One of the most notable things about owning a home instead is maintaining the yard. Many people enjoy creating a manicured property that is not only pleasant to see while driving through the neighborhood, but feels good to bare feet. There is more to having a nice yard than cutting the grass. A well-manicured lawn requires 5 essential pieces of power equipment to keep it looking its best.

Hedge Trimmers

A jungle doesn’t end with mowing the lawn. Bushes and hedge rows need to be maintained regularly. They should be trimmed back at least once a year to avoid over growth. For bushes that block a view, they should be trimmed more frequently. When backing out of the driveway, for example, the bushes that hinder the view of oncoming traffic should be monitored carefully. Some city ordinances may dictate not only where l bushes can be placed, but how tall they can grow.

Weed Wackers

Weed trimmers, also called weed wackers, are best for keeping small areas under control. These are the spots that are hard to reach with a lawnmower, such a fence lines, areas around immovable objects and steep ditches. They are used to give an added finishing touch to the lawn, eliminating stray weeds and tall blades of grass.

Lawn Mowers

A lawn mower’s primary job is to keep grass low. Depending on the size of the lawn, consumers can choose from walk-behind or riding mowers. Some walking models have power pushing capabilities to lessen the effort required to make it go. Riding mowers are more effective for larger areas or those who have less stamina to walk long distances. For very large properties, riding mowers make more sense.

Chainsaws

Any yard with trees and severe weather will need a chainsaw sooner or later. Severe wind, rain and snow will tax the stability of branches, making them crack, break and fall. The idea is to eliminate the damaged limbs before they damage something else, like cars, windows and bushes near or below them. Especially effective for trees that are blown down or struck by lightning, the chainsaw makes clean-up easy and turns problem logs into useful firewood.

Leaf Blowers

Leaf blowers are not only useful for autumn leaves falling and piling up, they are also helpful for regular lawn maintenance. Use leaf blowers to corral leaves, dirt, grass clippings and trash on the property. More effective than rakes, leaf blowers do the same job in a fraction of the time.