Basic lawn care equipment. Must-Have Equipment for Lawn Care Maintenance Business

Must-Have Equipment for Lawn Care Maintenance Business

The landscaping industry looks pretty promising after key players worked tirelessly to see landscaping services classified as “essential” in 2020. The optimism seen in 2021 is not dead. And many companies are no longer investing in the best lawn care software but also focusing on top lawn maintenance equipment performers for 2022.

Of course, lawn care companies now understand the importance of equipment choice and maintenance as these two aspects make up the biggest expenses for any business owner. Thus, irrespective of whether you intend to purchase or lease your equipment, the aspects of value, reliability, and durability will always come into play.

Besides, lawn care management software comes in handy in managing your workforce, scheduling tasks, and streamlining your services. Good and intuitive software also helps to watch over your direct costs, such as material inventory, payroll monitoring and control, and routine maintenance schedules for your equipment.

But that aside, the following are some of the top lawn maintenance equipment performers you should consider for 2022 and beyond.

Backpack Blowers

It is no secret that a backpack blower is a must-have for modern lawn care. This powerful piece of equipment comes in handy for cleaning leaves around the yard and along walkways and driveways. You can easily strap it on your back and have the hose directed toward the dusty plants.

These beast air blowers are not your ordinary air blowers. They are more powerful and much more efficient in handling more workloads. Gas backpack models also reduce the strain on your body and provide more freedom and control.

Notably, their power and efficiency vary from one model to the other. Thus, it is important to consider options with relatively higher cubic feet per meter (CFM) and miles per hour (MPH) ratings. The CFM rating determines the amount of air emitted from the nozzle, while the MPH rating determines its speed. Top backpack blower brands include Echo and STIHL blowers.

Riding Mower

Gone are when the traditional lawnmower was everything to a commercial or residential lawn maintenance company. Today, the need for more efficiency demands that industry players must consider more efficient and cost-effective solutions to lawn care services. And a riding mower is a perfect replacement for ordinary models.

These lawn machines require less energy and less time to complete tasks. This will inevitably improve your turnaround time, cut costs, and boost your profits immensely. Your choice of a riding mower will depend on its maneuverability, noise level, fuel efficiency, safety features, performance, and overall value. DeWALT has some amazing models.

Self-Propelled Mower

The mowing industry takes pride in an incredible range of inventions and innovations over the last decade. It started with the traditional or manual mower. However, you now have both the riding lawnmowers and the self-propelled mowers at your disposal.

And as their name suggests, self-propelled mowers can move forward independently, saving you from having to push them over obstacles manually. However, these models still need a pair of hands to guide them around.

Its biggest advantage over manual options is its efficiency and ability to handle larger yards faster. On the other hand, it is more maneuverable than riding models and will handle even the narrowest spaces. BLACK DECKER, Grainger, and Honda are some of the top brands you may consider.

String Trimmers

Among the top lawn maintenance equipment performance for 2022 is the string trimmers. You can also call them weed whackers or weed eaters. Whichever name you want to give them, you will not meet the needs of all your clients without a good string trimmer.

It comes in handy in slicing down tall grass in intricate places. These could include along fences, next to the front steps, around the mailbox, or next to flower beds to fully polish a property. Still, it can help clear more vast spaces if you do not have a mower.

There are corded and cordless models available in the market. Cordless trimmers are slightly deficient in power as compared to their corded counterparts. However, they are lower on noise and are more versatile as you can carry them to any part of the yard without dragging along electric cords.

Hedge Trimmer

Hedge trimmers are a perfect tool for keeping hedges in order. They are a great replacement for shears, and you can always pick from electric, gasoline, and battery-powered models depending on your needs.

But don’t get this twisted. Hedge trimmers and hedge cutters are pretty different, despite sharing several characteristics. They handle different tasks. Choosing your trimmer will depend on the blade type and safety features included.

Cutters are ideal for pruning harder or bigger branches on your hedge or removing clumps in your bushes. On the flip side, hedge trimmers are what you need to shape hedges by putting the final touches and giving a hedge a perfectly manicured look.

Lawn Aerator

Many business owners FOCUS on basic lawn care and forget that lawn aeration is equally an important practice. It can help the lawn grow faster, thicker, and healthier by improving the yard’s drainage. It also relieves compaction to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate heavily trodden surfaces.

And you are not going to achieve this without a good lawn aerator. Consider making this tool part of your equipment inventory for commercial lawn maintenance and management. You can choose between the two popular types available—solid tine aerators and hollow tine aerators. Besides, choose your ideal size depending on the size of your company and projects.

Fertilizer

The main drive behind lawn maintenance is a green, healthy, and beautiful yard. Thus, apart from thatching, mowing, and aerating lawns, you will also need to enrich the plants with the right nutrients. The best fertilizer for plants should promote healthy turf and stunt the development of weeds.

While several options are available, choosing your ideal lawn fertilizer should involve knowing fertilizer numbers in detail, including what they mean. Choosing the right food for each lawn will also depend on the soil type in question.

Lawn Edger

Professionals will also include a lawn edger in their list of top lawn maintenance equipment performers for 2022. A lawn edger, also known as an edge trimmer or simply an edger, is an incredible machine for polishing lawns. It helps you to trim lawn edges at sections where the grass meets the driveway, sidewalk, patio, or curb.

While some people may resort to using string trimmers for such applications, your success with that is fully dependent on your experience. Besides, it is slower. We advise that you consider using the right tool for the right application.

A lawn edger will deliver the straightest, deepest and cleanest notches. They feature vertical spinning blades that are easy to guide and control. Choose your edger based on the stick type and the number of accessories included in the package.

Chainsaw

Many people assume that chainsaws only belong to tree care companies. Every professional lawn maintenance company needs a chainsaw in its inventory—sometimes more than a single chainsaw.

Although trees can beautify landscapes, they need proper maintenance to enhance spaces. Instead, they can become a problem without proper care since even the most lenient insurance will not cover property covered in overgrown trees.

Chainsaws come in handy in cutting large tree branches that you cannot handle with hedge trimmers. You will also find chainsaws useful in cutting wood or splitting firewood after an extensive yard cleanup. And always ensure that you use them correctly to enhance safety and prevent damage.

Backpack Sprayers

Finally, while caring for your yard is always basic, lawn maintenance goes beyond pruning, thatching, weeding, trimming, edging, and mowing. Keeping yards free from pests and diseases is an important undertaking. All your work will waste if you cannot keep the grass and plants free from diseases and pests.

To achieve this, you need a functional sprayer to complete the task efficiently. Look out for a product that will help you apply lawn or garden care products while minimizing contact with the products since some of these products are harmful. The products include herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, and fungicides.

Many reviewers opine that handheld manual hand sprayers are no longer the in-thing. Professionals are considering other lawn sprayers, with the backpack models being pretty popular. Choose your ideal loan sprayer based on its tank size, weight, and portability. Another feature that you may consider is the availability of an anti-clog filter.

Why Lawn Care Professionals Trust Arborgold Software

While the above are among the top lawn maintenance equipment for 2022, you should choose the best equipment for each category. You should purchase or lease durable and reliable products if you are looking to enhance the productivity and agility of your lawn care business.

And like all other performance-oriented firms in the industry, incorporating intuitive lawn care software will also boost your profits and enhance your effectiveness. Good software will handle routine maintenance scheduling, material inventory, and payroll management.

Many professionals currently use Arborgold’s scheduling and estimating features to increase their revenue.

The Lawn Care Business Purchasing Guide

Make Smart decisions when purchasing equipment for your Lawn Care Business. Learn about the equipment you will need, typical costs, and where are the best places to buy it.

Required Equipment and Materials

Most lawn care owners will need the following equipment to get started:

You should plan to budget approximately 30,000. 40,000 for initial purchasing.

Sample List of Purchases

A typical person looking to purchase equipment for a lawn care service might make the following purchases:

Grand Total: 42,833

Key Decisions

When starting a lawn care business, it is important to purchase the correct equipment. Since your business will use this equipment every day, it is vital to ensure quality and durability. Lawn care equipment can be purchased both online or in various home improvement stores, and you may be able to get a good deal on second-hand products. Just make sure the equipment is in good working condition before making a purchase.

The following are some of the most important buying decisions that your lawn care business will have to make. We outline the key considerations you’ll need to keep in mind when making these purchases and provide some popular options.

Truck

In order to pull a trailer full of lawn care equipment, you will need a powerful truck. Obviously there are hundreds of truck options, but we recommend buying one used to save some money. This is especially helpful if you have a limited startup budget.

When buying your truck, make sure to pay attention to the model, miles per gallon, and engine strength.

Truck fluctuate based on geographical region and model, so here are a few useful websites to get you started:

Equipment Trailer

An equipment trailer is necessary for a lawn care business. It must be large enough to fit and support all of your equipment. Plus, there must be a ramp to drive your mowers up onto the trailer. Trailers come in many shapes and sizes, so look around a bit until you find the one that works best for your needs.

Riding Mower

There are a variety of brands and styles to choose from. When purchasing your riding mower consider these key variables:

• How many acres on average will you mow?
• What type of terrain will you be mowing?
• Are there a lot of obstacles in the lawns?
• Do you want to be able to add attachments to your mower?

Once you have answered these questions, you can purchase the right riding mowers, either used or new.

Lawn Tractor

This mower is traditional and operates with a steering wheel. They are ideal for ½. 2 acre lawns and are compatible with various attachments.

Garden Tractor

This mower has a similar design to lawn tractors and the ability to use attachments. However, they have more powerful engines and transmissions. This mower is better for mowing several acres.

Zero-Turn-Radius (ZTR) Lawn Mower

ZTR mowers are great for lawns with multiple obstacles. Although it is not as versatile as the tractors described above, it is faster and more efficient around flower beds, trees, landscaping, and other obstacles. This is the most common lawn mower used for lawn care businesses.

Push Mower

A push mower is necessary for smaller lawns and regions of the yard you cannot access with a riding mower. Like a riding mower, there are a variety of brands and styles. However, in order to save time and energy, most lawn care businesses use durable, self-propelling push mowers. A used or push mower will be sufficient for your business.

The Ultimate Landscaping Tools List to Start Your Landscaping Business

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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
• Gas and Electric Handheld Equipment: Essential Tools for Precision and Efficiency
• Mower: The Backbone of Your Landscaping Business
• Landscaping Tools: The Basics for Every Job
• Standard Toolkit: Be Prepared for Repairs and Maintenance
• Laptop and Mobile Phone: Modern Tools for Efficient Business Management

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.

Top 5 Lawn Care Tools

The foundation of a healthy lawn is a well-thought-out maintenance plan that includes the appropriate lawn care equipment. Investing in the correct tools at the outset might seem expensive, but the long-term rewards are well worth the initial investment.

Brockman Tree Lawn Care is here to help you with all your landscape and lawn maintenance requirements, but we also like to keep our clients well informed about various aspects of outdoor maintenance. Lawns need regular care and attention and having the right tools helps you complete essential tasks efficiently. Although you may hire professionals for the job, having various lawn care tools and equipment in a shed doesn’t hurt.

Instructional Lawn Maintenance Tools

We’ve compiled a handy list of five lawn care tools to keep your lawn in shape.

Rakes

One of the most crucial landscaping tools is the rake. A leaf rake and a steel rake are the two sorts of lawn rakes you should have on hand. Using a steel rake for heavy-duty yard chores, such as raking soil, gravel, or compost, is better. On the other hand, a leaf rake is ideal for removing light materials like leaves and twigs.

Shovel

One of the essential pieces of landscaping equipment is the shovel. For the most part, shovels are used to excavate and remove soil from the ground. You don’t want to skimp on quality, however primary a tool such as a shovel may be. Fiberglass or alloy handles are suitable for a high-quality shovel. Wood-handled shovels can be helpful, but they aren’t likely to last if their metal-handled counterparts.

Lawnmowers

Reel mowers and rotary mowers are the two most common types of lawnmowers. Rotary mowers have a fast-spinning blade, whereas reel mowers have a series of lateral blades. Rotating mowers are available in various forms, from simple push mowers to effective riding mowers and motorized mowers.

Edgers

Keep an edger in your shed for easy lawn care. Edgers come in both electric and gas-powered versions. Trimmers use a string to cut the grass, but this instrument uses a metal blade to do the same thing. This tool is ideal for polishing the edges of walkways, gardens, and other outdoor structures. Edgers aren’t mandatory, but they may help you achieve a groomed look on your lawn.

String Trimmers

Aside from lawnmowers, string trimmers are the second most popular lawn maintenance instrument among homeowners. A gasoline-powered or electric-powered version of this tool is available. It contains a nylon string that rotates swiftly to assist in removing grass from hard-to-reach spots. Corded trimmers have a power cable, whereas cordless trimmers run on batteries.

Always invest in effective and robust tools that are comfortable to use and last long as they provide a good return on investment. For details about our lawn care services, call the Brockman Tree Lawn Care team at 585-730-5296. You can also send us your queries via this Online Form. We will call you back soon.