Broadcast spreader
Even coverage for seed, lime, and granular fertilizer.
Calibrate to the bag rate. Walk at a steady pace, overlap half a width.
Example pick · Scotts broadcast spreader
Gear
Tools and products
What to reach for, and which bag of fertilizer actually matches the job. Rates are per 1,000 square feet unless noted.
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Bypass pruners
Clean cuts on live wood up to about ¾ inch.
Wipe with alcohol between plants. Never tear or crush stems.
Example pick · Fiskars bypass pruners
Tractor Supply pageCore aerator
Pulls plugs so air, water, and fertilizer reach the roots.
Rent a walk-behind unit. Soil should be moist, not muddy.
Example pick · Manual core aerator
Dethatcher
Rakes out the dead mat that blocks seed and rain.
Use only when thatch is thicker than ½ inch. Follow with overseed.
Example pick · Electric dethatcher
Edger
Crisp lines along walks and beds.
Edge after mowing. Dump clippings, don't bury the crown.
Example pick · Half-moon edger
Hand trowel
Planting annuals, bulbs, and small perennials.
Plant at the depth marked on the tag or bulb.
Example pick · Hand trowel
Hedge shears
Formal shape on boxwood, yew, and privet.
Keep the base slightly wider than the top so light hits lower leaves.
Example pick · Fiskars hedge shears
Leaf rake
Keeps turf from smothering under a wet mat of leaves.
Rake in thin layers, or mow leaves to mulch them in place.
Example pick · Leaf rake
Loppers
Two-handed reach for 1–2 inch branches.
Cut just outside the branch collar. Do not leave stubs.
Example pick · Fiskars loppers
Pole pruner
High, dead, or crossing wood without a ladder.
Clear around power lines only with a utility crew.
Example pick · Fiskars pole pruner
Pump sprayer
Spot treatments for weeds, oil, and foliar feeds.
Spray in still weather. Rinse the tank after every product.
Example pick · Chapin pump sprayer
Rain gauge
Tells you whether the sky already did the job.
Lawns want about 1 inch a week from rain plus irrigation.
Example pick · Rain gauge
Rotary mower
Keep blades sharp; dull steel tears grass and invites disease.
Mow when the lawn is dry. Never cut more than one-third of the blade.
Example pick · Battery rotary mower
Soaker hose or drip
Slow water to the root zone, not the leaf.
Run early morning. Use a rain gauge or probe, not a schedule alone.
Example pick · Soaker hose
Soil probe or screwdriver
Checks moisture at root depth instead of guessing from the surface.
Water when the top 4–6 inches are dry for lawns; deeper for trees.
Example pick · Soil moisture probe
Soil test kit
Lab tests beat guesswork on lime, phosphorus, and potassium.
Sample 4–6 inches deep from several spots. Repeat every 2–3 years.
Example pick · MySoil mail-in lab kit
Spading fork
Lifts perennials and opens soil without wrecking structure.
Divide clumps when foliage flags in spring or fall.
Example pick · Spading fork
Wheelbarrow
Mulch, compost, plugs, and trimmings in one trip.
Load over the wheel. Don't pile mulch against trunks.
Example pick · Wheelbarrow