You moved to a home with a garden and a lawn, what now?
When I lived with my family there was an unspoken rule about the "household tasks" that everyone was allocated without any discussion. I suppose it was down to who did what efficiently and better than anybody else.
Gardening was not on my list of tasks. While I assisted with any labour when needed, my task was cleaning. So when I moved out, I was very surprised about how much work was needed to maintain a garden.
No one talks about the number of tools you need to maintain a garden and a lawn when you've moved out. This is what I figured out:
- A lawn mower is not the only thing you need.
- You need to schedule a time to do the gardening or you will feel like your are in the next Jumanji movie.
- Some plants or trees need additional care depending on their growth rate or water/soil requirements.
- Wearing the right shoes help with safety, sore feet and are usually water resistant, saving you from wet socks.
- Choose the right clothing. It should be comfortable, breathable and that you don’t mind getting messy.
- Some seasons require more maintenance for example in summer you really should be mowing your lawns every week (see Jumanji reference above).
- If it gets to jungle stage, get some help. This means that you can get it done in one day and then you can get back to maintaining rather than catching up.
Tools You Need To Take Care Of Your Garden And Lawn
Garden and lawn gadgets are extensive these days but if your starting out the tools below are going to help you a lot. These tools are the minimum of what you need to take care of your garden and lawn in my opinion and what I use.
Lawn Mower
There are a lot of lawn mowers on the market, choose the one that suits your style and needs. The products below show a petrol lawn mower and a cordless lithium battery (electric) lawn mower.
BLACK+DECKER 36V Lithium-Ion 33cm Lawnmower Kit 2.0Ah Amazon $489.99
Certa 18" 146cc 4-in-1 Self Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower Amazon $383.44
Whipper Snipper
A whipper snipper can definitely help you with perfecting your lawn and garden bed. A lawn mower can only do so much with keeping the grass neat and tidy.
From tough corners to garden beds with growing grass, it becomes a lot easier with this tool rather than bending and doing it by hand.
Bosch 18 V Cordless Lawn Grass Line Trimmer Whipper Snipper, 26cm, Without Battery (UniversalGrassCut 18) Amazon $159
Trimmer Grass Rok Quality Petrol Whipper Snipper Edger 25cc Hi-Torque Ezy-Start Amazon $179
Hose
Hoses come in different sizes and materials, so you have a multitude of choices. I do recommend a good quality connector on the hose, so you don’t have any leaks at the tap or handle.
I also recommend a hose with a reel or an expandable hose to save you from constantly straightening it while you water or clean.
J&B XpandaHose 75ft Expandable Water Garden Hose with Holder Amazon $68.95
Hozelock 30m Compact Reel with 15m Hose Amazon $113.84
Rake
Investing in a good rake can save you time, energy and it will last a while. I recommend a good quality material. There are a few in the market to choose from like steel, fibreglass and plastic.
GARDENA combisystem Plastic Adjustable Rake Amazon $44.49
GARDENA combisystem Spring-Wire Rake Amazon $44.49
Outdoor Broom and Dustpan
Sweeping up dirt and grass clippings to keep the driveway and paths clean is something you will be definitely be doing, so an outdoor broom is a must.
Outdoor Sweeping 55 Inch Broom for Floor Cleaning Standing Dustpan with Teeth Amazon $51.22
Yocada Push Broom Brush Stiff Bristles Broom Amazon $64.88
Shovel and Fork
A shovel and fork will save you a lot of back pain issues. It is something you don’t ordinarily think about purchasing first, but it is something that you need. Weeding, mixing soil and cleaning can all be more efficient with the shovel and fork.
Fiskars 46 Inch Steel D-Handle Digging Shovel Amazon $285.42
Draper 88789 Carbon Steel Garden ForkDraper Amazon $26.88
Work Boot (Steel Cap)
I have always been recommended getting work boots, but thought it would not make a difference because my running shoes make me feel more agile.
But when you're using gardening tools especially with blades you want to make sure you protect your feet.
The difference between your feet hurting at the end of day or not depends on the shoes you wear.
Steel Blue 'Argyle' 332152 Wheat Steel Toe Cap Safety Work Boots Amazon $189.95
Timberland PRO mens TB0A1Q80214 Keele Ridge Steel Toe Waterproof Amazon $168.99 to $549.97
Tips and tricks
- Take the time to learn how your tools work, which will end up saving you time in the long run.
- If you can invest in a good quality lawn mower, do it. Some lawn mowers may not catch grass as well as others which may cause you to do unnecessary raking.
- I recommend doing big detailed work every 2-3 months, just in time for the season changing.
- Heavy duty garden gloves, your hands will thank you.
- Protective glasses and ear muffs are a must particularly when using a whipper snipper.