In Texas, we love outdoor living, and there’s nothing quite like having your own, private backyard to relax in, entertain friends and encourage your kid’s spirit of adventure! If this is your first patch of lawn, then you’re in for a little bit of a learning curve – and it all starts with investing in the right lawn care equipment.
What Happens When You Buy the Wrong Lawn Care Equipment?
If you haven’t had a yard before, it’s easy to make the mistake of thinking that all lawn care equipment is pretty much the same. After all, if you buy high-quality, top-of-the-range mowers and trimmers, they’ll last you a lifetime. But there’s much more to it than that! Every yard is different and the equipment you buy needs to suit your space. A very powerful trimmer is going to be heavy and unwieldy. A riding lawnmower won’t fit into tight corners. A leaf blower with a huge engine won’t be needed because all your trees are evergreen and it just blows a huge cloud of dust into your home. And it’s all cost you a lot of money at a time when you have plenty of new expenses!
So, here’s how to get it right!
Small Yard? Get a Walk-Behind Mower
This is a classic lawnmower and while it doesn’t look quite as fun as a ride-along version, it’s going to work much better in a small or medium-sized yard as well as for homeowners who are yard perfectionists! They’re great for delivering that manicured look that so many people love by cutting corners cleanly, being maneuverable through narrow side yards and even carefully cutting the edges of flowerbeds.
There are three main types of walk-behind mower:
- Gas-powered: These are reliable, affordable, self-propelled and built to last. They are a bit noisy however and will let off some fumes from the engine, but they’re still a firm favorite for the market.
- Electricity-powered: A quieter option that offers zero fumes, electric mowers can come in power cord or cordless models. We recommend the cordless version with lithium-ion batteries as they are the most practical (no one likes untangling a long cord and there’s also the risk of running it over with the mower) and need very little maintenance (and no fuel), which makes the slightly higher upfront cost more than worth it.
- Reel mowers: These are manual lawn motors that originally came into use in the 1950s. They don’t require any fuel at all – all you need to do is push them around your yard. You’ll likely work up quite a sweat, but many homeowners love this quiet, fume-free, eco-friendly option.
But if You Love Riding Mowers…
If you desperately want a riding mower then there are a few options that are well-suited for small and medium-sized yards that offer better maneuverability than other seated mowers. Look for a compact, rear-engine model rather than a lawn tractor, which is better suited to yards that are one acre or more. Zero-turn mowers are also highly recommended, as they can turn on a dime and can manage slopes or rough garden terrain easily.
Next: The Trimmer
Mowing is just one aspect of caring for your lawn, so you’ll need to invest in a trimmer as well. Again, the type of trimmer you’ll need has a lot to do with the kind of yardwork you need to do. A gas-powered trimmer is the preferred choice, although they are a bit noisy and, like the gas mower, they let of fumes. A two-stroke engine offers plenty of power for almost any yard.
There are electric trimmers available too, both corded and battery-powered. Newer model battery-powered trimmers are just as powerful as their gas-powered counterparts, and offer quiet convenience that makes them a very attractive option even though they cost a little more.
The best advice is to choose a trimmer that is part of a modular system. These cost a little more but allow you to attach other tools your yard will need, including leaf blowers, pole saws and edgers. This will save you much more money and storage space than buying each unit separately.
If your yard is very wild and requires some heavy yardwork to get it into shape, it might be best to call in professionals to tame it. They’ll have the heavy-duty equipment and experience to do the initial work and you’ll be able to maintain your new yard easily with more standard yard equipment.
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