One significant stage when planning your landscaping business is identifying the necessary tools you need to have. Having a good estimate of your initial expenses is crucial to the smooth flow of your business.
A comprehensive inventory of your costs of the landscaping tools and equipment will greatly aid you in your on-going financial obligations.
To help you determine the tools you need, here is a list that many landscaping businesses use. Take note, you can either buy new ones or used, as long as they are all in top-quality and great working condition.
Power Tools
Make sure that you determine first what you’ll do with the power tools before buying. While it’s recommended that you get the best ones, it’s not practical to get the accessories that you don’t really need.
They are an added cost and will make your power tools heavier. Only get your power tools from reliable and known brands. Look out for sales and discounts to help manage your expenses.
1. Lawnmower
For landscaping, lawnmowers are the most-used machine. You should expect that you’ll be dealing with huge lawns, so it’s important that you get a lawnmower that has a 30” cutting width. You must invest in your lawnmower since you’ll most likely be using it every day.
2. Wood Chipper
A wood chipper is a powered machine used for cutting branches, twigs, leaves, etc. into smaller pieces. This will help you in clearing up the garden faster.
The machine will allow you to gather the debris in one place after feeding it to the machine. You will have everything organized and complete the job faster. People love it when the work is done efficiently. This will help you attract more clients.
3. Mini Dumper
When dealing with huge areas, like community parks and golf courses, a mini dumper will surely come in handy. A mini dumper will carry and transport a wide range of materials, like rocks, tree parts, soil and more. This will also make your work faster and convenient.
A mini dumper makes large jobs easy
4. Tiller
A tiller is essential for landscaping. Getting a top-quality tiller will enable you to make new flower beds conveniently. It will also unearth existing flower beds with no difficulty.
Sometimes people get confused between a tiller and cultivator. Know the difference and makes sure you get the right one for your needs.
5. Aerator
An aerator will prevent soil compaction so nutrients, water and oxygen penetrate it more smoothly. This will aid the grass in being more healthy and grow beautifully.
6. Chainsaw
Industrial chainsaws get the job done fast
A chainsaw is helpful in cutting thick branches of trees and bushes. It’s better if you get a lightweight one so it’s easier to operate.
7. Lawn Edger
This machine will let you manage the boundaries of lawns to keep them neat and attractive. You can still do this with your hand tools, but the lawn edger makes the work easier and faster so you can attend to other tasks right away.
Hand Tools
When purchasing hand tools, here are some tips in choosing the right ones for you:
Choose those that have metal-coated or wood handles. They are sturdy but not that heavy to use.
Stay away from tools that have painted handles. This usually means they’re made from substandard wood.
If money is not an issue, go for those with fiberglass or tubular steel handles. They are known for their durability and long service life.
1. Shovel
All landscapers use shovels. They are the most effective tool in digging up soil and spreading gravel, compost and mulch. They are probably the most-used tool when it comes to landscaping.
2. Rakes
There are a variety of different types of rake
You need to have at least two types of rakes. The first type is the long-handled rake, which you will use for leveling and spreading soil, gravel, compost and mulch.
The second type is the leaf rake, which you will use to clean up and converge twigs, leaves and other types of debris.
3. Transplant Spade
This hand tool is exclusively designed for transferring plants around the yard or garden. It’s very similar to a shovel; however, it has slender blades that cause less damage to the plant’s roots.
4. Garden Fork
This tool allows you to disperse the soil prior to planting. This also allows you to take off plants without causing damage to the roots. You can also use this for tasks involving fertilizers, compost, and manure.
5. Pruners
Pruners make it easy for you to get rid of branches that have up to 1-inch thickness.
6. Lawn Shears
These are useful in maintaining and clearing the grass that is not reachable by your lawnmower. It’s recommended to get those that have long handles for convenience and comfort.
7. Secateurs
You will use your secateurs for cutting bamboo, twigs and branches, as well as for pruning. You must have two types of this tool – the anvil and bypass.
Anvil secateurs are suitable for dried-out and dead growth. Meanwhile, bypass secateurs are ideal for living and healthy plants.
8. Trowels
For your short tools, you will be using a trowel the most for landscaping. You will use it for some planting, slight digging and uprooting old stalks and weeds.
A garden trowel is a handy tool to have
You should also use your trowel in dealing with borders of tiny plants to avoid damaging the roots that are intended to stay.
9. Hand Cultivator
A hand cultivator has bent prongs, which makes them the ideal tool for digging up weeds, mixing in the fertilizer, and turning the soil.
Conclusion
These are some of the tools and equipment that you will need to kick-start your landscaping business.
Since you need to control your expenses as much as possible, get the best tools that will fit your budget. Investing in high-quality tools will pay off in the long run as you don’t need to replace them too often.
