You’ll need certain tools and equipment when you’re starting a lawn care business. These tools will help you work faster and get the job done right.
Plan to spend $1,775–$5,360+ (USD) on residential and commercial landscaping equipment—more if you don’t already have a truck and trailer. (Don’t worry, you don’t need to buy it all at once or pay full price for everything.)
Keep reading to get our complete list of all the equipment needed for a lawn care or landscaping company.
1. Lawn care power tools
Lawn care and landscaping power tools make lawn maintenance much easier, whether you’re working on a small residential lawn or a large commercial property.
They often cost more than manual tools, but they save you time and effort on every job.
- When to pay more: Premium lawn care tools often have longer battery life, stronger motors, long-term durability, and excellent product warranties in case of repair or replacement. Plan to invest in the tools you’ll be using for hours every day, not just once in a while.
- How to save money: You don’t need to buy expensive tools until you’ve landed enough regular clients. Mid-range or corded tools are fine to start with. You can also rent larger equipment for one-off jobs, find used tools in your local buy-and-sell group, or get equipment funding through a lawn care grant.
When I first started off, I had a push mower that I got from my uncle, I had a $40 weed eater that I got off Craigslist, and I had a 1994 Murray garden tractor.
Lawn mower
A lawn mower is the number-one gardening tool for keeping clients’ lawns in pristine condition. You can use a push mower, a reel mower, or even a robotic lawn mower for smaller properties.
You’ll want a riding mower for larger residential and commercial properties. This costs significantly more than a push mower, but with the hours of work you’ll save, the mower will pay for itself in no time.
To keep your lawn mower in top condition, sharpen the blade, clean off debris after every use, and do annual tune-ups. This will ensure a cleaner cut and help the mower last longer.
Cost: $750–3,000+
Getting a good mower is more important than having a nice truck.
The truck is not cutting the lawn. It’s the mower. The truck is just getting it there.
Lawn aerator
A lawn aerator removes plugs of grass from your client’s lawn, which allows water, air, and nutrients to enter the soil. Use an electric or gas-powered aerator—manual aerators take too much time and effort to use.
Electric aerators are best suited for smaller residential lawns, while gas aerators are ideal for larger commercial areas. Some aerators even connect to your mower for extra efficiency.
Cost: $60–150+
Leaf blower
A leaf blower is a type of power tool that lets you quickly remove leaves and grass clippings from a client’s lawn. It’s much faster than raking, and some models can even suck up debris that you can turn into mulch.
A battery-powered handheld blower is best suited for residential clients, while a gas-powered backpack blower can help you move heavier debris or a greater volume of leaves.
Cost: $50–200+
String trimmer
A string trimmer, grass trimmer, or weed whacker is an essential tool for any lawn care pro. It helps you trim the grass in small, hard-to-reach areas and create clean edges along sidewalks, driveways, gardens, and trees.
Gas-powered string trimmers are best for large jobs, while electric trimmers are great for smaller lawns. If you buy an electric trimmer with a power cord, don’t forget a long extension cord, too.
Cost: $50–150+
Hedge trimmer
Despite the name, hedge trimmers can also be used for cleaning up small trees and bushes around your client’s property, giving the client a beautiful lawn they can be proud of.
Hedge trimmers are usually meant for light or occasional use. You might find yours too heavy if you’ve been using it for a while on a longer job, so find one that’s both powerful and lightweight.
Cost: $50–200+
You can get started with under a thousand dollars.
You can pick up a used lawn mower for a couple hundred dollars. Same thing with a weed eater, same thing with a blower.
2. Lawn care hand tools
Hand tools are best suited for small lawn care and landscaping tasks like digging out weeds or spot-treating problem areas.
You may not use them as often as your power tools, but you’ll still be glad to have them in your toolbox.
- When to pay more: If your tools are breaking often or causing muscle strain, you can invest in higher-quality, longer-lasting tools made with high-carbon steel and ergonomic designs.
- How to save money: Basic hand tools typically aren’t too pricey, but you can save even more money by purchasing a full set from a wholesale retailer. Used tools can also help cut down on costs.
Pro Tip: You’ll need more specialized equipment if your lawn care company also offers landscaping, tree care, pressure washing, snow removal, or holiday light installation services.
Rakes
The rake is one of the most essential lawn care and landscaping tools in your toolbox. Ideally, you would have both a garden rake and a leaf rake.
The fan-shaped leaf rake helps you collect leaves and grass clippings. The heavy-duty, straight-headed garden rake, on the other hand, is best for spreading soil and mulch.
Cost: $15 each ($30+ for a set)
Pruning shears and loppers
Some of your clients may ask you to trim their bushes, shrubs, and trees as part of their regular lawn maintenance. You’ll need shorter pruning shears and long-handled loppers to clean up any overgrowth.
If you’ll be trimming trees and you’re willing to spend a little extra money, you can also buy a pole pruner to help you reach those higher branches.
Cost: $30–50+ for both shears and loppers
Shovels and spades
A flat-bladed spade can help with edging and cutting. Although you may not find yourself doing much digging, you may still want a round or pointed-blade shovel just in case.
These shovels are easy to get at any hardware store and come in a range of options, with wood or metal shafts and optional grips or kick plates. Look for a sturdy shovel that won’t break easily.
Cost: $20+ each
Trowel
Trowels are like small single-handed shovels, perfect for any cutting or edging jobs that are too small for a typical shovel. You can also use them for any small digging tasks that might be needed, like removing a stubborn weed.
You can get a rounded or pointed-blade trowel with a wooden, metal, or plastic handle. Pick one that is sturdy, won’t break in half, and won’t give you blisters when you use it.
Cost: $10+
I’ve actually had my competition give me equipment to use.
So don’t be afraid to talk to your competition and ask them. It’s crazy how much your competition will wanna help somebody that’s struggling to just make it work.
3. Lawn equipment
A healthy lawn requires certain lawn care and landscaping tools, especially when you’re providing lawn care services like seeding and fertilization.
- When to pay more: When you’re doing several jobs each month that require this equipment, go ahead and buy it outright. Choose the options that are best for the size of lawn you typically work on.
- How to save money: If you’re only doing seeding and fertilization every so often, rent the equipment when you need it. You can also buy used or refurbished equipment when you first start offering these services to clients.
Rototiller
You’ll need a rototiller (or tiller) for lawn seeding, particularly if you’re working with a packed surface. This lawn care tool will break up the dirt, creating an ideal surface for sowing your grass seed.
You may also want a cultivator, which is useful for mixing nutrients into the broken-up soil. It looks similar to a rototiller but has smaller tines that are designed for mixing.
Consider a manual tiller (like a garden hoe) for smaller areas, like a flower bed. An electric tiller is best for residential lawns and similarly sized areas, while a gas-powered tiller is ideal for larger commercial spaces.
Cost: $130+ for combination tiller/cultivator
Spreader
When you’re seeding or fertilizing a client’s lawn, you’ll want a spreader for even distribution. Get a broadcast spreader for seeding an entire lawn, or a drop spreader for smaller areas.
Both types of spreaders come in tow-behind and push-behind versions. We recommend getting a push-behind drop spreader for small jobs and a tow-behind broadcast spreader that connects to your truck or mower for full lawn seeding.
Cost: $40–200+
Fertilizer sprayer
A pressure sprayer helps you spray pesticides and fertilizer on your clients’ lawns to keep them in top condition. Sprayers come in manual, electric, and gas-powered versions, and they can be handheld, backpack-style, or tow-behind.
Handheld manual sprayers are usually the least expensive. Start with one of those until you get a large enough lawn care or landscaping project to require a bigger sprayer with more power.
Cost: $50–300+
Wheelbarrow
The wheelbarrow is an essential landscaping tool for transporting all kinds of materials across a client’s yard, like bags of grass seed or fertilizer.
Choose a wheelbarrow that offers 6–10 cubic feet of space. You’ll most likely want one that comes with two wheels for extra control.
Cost: $50–100+
Garden hose and nozzle
Usually, your clients will have their own garden hose. But it’s a good idea for you to have various hose lengths on hand so you always have the right tool for the job.
Get 25’, 50’, and 100’ hoses to help with various job sizes. It’s a good idea to have a hose reel for each length so you can easily find each one and pull it off your truck without any untangling.
You should also have a nozzle with various settings, allowing you to water different areas in different ways. Choose one that reduces leaks to help keep the client’s water bill as low as possible.
Cost: $20–50 each
Bucket
Buckets come in handy for every imaginable task, whether it’s holding your hand tools or containing all the rocks you find half-buried in your client’s lawn. Get a good-sized bucket with a handle—nothing fancy needed here.
Cost: $10–30
I literally started my business with nothing, out of the back of the trunk of my wife’s car with some Lowe’s paper bags.
I bought a $65 pair of electric shrub trimmers from Home Depot and an extension cord. I rented a wheelbarrow, a rake, a tarp, and a broom for $15, and I went out and did my first landscaping jobs.
4. Lawn care safety gear
There are many hazards on the job as a landscaper or lawn care professional. Keep yourself safe from injuries with personal protective equipment that covers every part of your body.
- When to pay more: Our best safety tip is to get a good pair of work boots that will last a long time, and invest in the best ear protection you can find. These are essential landscaping tools that will keep you safe and prevent long-term injuries.
- How to save money: Not all equipment needs to be high-quality. A basic pair of work gloves and a simple first aid kit will help keep you safe while sticking to your budget.
Gardening gloves
A good pair of work gloves will protect your hands from blisters, cuts, thistles, chemical spills, and all sorts of other hazards. Look for a pair that fits well and allows for a full range of motion.
Cost: $5–50
Safety glasses
When you’re on the job and grass clippings start flying everywhere, you need to keep your eyes safe with safety glasses or goggles. Regular eyeglasses may not provide enough protection.
Basic safety glasses can be inexpensive, and even the more advanced options are still very affordable. You should be able to find a good pair easily and within your budget.
Cost: $10–40
Safety earmuffs
Lawn care equipment can be noisy, especially if you’re using gas-powered equipment. Keep your ears safe from high-decibel damage with a pair of safety earmuffs.
You can get hearing protection at different price points and in different styles, like noise-canceling earbuds. But if you’re on a budget, even basic earplugs will work just fine.
Cost: $10–100+
Work boots
Your running shoes might be comfortable, but they won’t withstand harsh job conditions. Get a pair of work boots with good ankle support, a deep tread, and a lightweight feel so you can wear them all day.
If you’ll be carrying heavy equipment, consider getting steel-toe boots. They cost a bit more than standard work boots, but they can also keep your feet safer.
Cost: $85–200+
First aid kit
It’s easy to get injured on the job—and even minor wounds can easily get infected when you’re working outside. Get a first aid kit with bandages, gauze, alcohol swabs, tweezers, and other essential items.
This is an easy item to find, whether it’s at your local hardware store, the pharmacy, or even the grocery store. You may not need the more expensive options, but they’ll be better stocked so you’re prepared for any injury.
Cost: $10–35+
Sunscreen
You’re working outside for hours every day, most often in the hot sun. Always wear sunscreen to protect your skin from UV rays and help reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Use a non-greasy sport blend with a high SPF rating. That way you’ll barely notice it, it’ll stand up to even the sweatiest work, and you’ll have good coverage for as long as possible.
Cost: $5–15
5. Business software
Running a successful lawn care business is about more than just mowing a lawn properly. You also need to manage your work, your finances, and any employees you might have.
It’s much easier to manage your day-to-day with the help of business software. We recommend using Jobber and Quickbooks right from day one—get details about each tool below.
In addition to the equipment, get good software.
Get good organization and administrative things in order so that your business can be professional and efficient.
Lawn care software
Lawn care software like Jobber helps you spend less time on paperwork and more time on the things that matter to you. Jobber makes it easy to complete admin tasks like the ones below:
- Schedule work: Add jobs to your calendar, assign them to available lawn care employees, and reschedule work due to poor weather using Jobber’s drag-and-drop calendar.
- Manage clients: Make client information, from backyard access codes to details about past fertilizer treatments, easily available to your team at all times.
- Invoice clients: Create one-time or recurring invoices for lawn care services, and automatically send them when a job is marked complete.
- Get paid: Save customer cards on file for automatic payments, or collect debit and credit card payments on site with Jobber Payments.
- Advertise services: Run effective, stress-free lawn care marketing campaigns with Jobber’s built-in tools, like email marketing, automatic review collection, and campaign results tracking.
Cost: $300+ per year
Accounting software
You should use accounting software right from the beginning to keep your revenue and expenses organized. QuickBooks Online is a popular choice for lawn care professionals, partly because it integrates with Jobber.
QuickBooks Online lets you keep your business financially healthy by tracking income and expenses, maintaining financial reports and payroll, and managing your accounts payable and receivable.
When you’re buying lawn care equipment, save your receipts and track your business expenses. This will help you calculate your overhead costs and profit margins, as well as take advantage of small business tax deductions.
Need more tips for buying lawn care equipment? Check out our video interview with five industry experts, “The Top Things You Need to Start a Lawn Care or Landscaping Business”: