Must-haves for a Landscaping Business

If you’re considering setting up a landscaping business, then it’s worth making a few investments in advance. By having the right tools and materials to hand before you get started, you’ll be able to do the job to higher standards, and you’ll spend less on replacements and repairs in the long term.

Let’s look at a few of the must-haves for any aspiring landscaper.

Quality Timber 

When you’re building outdoors, timber is a naturally attractive material. It needs to be of a quality that’s easy to work with, affordable, and resistant to rot and mould. After all, these materials are going to be used outdoors, and so they need to be able to stand up to the weather. Timber that’s been pressure-treated with the right chemicals can do the job nicely. You can usually recognise it thanks to its green hue.

Protective Wear

If you’re going to be working outdoors, then you’ll need to ensure that you’re wearing the right protective equipment. Getting injured isn’t much fun, and it’ll limit your earning potential in the long term.

If you’re working with chainsaws and mitre-saws, then you’ll need to wear protective goggles and cover your ears with ear defenders. But perhaps the most important piece of PPE for most landscapers is a good set of knee pads. You’re going to be spending a lot of time on all fours, and you might find that after a few weeks, your knees begin to really ache.

Manual Tools

While power tools can make quick work of a variety of landscaping tasks, it’s hand tools that tend to really make the difference. You’ll want to consider the weight of the tools you choose, which is usually a result of the handles. Choose a handle with a tight grain, and avoid anything that’s been painted (as this tends to mean inferior wood is being disguised). Look for tools that are made from a single piece of metal, too – since this means that there’s nothing to come loose over time.

If you don’t like the feel of a particular tool, then you might consider sending it back. If you’re spending big to get the best quality, then it’s important that you end up with something you like the look and feel of.

Power Tools

There are a handful of tools that you can’t really do without. These include things like chainsaws, lawnmowers, and hedge-trimmers, but also things like circular and mitre saws. When you’re working with power tools, paying attention and taking basic safety precautions is critical. If you’re unsure of why you might need a particular power tool, then the chances are good that you don’t need it. Stick to a limited arsenal of quality tools, until you have good reason to expand it.