Not sure which landscape equipment to choose when starting a lawn care business? Review our recommendations and know before you grow.
Starting a landscaping business can be a daunting task and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the list of different professional landscape tools. We’re here to help you work through the details and make sure you have the landscaping tools and equipment you need to hit the ground running.
Through our years of experience working with landscape business owners and operators, we’ve developed a thorough list of landscaping tools. In this guide, we’ll show you what landscaping equipment and tools you need to start a business, from your vehicle down to your toolbox and everything in between. We’ll also show you how technology can be among the best investments you make for your landscaping business.
Vehicle: Choosing the Right Transportation for Your Landscaping Business
Every landscaper needs a reliable and sturdy vehicle to transport professional landscape tools and workers from site to site. It’s likely one of your biggest investments, especially if you’re buying a fleet or even more than one truck, so give careful consideration to which vehicle you choose and commit to proper maintenance and security measures to protect it.
Trucks: Reliability and Capacity for Transporting Equipment
Ideally, you want a ¾ or ½ ton truck for your landscaping business, but every business is different and yours may have unique needs to consider.
We found a helpful roundup of truck options and considerations that may help you choose. It provides inside info on crew cab pickup trucks, dovetail trucks, dump trucks, box trucks and pickups.
Trailers: Enclosed vs. Utility and How They Improve Efficiency
Trailers are an honorable mention on a landscaping tools list, but they are not essential if the capital is not there to support the purchase.
If you decide to purchase a trailer, either an enclosed or utility trailer will do the job and allow you to readily transport your equipment to job sites. An enclosed trailer provides an extra level of security for your business, although you’ll pay more for the peace of mind.
Making the Most of Your Vehicle Investment: Maintenance and Security
Protecting your landscaping tools and equipment investments is critical, making vehicle maintenance a no-brainer. Proper vehicle maintenance and care don’t have to be time intensive. Time you spend on it will pay for itself, helping you ensure reliable transformation for your crews and equipment and avoid additional expenses.
Here are general best practices to maintain your landscaping vehicle:
- Conduct daily inspections of your truck to check fluids, tires and general maintenance items.
- Handle any minor maintenance needs as they arise, rather than letting them turn into bigger issues.
- Perform routine maintenance every 3,000 miles.
- Budget for vehicle upgrades and replacements.
Gas and Electric Handheld Equipment: Essential Professional Landscaping Tools for Precision and Efficiency
It’s imperative that landscapers know which professional landscape tools are the right for the job, and how to use them to produce efficient work. Gas and/or electric handheld equipment, including blowers and edgers, give you extended reach, power, and precision you wouldn’t otherwise have.
Here are four key sorts of equipment you’ll likely need on your landscaping tools list:
Blower: Keep Your Worksite Clean and Professional
There’s no quicker way to lose a customer than to leave a job site scattered with debris. A good leaf blower will empower you to leave job sites, and your reputation, spotless.
Edger: Create Crisp, Clean Boundaries for Your Landscaping Projects
Speaking of presentation, an edger will help give your work a professional look with clean-cut edges and borders.
Line Trimmer: Achieve Immaculate Edges and Borders
You’ll need trimmers for whacking weeds or grass that your mower can’t reach.
Shrub Shears
A.K.A. hedge shears, these giant scissors allow you to cut as much of a plant as possible in one single sweep.
Combo kits like Stihl’s KombiSystem aggregate key tools as different attachments on one tool and can be a smart entry point for early landscaping businesses.
Feeling overwhelmed by your choices? This Almanac article looks at key considerations for choosing professional landscape tools, including power and duration needs and maintenance commitments. It can help you determine which handheld equipment is right for your landscaping tools list.
Also consider whether to purchase new or used equipment. The decision often boils down to budget, but there’s a lot more to it, including the hidden costs of going with used. This blog post outlines the pros and cons of each choice.
Mower: The Backbone of Your Landscaping Business
Mowers are typically one of the first tools a young landscaper purchases, creating the foundation of a landscaping business. Chances are, you already own a mower and may be looking to upgrade or buy additional mowers for your landscaping crew.
Let’s look at mower options to add to your landscaping tools list:
Zero-turn Mowers: Advantages and Considerations
Zero-turn mowers are fun to drive, but there are considerable pros and cons of choosing them over push mowers.
Pros of Zero-Turn Mowers:
- Speed
- Precision
- Efficiency
Cons of Zero-Turn Mowers:
- Pricey
- Can be difficult to maneuver, especially on wet lawns or inclines
- Difficult to transport without a trailer
- Maintenance requirements
Push Mowers: Gas, Electric, and Reel Options
If you’re on the fence about investing in a riding mower and you’re just starting up a new landscaping business, go for a gas, electric, or reel push mower. They are less expensive, reliable, easy to maneuver and more convenient to transport. Be aware that electric options require a nearby power source or a backup battery.
Mower Maintenance and Proper Storage for Longevity
Just like your vehicles, your mowers require cleaning, repair and maintenance. Proper upkeep will protect your landscaping tools and equipment investments by making them last longer and help to avoid breakdowns that lead to expensive repairs and lost work.
Here are some helpful tips maintaining mowers:
- Make it a daily habit to remove debris after use
- Store mowers in a covered, dry location
- Sharpen blades
- Schedule regular oil ad air filter changes
- Plan ahead for replacements
This article dives deeper into mower care.
Landscaping Tools List: The Basics for Every Job
Once you have outfitted your new landscaping business with a vehicle, mower and hand-held equipment, you can broaden your inventory of professional landscape tools.
While you may not need these tools daily, they will come in handy as you expand your services and your business. Don’t be afraid to test the weight and feel of these tools when shopping around. Each purchase is an investment in your business, and you want to make sure it’s a tool you’re comfortable with for the long haul.
Be sure that these basics are on your list of landscaping tools:
Shovels, Rakes, and Brooms: Versatile Tools for Multiple Tasks
These landscaping tools cover everything from planting flowers and shrubs to seasonal and job site clean-up. You’ll want to invest in these basics as they’ll get regular use.
Pruners and Hedge Shears: Keeping Your Greenery in Check
Pruners and shears may sound like one in the same, but they are not. It’s important to have both in your arsenal to have what you need to properly maintain a manicured landscape.
Forks: Essential for Moving Materials and Soil
Gardening forks are used for breaking up or establishing a new garden and for moving and spreading materials, such as mulch. You’ll likely need to have a few different sizes on hand.
Standard Landscaping Tools List: Be Prepared for Repairs and Maintenance
Standard landscaping tools and equipment are necessary, especially in an industry that requires and depends on heavy use of equipment.
Include the following to ensure you’re at the ready:
Combo Tool Kit Essentials: Hammer, Screwdriver and Wrenches
While borrowing a kit from home acts as a great placeholder, every landscaper should have a well-stocked professional landscape tool kit with these essentials in case of last-minute and on-the-job repairs.
Utility Knife and Bit Set: Versatility for Any Situation
Utility knives and multitools will ensure you can meet any landscaping need. There are seemingly endless options to choose from so we’ve scouted out this helpful buyer’s guide to help you choose.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Safety First
Your people are your landscaping business’ biggest asset. Proper access to and use of PPE will keep them protected and cared for.
You should provide the following safety gear and equipment for your employees and ensure that they know how to properly use it and understand that everyone’s safety depends on their compliance.
- Ear plugs or muffs
- Safety goggles and glasses
- Gloves
- Safety shields and masks
- Hard hats
- Respirators and masks
Laptop and Mobile Phone: Modern Tools for Efficient Business Management
And, last but certainly not least important to your landscaping tools list, is technology. A laptop and mobile phone are essential to doing business today, keeping you connected to your customers and empowering you to manage the business side of landscaping.
LMN Software: Streamline Your Landscaping Business Operations
LMN can take your laptop or mobile phone and turn it into a powerhouse of a tool for your landscaping or lawn care business. In short, our software does the work of a large administrative team and streamlines operations to cut your overhead costs and empower you to better run your business.
Integrating Apps and Tools for a Seamless Workflow
LMN landscaping business management software helps you manage your business from end-to-end, from one place. It automates your entire landscape business with proven processes, procedures and efficiencies and provides tools that make it easy to generate leads, create estimates, track time, and simplify the invoicing and payroll process.
Storing Documents and Data: Keeping Your Business Organized
Within LMN, you can store important documents, such as customer info, job site photos, invoices, and more, and have them easily accessible. From your LMN platform, you can share work plans and before-and-after photos and readily communicate with your crews and your customers.
Building a Solid Foundation with the Right Landscaping Tools List
While this list of landscaping tools doesn’t have absolutely everything you will need to start a landscaping business, it will help launch your business and prepare you to make every job as efficient and productive as possible.
These 5 Steps For Making Your First Landscape Business Budget will help you budget for the professional landscape tools you need and show you how to project expenses and set goals for your new business.
For more information about starting a landscaping business, check out this helpful guide, created by landscapers for landscapers like you.
Questions? We have Answers.
The tools needed by a landscaping business depend on the services it offers, for instance lawn care, landscape maintenance, hardscaping and patio construction. A standard landscaping tools list typically includes a reliable vehicle, mower, gas or electric-powered equipment such as blowers, and hand tools for digging, cutting, pruning, planting, trimming, raking, grading and maintaining equipment. Technology, including a mobile phone, laptop and landscape management software are also important tools for building and managing a profitable landscaping business.
Landscaping tool providers evolve and change and new ones enter the market, yet there are tried and true tool brands that have stood the test of time. As landscapers who, like you, depended on quality tools to do our work, we can confidently say you can’t go wrong choosing Cat for heavy-duty hard-scaping projects; Ford for tough, reliable vehicles; STIHL tools; and Walker Mowers.
In addition to a mower and power equipment, landscapers and groundskeepers rely on a multitude of professional landscaping hand tools to get the job done. A standard landscaping hand tool kit includes tools for digging, cutting, measuring and marking.
Have additional questions?
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