You need lawn equipment in order to maintain your yard. Like anything else, you should use common sense in making your purchases. Do you really need that tractor for your smaller yard? Is that 18"- 20" electric mower going to work for that acre of land?
You can spend a lot of money and get top of the line equipment that performs functions you do not need. You can also find great machines that are a good value and allow you to get the job done. Personally, I think most people would opt for the second option, good value.
I cannot stress enough that you should exercise good judgement. Don't buy a piece of lawn equipment that you don't need. You don't need to buy everything at one time. Maybe a multi-purpose item is the best bet for you. Start with the most important piece of lawn equipment, the lawn mower. Build on it from there.
Purchase a mower that fits your needs. First, take into consideration the size of your yard. Second, evaluate the landscape of your yard. Are there wide open areas or are there a lot of trees, bushes and flowers you will have to mow around? Consider the amount of storage space you have in your garage or shed. Lastly, if you have a gate measure the opening. You can't fit a 40" tractor mower inside a gate opening that is only 36". Ideally you want to give yourself 2" on each side of the mower to clear the opening of the gate.
If your yard is smaller.....
There are four options for you to consider.
If your yard is average sized.....
You have a few realistic options.
If your yard is large.......
Return from lawn equipment to lawn maintenance
This is a piece of lawn equipment you may only use a few times a month. I recommend one of three types of edgers.
You can also purchase manual edgers. There are two types of manual edgers: stick and roller star models. The stick model has a half moon blade at the end of the handle. The stick model really puts your leg muscles to work and it is good for cleaning up around curved or irregular shaped areas. The roller star model has a star shaped cutting wheel attached to a wheel guide. The roller star really uses your arm muscles and it is good for long straight edges.
If you don't have sidewalks and you have an asphalt driveway, you may want to skip this purchase.
When purchasing a line trimmer it is important to make sure it fits your yard's needs.
The other important decision in choosing a line trimmer is the type of shaft. You can choose between straight and curved shaft models. Straight shaft models tend to be more powerful, more comfortable to use and have greater reach. Curved shaft models are easier to handle, lighter weight and tend to be less expensive.
TIP: Whenever you purchase a line trimmer, be sure to try if out before you actually buy it. You want to make sure that it's length and weight are a good fit for you. It is important for you to be comfortable with your purchase.
Remember, there is equipment out there that is multi-purpose. If you have to edge, line trim, hedge bushes and trim smaller tree branches a multi-purpose line trimmer may be for you. This is what I use in my own yard.
You can purchase either a hand held blower or one you wear as a backpack. The most important characteristic of a blower is the amount of air expelled over time. Blowers are ranked by the cubic feet per minute of air that it puts out. The more air it puts out, the more effective the blower. When you purchase a blower make sure it has the amps to get the job done.
There are several types of blowers.
Please take into consideration the following when you purchase 2 cycle machines. Make sure all machines use the same gas & oil ratios. You don't want to store multiple one gallon gas cans.
You don't have to spend a ton of money to get the lawn equipment you need to get the job done. There is good value out there. Look for sales. End of the season sales can save you a lot of money. Your goal is to have a beautiful lawn. You don't have to go broke buying the lawn equipment you need to maintain your yard.