If you are considering or in the process of starting your own gardening business, you may be wondering: what sort of equipment do I need? Firstly, it is important to determine who your customer base will be. If you are focussing on commercial clients, you will require more heavy-duty equipment compared to the demands of residential jobs. In this blog we will highlight the essential equipment that every gardening business should have, big or small.
What equipment do I need to set up my gardening business?
1. Lawnmower
A high-quality lawnmower is a must for any gardening business. Investing in something durable and sturdy will save you money and time in the long-run. The type of lawnmower that you opt for will again depend on your customer base, and the budget that you have to spend. Here is our selection of the best lawnmowers for different business demands.
For smaller lawns
If you will be dealing with smaller lawns on a less frequent basis you may find that battery-powered lawnmowers are more convenient. Battery-powered lawnmowers tend to be a lot more lightweight than petrol, making them easier to manoeuvre and transport. This Bosch ADVANCEDROTAK 36-750 36v Cordless Rotary Lawnmower 460mm is a good option. It features 7 cutting levels from 25mm to 80mm for great results. It has a ProSilence feature reducing noise and the handles can be adjusted to suit the users height. This lawnmower is relatively lightweight weighing 17.5kg and features a spacious 50L grass collector.
For medium-sized lawns
This Hyundai Electric-Start Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower is ideal for tackling medium to larger gardens and is built for reliability. It features a large 70 litre grass box, meaning that you won’t need to stop and empty the trimmings as often. It also has a wide cutting blade, variable self-propulsion speed and electric start button which makes mowing large expanses of grass comfortable and simple.
For larger lawns
If you have the budget and you will frequently be dealing with large areas of grass, you might consider investing in a ride-on lawnmower. This Webb WE12530 Petrol Ride On Lawnmower 77cm is compact for a ride-on mower and the 77cm cutting width allows you to cover large areas of lawn quickly. The 176L grass catcher also means less time spent emptying trimmings, and the six-speed transmission allows you to operate at the appropriate ground-speed dependant on grass length and terrain. This lawnmower also features a 3-in-1 cutting system, capable of either collecting, mulching or side-discharging clippings.
2. Hedge Trimmer
A hedge trimmer is another essential for your gardening business. Having a high-quality trimmer will make it easier for you to achieve a clean finish that will impress your clients. This Black and Decker GTC5455PC 54v Cordless Dualvolt Hedge Trimmer 600mm is ideal for dealing with larger hedges. It is capable of dealing with thick branches with hardened steel dual action blades and a saw blade tip. It is cordless so you don’t need to worry about a power supply, and the battery should last around 50 minutes on a single charge. If you need something that is long reach for higher hedges, consider this Greenworks G24LRHT 24v Cordless Long Reach Hedge Trimmer 510mm. It is equipped with a 510mm blade and a extra long shaft with an adjustable head allowing you to reach the top of tall hedges, without the need for a ladder.
3. Rake
Another basic tool that you should have on hand is a rake, especially in the autumn season when there will be a lot of leaves to clear. Something like this Draper Extra Wide Plastic Leaf Rake is effective for dealing with a large amount of leaves. If you are looking for something a bit more durable, you should consider this Spear and Jackson Neverbend Carbon Deluxe Flexo Lawn Rake. It features an epoxy coated head for improved resistance to rust, scratches, humidity and alkaline in the soil.
4. Garden Fork
A garden fork is another essential for your gardening business. This Draper Stainless Steel Garden Fork is a good option, with a soft grip handle for comfort. There is also an extra long version which is ideal for people over 6 foot, reducing the risk of back strain.
5. Garden Spade
A high quality garden spade is an important tool for dealing with soil. The Draper Stainless Steel Soft Grip Garden Spade is worth considering made from durable material. Similarly to the garden fork, this spade also comes in a extra long version for those over 6 feet.
6. Garden Hoe
A garden hoe is another hand tool that you shouldn’t do without in your gardening business. They are useful for cultivating soil and removing weeds. This Spear and Jackson Neverbend Carbon Dutch Hoe is great if you are looking for something that is built to last. This carbon tool is 50% stronger than the stainless steel equivalent, and comes with a 15 year guarantee. It cuts through the roots of weeds below the surface of the soil with ease and features a soft grip handle.
7. Wheelbarrow
A wheelbarrow is another essential piece of equipment for shifting heavy items and materials like large quantities of soil. This Walsall Endurance Black Steel Heavy Duty Wheelbarrow 85L is built for durability and can easily transport garden materials up to 200kg.
8. Grass Strimmer
It is important to invest in a grass strimmer so that you can give your clients lawns a clean finish. As with lawnmowers, if you are planning on light use in domestic settings then a battery-powered strimmer is a good choice. This Makita DUR364L Twin 18v LXT Cordless Grass Trimmer is a great high-quality option. This trimmer is equipped with a brushless motor for greater efficiency and longer run time. It will run up to 6,000rpm and has a maximum 350mm cutting diameter, with an ergonomically designed handle for comfortable operation. This strimmer features electronic 2-speed selection and a reverse switch for removing trapped clippings with ease.
If you are looking for something heavy duty and will be strimming for bigger jobs, a petrol model may be the way to go. The McCulloch B33 PS Straight Shaft Petrol Brushcutter and Line Trimmer 420mm is a good and affordable model to consider. It is suitable for both heavy duty clearing and light trimming, with a “Tap ‘n Go” trimmer head with a cutting width of 43cm. The strimmer can also be fitted with a brush cutter blade, and at 5.5kg it is relatively lightweight to handle.
9. Garden Trowel
A trowel is essential for starting a gardening business, particularly if you are offering planting services. This Wolf Garten P573 Multi Change Hand Trowel is ideal as it includes a hand trowel and an attachable D-grip handle which measures 85cm. This is useful if you would like the option to use the trowel whilst standing.
10. PPE
Gardening Gloves
Don’t forget that safety should always come first in any gardening business. A sturdy pair of gardening gloves are a must. This will help to prevent any injuries as well as keeping your hands dirt-free. These Town and Country Thermal Lined Comfort Fit Gardening Gloves are ideal if you will be working in cold weather conditions. They are thermal lined to retain warmth, and they feature reinforced palms and extra finger protection. These Draper Heavy Duty Gardening Gloves are another great option. They are made from pig split leather, with strong abrasion and puncture resistance.
Safety Glasses/Goggles
You will also require safety glasses when carrying out activities such as strimming, to prevent debris like stones from injuring your eyes. These Bosch Garden Safety Glasses are a good option, suitable for use when operating hedge trimmers, shredders and chainsaws. Alternatively, you can opt for safety goggles which provide some extra protection as they are fitted to your face. These Bolle Safety Coverall Platinum Safety Goggles protect against even fine dust particles. The goggles feature an anti-scratch and anti-fog coating and an adjustable strap for the correct fit.
Ear Defenders
Operating gardening machinery like lawnmowers and strimmers can be loud, and can potentially cause hearing damage over time. That is why we recommend that you purchase a good set of ear defenders to prevent hearing damage. These Draper Ear Defenders are a great option. They are lightweight and comfortable to wear for long hours, and they are a foldable design for easy storage.
We hope that you have found this blog helpful and that you have great success in your new gardening business! You can browse our full website here where we have a wide-range of gardening tools from high-quality suppliers. You can also follow us over on our Fairwayrock Industry social media accounts where we share industry-related news, products and much more! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Tags: business, garden, gardener, gardening, gardentools, industry, small business, tools