When I first moved to Florida, the home I bought had a disastrous lawn. The grass was long and uneven, and there were brown patches everywhere. The hedges and shrubs were unkempt, and there was a lack of flowers to at least make the place more appealing.
I wanted to work on it straight away, but I realized I didn’t bring all the equipment I needed to start fixing my lawn.
So you won’t make the same mistake I did, here are some lawn and garden essentials you should have when moving into your new home.
Garden Hose
If you have a yard, then you need a hose – especially if you experience the Florida sun.
My yard was full of dry spots, so I really needed a water-delivery system. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have an underground sprinkler system. In the long run, I could always get a sprinkler, but since I didn’t want to wait for it to get installed, I bought a garden hose instead.
I only needed a 20-foot hose, so I got this model.
It’s only 1.8 pounds so it was easy to do the whole yard in one go. I didn’t have to exert any effort to rewind it since it was easy to put it back into a hose hanger. This hose also has eight spray nozzle patterns which I can use to fill containers, rinse my tools, wash the car, and clean my pool. There is also a nozzle option for a gentle stream to wash your pets.
Even if I did have sprinklers, I will still need a hose to hit areas that it can’t reach. Also, if you have a pet, you can also use this equipment to give them baths.
Shovel
When I was looking for a shovel to use, I was debating whether to get a standard shovel or a trowel. The standard shovel is better for digging holes and planting trees. Trowels are better for planting smaller plants or when there are pots. Since I was going to be doing more digging than gardening, I went for the larger one.
But then, I found this gem.
It’s a mini shovel! This tool is not too small for standard digging and it’s also not too big for gardening. There were times I was digging with it and I hit multiple rocks, yet it still didn’t bend.
I also liked that it didn’t take up much space in my garage. And if you have a kid who wants to join in when you’re gardening, they can easily use this equipment.
Leaf Rake
Before you buy a rake, you have to check whether you need the garden or the leaf.
These two equipment are different. A garden rake has a flat head with shorter and thicker tines which is used to remove dead grass or prepare seedbeds. A leaf rake has tines fanning out in a triangle and is used to collect leaves.
So if your yard also has a tree like mine, you need a garden rake. Or better yet, maybe get this garden leaf rake.
Its handle is adjustable up to 22 inches to lengthen your reach. It can also shorten to 7 inches, allowing you to reach small areas like in between flower beds or under hedges. Adjust the rake width to 8″ for tight areas like under hedges or between flower beds without concern.
Aside from raking leaves, you can also use this tool for garden clippings and debris without damaging plants.
Lawn Mower
If you have grass, then you will need a lawn mower – unless you plan to leave your yard with uneven grass.
After moving in, it’s better to trim your lawn as soon as possible before it gets worse. This is the most expensive equipment you’ll immediately need – if you’re getting an electric kind.
Since I have the time and energy to work on my yard, I opted for a push reel lawn mower. No need for electricity or gas and it’s low-maintenance and easier to assemble. I only needed my hands to set it up.
The grass in my yard was long in some parts, so it took me longer to mow those areas. But since my yard is now well-maintained, it’s easier for me to mow the entire lawn.
Weed Wacker
I thought I wouldn’t need a weed wacker since I already have a lawn mower. Well, I was wrong.
After mowing the grass, there were several areas like beside the fence or next to a wall that I couldn’t trim. That’s why I had to get a weed wacker. Also, even if you had a gas-powered or electric lawn mower, it would still be difficult to mow those areas.
If you’re like me who cares about the uneven grass that the lawn mower missed, then you’ll need this tool.
This is a cordless weed wacker that runs on batteries. Since it doesn’t have a cord, it’s easier to get to those tight areas. You don’t have to worry about the cord tangling or getting caught in other things. It also only weighs 5 pounds, so you’re arm won’t get tired easily.
Hedge Trimmer
If you have hedges or shrubs, you will need to have the equipment to maintain it. Fortunately for me, my place didn’t have any. But I placed this on the list since plenty of homes in Florida have hedges and shrubs.
You can get hedge shears, but if you have large shrubs or long hedges, it’s better to get a hedge trimmer.
Similar to the weed wacker, you might want to get a cordless hedge trimmer. I prefer equipment without cords so I don’t have to worry about the cord and I can freely move around the yard.