Professional landscape tools

Landscaping gets expensive! Most of it is not too technical. You will need a bit of common sense, a good strong back, and a few essential tools to get started. Before we get into the tools, here is a list of things that may not seem obvious but that I have learned over a lifetime of professional landscaping.

This article is about the tools, right? The cheap crap never lasts, and it will break at the absolute worst times. Spend a few extra bucks and get the good stuff.

Take it from a guy that knows. Check out our list of professional landscaping tools. These are the basics that are in the truck every day. With this assortment, you will be able to do just about any landscape task. The digging spade is the base tool for all landscaping. If there is one tool that gets used the most, this is it. From digging a pond to planting a perennial, this is your tool. It is pointed to dig quickly and comes in many styles. Pay attention to handle quality; this is the most important part.

Nice thick wood or fiberglass? It is a personal choice. I stay away from the steel handles simply because this is the all-day shovel. Remember, this is not a pry bar. Using your shovel as a pry bar is the quickest way to separate the handle from the spade.

The flat shovel is great for scooping on flat surfaces. You will use it for cleaning up debris from driveways or scooping soil off the bed of your truck. Not as often used as the spade, but nice to have for clean-up for sure. Check this one out. Heavy-gauge steel stands up to any task, while a large step provides more stable footing.

Simple, heavy-duty construction for daily, quality performance under all conditions — guaranteed. Our pro shovels and rakes are designed to stay intact and help make your job easier. Our Digging Shovel lets you dig and pry in tough soil and features heavy-gauge steel construction. A sharpened edge makes it easy to chop roots, while a large step provides more stable footing.

Our Transfer Shovel lets you move gravel, dirt, mulch and more with ease, while all our shovels also feature durable aluminum handles, extended shanks for improved strength and double-bolted connections to keep heads intact. Easily spread and move mulch, dirt and gravel or use the flat edge for grading with our Garden Rake. A longer handle length also reduces back fatigue.

Not all landscaping tools need sophisticated, high-tech components. Many landscaping hand tools are refreshingly low-tech and simple. Most hand tools have wooden handles. Wood is strong, durable, and affordable. Look for a close grain to the wood, as that denotes strength. Avoid painted wood handles. Besides wood, you can also find tools for landscape with tubular hollow steel or fiberglass handles. The weight of the tool, and how that weight is distributed, impacts how the landscaping tool feels when you use it.

Try before you buy whenever possible. Also, look for D-shaped handles as they provide the most comfortable grip. While wood-handled shovels work fine, most professionals prefer a fiberglass or steel handle for commercial work. A shovel is usually an excellent tool to splurge a bit on for improved quality. Choose a shovel with a head made from stainless steel. Use a level-headed steel rake for tougher jobs such as moving soil, gravel, compost, or mulch.

The lighter leaf rake is used for leaves, twigs, and similar lightweight debris. Wooden handles will typically work fine for both types of rakes. Generally, hand-powered pruning shears can cut through branches up to one-inch thick. Not all tools used in landscaping are hand tools. Here are some general tips for buying power landscaping tools:. A well-made tool works more efficiently and is less likely to break down.

Generally, choose tools from large, well-established brands. Power tools are either gas or battery-powered. In a head-to-head comparison from Popular Mechanics , they found:.