First Yard Must-Haves: The 4 Tools Every New Homeowner Needs

Congratulations, you own a yard. A little piece of the outdoors is all yours. And it’s up to you to keep it looking good. So unless you live in the Sahara or the Arctic, here are the 4 most essential tools for homeowners like you.

A Lawn Mower

Okay, if you have grass this one’s obvious. A lawnmower sees more action than any other on our list of essential yard equipment—so make sure you get one that’ll last. Nothing makes you feel more helpless than watching your lawn become a jungle while your mower’s on the disabled list.

Find a lawnmower that gives you options—like mulching – which is really just fertilizing your unwanted clippings. Mulching is key to getting a healthy, sexy lawn, but for those times when you’re not mulching, you’ll also want a mower that can feed clippings into a bag. That makes clean up as easy as emptying the bag. Finally, consider a mower that has a wide cutting deck – like 20 inches or more. You’ll be able to take down more grass in fewer passes, and get back to marathoning that show you just discovered even faster. (And have more time for yard work!)

From rotary to gas-powered to electric, check out a range of lawnmower options here.

A String Trimmer

If you’ve got a lawn, a lawnmower can only do so much. That’s where a curved shaft string trimmer comes in handy. It’s like a nose groomer for your yard – letting you clean up around the edges, the walls, fences, sprinkler heads, bushes, and trees.

If you’ve got a lot of weeds or long grass to deal with (nobody’s judging), consider a straight shaft string trimmer. They’re great for taking out a lot of vegetation in broad strokes, and for reaching those hard-to-reach spots under bushes and such. It’s kind of like a vacuum attachment that gets all the random stuff under the couch. Sure, your guests may not notice. But you’ll know, it’s nice and clean under there!

If you’re considering a string trimmer, here are some models to think about.

A Leaf Blower

Leaves and debris junk up a yard. And if you’re relying on a rake to clean up, you’re going to waste a lot of weekends. With a hand-held blower, you’ve got hurricane force winds at your fingertips – just make sure you’re comfortable with all that power. Choose a blower that’s light enough to handle but still packs a high feet-per-minute (CFM) capacity. The higher the CFM is; the faster your yard looks presentable.

It’s also a good idea to get a blower with multiple nozzle attachments, that way you can adapt to, and then sweep and clear, any area in your vicinity. And remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Please, no blowing at neighborhood cats – even if they are in your yard.

Find a wide range of blower types and capabilities here.

A Hedge Trimmer

A well-groomed shrub is an attractive shrub. And a good hedge trimmer can put the finishing touches on a GQ-looking yard. Whatever type of bushes you have, choose a hedge trimmer that’s durable and well balanced. Also consider one with a rotating handle, which allows you to create more precise cutting angles. You never know, hedge animals could be your thing.

If your bushes could use a manicure, check out hedge trimmer models here.

The Right Tools Make You Feel All Right

With these 4 essential power tools you’ll be equipped to handle the most common yard work tasks, and keep your yard looking great. Which will make you feel great every time you look at your yard. And isn’t that what home ownership is all about?