeowners pay for professional landscaping and lawn care. Whether driven by a lack of time, or an aversion to be out in the hot sun – many people prefer not to work on their own yard. Still, there are plenty of us who love the satisfaction of working outside, of getting our hands dirty and creating a beautiful property. If you are a novice to landscaping or are simply looking to do the job right – here is a list of essential landscaping tools for you to have in your arsenal.

Recommended Landscape Tools for Homeowners

1. Gloves: We have some beautiful native plants here in Florida. They can also be downright thorny and painful to handle (think some varieties of palm trees and succulents). A great pair of gardening gloves will protect your skin and also keep scratches and blisters to a minimum. You will want to find a pair of gardening gloves which are sturdy but lightweight, as well as breathable and water resistant. You should look for longer cuffs for more coverage. Be sure to store them away from sunlight, moisture, and away from insects.
2. Pruning Shears: South Floridians enjoy a 12 month growing season, which is both a blessing and a curse. While we can maintain beautiful yards throughout the year, it takes a lot of maintenance to keep up. Pruning shears are likely to become your favorite tool. Hand pruners, also called secateurs, allow us to keep healthy bushes and shrubs under control, as well as shear through dead branches to bring a plant back to life. Pruning shears can be further broken down by type depending on the job you need them to do, so you may have several pairs. Anvil-style pruners cut with a sharp blade meeting a flat surface, while bypass pruners cut more like scissors. Ratcheting pruners offer more cutting strength for those with weaker hand strength.
3. Loppers: Long-handled pruners called loppers are utilized to work in hard to reach areas and cut through thicker branches. Leverage and strength is provided by the longer handles. Loppers have varying styles, similar to pruning implements. IF you will be using a lopper for overhead cutting (such as to think out palm fronds) consider ones made from more lightweight or composite materials.
4. Spades and Trowels: Short-handled, square shovels make easy work of digging holes for planting, creating edges, or cutting out areas of sod. While spades with longer handles provide more leverage, they can be heavier, so have the right spade on hand for the required job. Trowels are gardening essentials, landscaping tools used often for transplanting small plants, containers gardening, and removing rocks, roots and weeds from the soil.
5. Hoe: Those who work with vegetable gardens are the most likely to need a good sturdy hoe, although they are also useful in preparing landscaping and flower beds and weed removal. Look for a how with a long reach and a sharp blade.
6. Rake: Most people up north will use a rake primarily for leaf collection and removal, but many deed-restricted communities in this area have few trees which shed leaves. A hoe can be used to spread mulch, and few people rake up their grass clippings. So why a rake? Well, a good rake is simply a standard, useful for many clean-up landscaping jobs, especially in those yards with more diverse trees and plant life. A rake may not get the usage it gets up north, but every homeowner should have a good one.

With these 6 essential landscaping tools, you are ready to take on your yard and make it beautiful. At Big Earth Landscape Supply, we are here to supply everything you will need, from seed to sod, fertilizer to insecticide. No matter your landscaping needs, we are your best first stop in Tampa and Sarasota.