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Tools are easily the most valuable assets to a landscaping contractor. You must have all the necessary tools and equipment to get the job done. 

So, what tools are used for landscape contracting? And most importantly, what are the best tools for landscaping professionals? 

Whether you’re starting out in the landscaping business or looking to upgrade your toolkit, this guide offers actionable insights to elevate your work and enhance the quality of your projects. 

Read on and discover 25 must-have landscape maintenance tools and equipment. We’ll also share tool care tips to keep your toolset in tip-top shape. 

Why the Right Tools Matter for Landscape Contracting 

Does it really matter which tools you have? 

Yes, it does; it matters a great deal. 

Your toolkit may very well determine your success as a landscaping contractor. For starters, a wide array of tools means you can do more landscaping tasks. The tools at your disposal pretty much set your contracting scope. 

Secondly, landscaping efficiency and quality come down to two things: skills and tools. If you don’t have the right tools for a particular job, chances are, you’ll spend more time and effort on that job. And you (or your client) probably won’t be pleased with the end results. 

Think mowing a lawn with gardening shears. Technically, you could cut grass with shears, though nowhere near as quickly or effectively as using the appropriate lawn mower. 

No matter how good you are at landscaping, your choice of tools can either limit or elevate your contracting game. That’s why you need a toolkit that complements your skills and aligns with your business goals. 

Plus, a landscaping toolkit is quite an investment. The initial equipment cost can range between $12,420 and $86,750. So, you wouldn’t want to gear up with the wrong tools. 

RELATED ARTICLE: The Ultimate Landscaping Checklist Every Professional Needs 

Hand Tools Every Landscape Contractor Needs 

Here’s a list of eight essential landscaping hand tools. 

Hand Fork 

A hand fork is used to turn and loosen the soil. It comes in two main varieties. The most common type consists of a short single-grip handle and three stainless steel tines for precision work. You should also have a more robust fork with an extended handle and broader back for digging larger areas. 

Spade and Shovel 

These are easily the most common tools for outdoor contracting work. The US imports millions of dollars worth of them every year. 

While spades and shovels may look quite similar, each tool is suited to particular tasks. The tapered edges and pointy tip make the spade ideal for digging and cutting through compacted soil. Meanwhile, the shovel’s straight edges and tip form a shallow trough for scooping and lifting. 

Rake 

The rake is the landscaper’s broom. It’s used for gathering or leveling loose materials such as leaves, moss, and debris. Some rakes can also break up and turn small patches of compacted soil. 

Trowel 

A landscaping trowel is like a miniature spade. You can use it to dig small holes in the ground, move soil around, or mix soil additives such as fertilizer and manure. 

Potting Scoop 

A potting scoop is a specially designed trowel for scooping and transferring potting medium into planting pots or containers. It can do other things too, such as preparing the potting mix and transplanting seedlings. 

Pruning Shears and Looper 

Pruning shears are a type of robust “scissors” designed for clipping twigs and small branches and stems. Loopers, on the other hand, are basically pruning shears with longer handles, giving you the leverage to reach and cut thicker branches and stems. 

Pole Saw 

A pole saw, or pole pruner, consists of a curved saw blade attached to the end of a long metal or wooden handle. Landscapers use them to saw off tree or shrubbery branches without having to climb a ladder. 

Weeder 

Weeders come in several shapes and forms. Some resemble scuffle hoes, while others have double-sided blades or curved hooks. Regardless of the design, weeders do only one thing—pull or cut unwanted weeds. 

Must-Have Power Tools for Efficiency and Precision 

These are the top six mechanized tools you should add to your landscaping equipment checklist. 

Edger 

A lawn or bed edger is a hand-held power tool used to trim the grass at the edge of a lawn. This creates sharp, neat, and tidy boundaries between the lawn and the surrounding surfaces, such as pavement, gravel, or other landscaping features. 

Lawn Mower 

You simply can’t do without the good old lawn mower. Whether it’s a push or riding mower, you need a powered machine that mows any lawn quickly, neatly, and effectively. 

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: The 7 Best Commercial Lawnmowers for Landscapers 

String Trimmer 

A string trimmer is a hand-held electric or gas-power trimmer. It consists of a long shaft with a handle on one end and a cutting swath on the other. Such a tool is useful for cutting grass, undergrowth, or weeds in areas where a regular lawn mower can’t reach. 

Leaf Blower 

A leaf blower is essentially a hand-held air cannon. It’s used to quickly clear large areas of leaves and other light debris, such as grass clippings, dirt, and gunk. 

Chainsaw 

This is a versatile tool that, although a favorite among lumberjacks, comes in handy during some landscaping work. You can use a chainsaw for felling, pruning, or limbing trees. It’s obviously faster, neater, and far less tiring than using a hand saw or axe. 

Hedge Trimmer 

The hedge trimmer looks a bit like a chainsaw if the chainsaw had a horizontal blade. But unlike a chainsaw, a hedge trimmer is designed to neatly cut through a hedge’s thin twigs and branches. You can use it to quickly shear, shape, or cut a hedge to size. 

Specialized Tools for Advanced Landscaping Projects 

We’ll now look at seven specialized landscaping hand tools and power tools. 

Spreader 

A spreader is useful for broadcasting seeds, fertilizer, agricultural lime, or soil evenly and precisely over a large surface. Unless your contracts involve acres of landscape—in which case you’d need an agricultural-grade spreader—a simple manual spreader will do. 

Sprayer 

Sprayers apply pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, or other chemicals onto landscapes. They are particularly essential for weed and pest control. These come in various designs and sizes, from spray bottles and knapsack sprayers to wheeled sprayers. 

Tamper 

A tamper compresses or flattens loose soil, sand, or gravel. Again, this tool comes in various designs. The most basic tamper consists of a long pole (handle) attached to a flat metal base. For heavy-duty compression over a large area, you might need a power tamper like those used in construction. 

Earth Auger 

An earth auger is a mechanized screw for drilling holes in the ground. It comes in handy when making holes for fencing posts or planting trees. 

Lawn Aerator 

This is a specially designed tool for punching small holes into a lawn. The holes help circulate air, water, and nutrients in the soil, promoting the lawn’s growth and health. You should have a manual aerator for small lawns and a powered aerator to handle larger lawns. 

Chipper Shredder 

A chipper shredder breaks down yard waste, such as leaves and branches, into fine chippings. The chippings then go on to make mulch or compost. It’s a valuable tool for dealing with landscaping waste. 

Cultivator 

A cultivator or lawn tiller breaks and churns up compact soil, preparing the ground for planting. Think of these as mechanized garden hoes. Cultivators range from small hand-pushed tools to heavy-duty agricultural machines. 

FROM ONE OF OUR PARTNERS: The 10 Best Business Tools for Commercial Landscaping 

Professional Software Tools for Landscape Contractors 

Modern contractors need more than just landscaping hand tools and power tools. Digital assets, too, are essential for driving business efficiency and success. And they are quickly catching on—the landscape software market is a thriving 10.5-billion-dollar industry. 

Landscape Design Software 

This is a type of computer-aided design (CAD) tool that helps contractors model and visualize landscape layouts. Landscape design software produces realistic and accurate landscape mockups that you can present to clients or use to brainstorm landscaping ideas. 

One option to explore is DynaScape Creator, a landscape design software that makes it simple to create job-winning designs you can access from anywhere. 

Project Management Software 

Project management software helps you plan, organize, and track landscaping projects from start to finish. The software features useful tools for: 

  • Task management 
  • Budgeting 
  • Work scheduling 
  • Resource allocation 
  • Progress monitoring 
  • Team collaboration 
  • Reporting 

Using project management software greatly boosts your work efficiency. It also ensures all your landscaping projects run smoothly within their planned budgets and timeframes. 

Accounting and Invoicing Software 

This is a bookkeeping software that simplifies and automates financial tasks, such as: 

  • Cost estimation 
  • Billing 
  • Invoicing 
  • Logging transactions 
  • Payments 
  • Tracking expenses 
  • Calculating profit and loss 

Software like Joist keeps you on top of your contracting finances and lets you estimate, invoice, and collect payments from anywhere. It helps maintain a green cash flow while ensuring every job turns a decent profit. 

RELATED ARTICLE: Landscaping Pricing Guide: How to Price Landscaping Jobs  

Field Service Management Software 

Field service management (FSM) software is an all-in-one computer program that helps contractors manage the ins and outs of the business. Some of the features you’ll find in FSM software include: 

  • Inventory management 
  • Scheduling and dispatching 
  • Invoicing and billing 
  • Bookkeeping 
  • Fleet management 
  • Job tracking 
  • Project management 
  • Financial reporting 
  • Customer relationship management 

FSM software like Briostack enables you to manage the entire business from a single pane of glass. Taking control of your landscaping enterprise doesn’t get easier than that. 

Maintenance Tips to Extend the Life of Your Landscaping Tools 

  • Use the right tool for the right job. Use each tool for its designated purpose. Doing so not only extends the tool’s life but also ensures efficient and safe tool use. 
  • Keep all tools clean and dry. Clean and disinfect landscaping tools after every use. And store them away in a clean, dry place. 
  • Lubricate moving parts. Apply sufficient oil or grease to the moving parts of mechanized tools. Lubrication minimizes wear and makes for smooth operations. 
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. This largely applies to power tools and mechanical equipment. Check and follow the manufacturer’s recommended servicing and maintenance routines. 
  • Sharpen your tools. Tools with cutting blades or piercing tines need regular sharpening. These include shears, forks, saws, rakes, and cultivators.