Basic Lawn Care Tools
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.
Your most basic lawn care tool would be the lawnmower. Look at cutting your lawn along the same lines as cutting your hair. It needs to be cut to stay healthy and look good, at least to domesticated society at any rate. d So you can either call in a pro or you can do it your self with the help of a good lawnmower.While it will be one of your largest yard care investments, if it is properly maintained, it will last a long, long time.
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.
Keeping the lawn neat is almost always a matter that can’t be completely carried out just by mowing, though. A trimmer or edger is needed. The two basic types are the old-fashioned two blade model with a long handle. Running the blade alongside patio bricks, steps and other edges keeps the lawn trim and looking good.
The other type is a powered whirling device that shoots a plastic string out a few inches. The string whacks off grass or other plants wherever you aim it. They’re lightweight, inexpensive and can last for years, though the coil of plastic string needs to be replaced every couple of months. At a cost of only a few dollars, it saves a lot of effort.
A spreader or two should be on your list of basic lawn care tools. These are valuable for laying out compounds evenly. Items such as fertilizer, weed killer and other dry plant foods and seeds. This will assist you with keeping a weed free lawn that is both healthy and looks good. One is along the lines of a small lawnmower sans blade. It is really just a tub on wheels that has small holes in the bottom along with a roller device that aides in spreading the desired materials. It is easy to use and low maintenance.
A different style of spreader is a small hand-held piece. It is normally plastic and you dispense your compounds using a rotary handle. These are great for broadcasting grass seed and for repairing small bald lawn areas. You can use it to distribute other dry ingredients such as fertilizer beads and the like.
One of the most basic lawn care tools will be your rake. It is handy for many projects not just raking leaves in the fall. You want to rake your leaves because if they are left on the ground they will cause your grass to overheat and prohibit moisture from getting to the blades, as well as blocking out the sunshine. If you live in an area that gets substantial winter snow than at the end of winter you will need to do some power raking as the grass will be thatched and bound up.
Thatching means that your grass blades are overlaying each other and stifling the air flow from reaching the soil correctly. You will want to de-thatch the lawn by either using a power tool or your trusty low tech hand rake.
You will also want to consider the purchase of a long-handled shovel spade, either with a long fork or narrow blade. This is good for removing weeds, post hole digging, moving soil around and a dozen other tasks around the yard.
Go out in early spring and stock up on your basic lawn care tools. By keeping them in tip top shape they will last for a life time of lawn projects. They will save you time and make your work easier. Easier that is than cutting with a scythe.
