Now that you’re a homeowner (or about to be one), you’ll need to lay in some important items that you may not have considered when you either lived in an apartment, with roommates or with your family. There are so many things that you would just reach for, never thinking about where they came from or how they got there.
In a new series of blog posts, we’re going to talk about some of the everyday things you use all the time, but won’t be provided when you purchase a new home. You’ll need to put aside some additional cash around closing time – not just to get through the closing process itself, but also to outfit your new place.
Today we’re going to talk about the outdoor essentials – the items you’ll need to keep your lawn and plants in tip-top shape! Everyone jokes about the “lawn police” – those neighbors that keep tabs on how often you mow or weed – but those jokes are popular for a reason. As one of the most visible aspects of your home upkeep, people do notice your yard. It’s important to keep it tidy and appealing.
So what do you need to keep your greenery great?
- Shovel
- Hand Trowel
- Pruning Shears
- Hand Pruner
- Leaf Rake – broader, wider, with plastic, bamboo or lightweight metal tines for removing light objects like leaves and twigs from your lawn
- Garden Rake – a flat-head rake with heavier, sturdier metal tines for turning soil and removing dead grass
- Edger
- Utility Bucket
- Work Gloves
- Weed Whacker
- String Trimmer
- Garden Hose with Spray Head
- Wheelbarrow
- Lawn Mower
- Spreader – for fertilizer or seed
- Lawn Sprinkler
- Lawn and Leaf Bags
- Saw (for removing limbs or cutting downed limbs into easily removable pieces)
- Garden Fork
- Hoe
- Watering Can
Some other items to consider:
If you have more than two mature trees on your lot, you may want to invest in a
leaf blower. It will save time and wear and tear on your hands over hours and hours of raking. Simply turn the blower toward the leaves and make tidy piles in a flash!
A
sprayer may be for you if you find you need to address difficult insect or weed problems. Many insecticides and herbicides come in liquid forms, and a sprayer helps complete a light, even application quickly.
If you’re going to do a lot of work with vegetable or flower gardening, think about a
Hori-Hori knife. A great multi-purpose tool used for cutting through roots, transplanting, dividing perennials, slicing through sod and weeding, this popular “mighty mite” is a small but impressive piece to include in your lawn care arsenal.
If you have a very large lawn, you may want to limit your mower choices to a
riding mower.
If you cut firewood for a fireplace or indoor wood stove, or have old trees that may need to come down, you may want to invest in a
chain saw.
For your comfort as you weed, garden or trim, we suggest a large, shady
hat and a
kneeling pad. Save yourself from sore joints and sunburn!
And don’t forget storage!
Some new homeowners prefer to purchase a small
shed they can place outside to store their lawn and garden essentials, while others set aside space in their garages and invest in a garden tool organizer such as
this one. If you decide to go with an outdoor shed, be sure to check your community’s covenants before erecting one. You may even consider building your own if you're handy with a saw and hammer. For some information on DIY sheds, click
here for help from Zacs Garden.
Give your home better curb appeal with a lovely lawn…its easy when you have the right tools on hand!
