Tools for Basic Lawn Care
Rebecca Gardener
There were once very basic tools for lawn care. For once upon a time grass grew wild. Imagine going out into your yard with a hand scythe to cut it. That was a mere 150 years ago. So your dads grand dad really had only minor lawn care headaches back then, it would seem. But not you. There are now dozens of tools that need to be considered when thinking about keeping your lawn green and in tip top shape.
A lawnmower is the most basic lawn care tool to consider. It's odd to think of a living organism as needing to be sliced to stay healthy, but as a professional gardener acquaintance once said 'Grass likes to be cut'. To accomplish that, a good lawnmower is a necessity. Though among the more expensive items in the tool set, if maintained well it will last forever.
Keep the blade sharp, the spark plug clean and (if it has one) the air filter changed. Change the oil as you would on a car, every season.
The best way to keep the lawn looking nice and neat is basically a matter that comes down to more than just mowing it. You will want to purchase an edger along with a trimmer. You will see two types in the store. One is and old-fashioned style two blade item that has a long handle. You will run the blade alongside your steps and other edges in order to keep the lawn trimmed.
The other type of trimmer uses a whirling device with a plastic string that spins out a few inches. This plastic then cuts off grass or other items you aim it at, so be careful of your trophy rose bushes. Gas powered are more expensive than electric. They tend to be lightweight and if found on sale, inexpensive You will need to replace the coil of plastic string every few months, but that is a minor expense.
Next on your list of basic lawn care tools is a spreader. It is important so that you can evenly lay down your weed killer, fertilizer, or other spreadable compounds that assist you with keeping your lawn weed free. One type of spreader looks like miniature lawnmower but without the blade. It is more like a tub that has some small holes along with a roller that will spread the material. You can adjust them for use for a variety of compound applications.
The second type of spreader is a hand-held unit, usually plastic with a rotary handle. They're perfect for specialized applications of seed for patching small lawn areas, distributing dry fertilizer beads and so forth.
A rake is one of your most basic lawn care tools. It is handy for more than just piling up leaves in the late fall. Though it's important to use for that. Leaves left on the ground can cause grass to overheat or get too little water. In areas that get winter snow, at the end of the season the grass will be compressed into thatch.
Blades will overlay one another, preventing air from reaching the soil efficiently. De-thatching can be done with a power tool, but a simple hand rake is also effective.
A long fork or narrow blade, long-handled shovel spade is great for spot removal of weeds. The larger square or rounded shovel will also be needed though for post hole-digging, transferring soil and plants and a dozen other tasks around the yard.
Stock up on your basic lawn care tools, keep them in good shape and all your lawn care jobs will be easier. Well, easier than cutting with a scythe, that's for sure.
About the Author:
If you are a novice to landscaping or gardening make sure you check out Rebecca Gardener's basic informational site on Lawn Care and other Gardening Topics for a novice and old gardeners alike.
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