The day starts out like any other…
You login to your computer and begin viewing your crews’ routes for the day.
Before you know it, one of your foreman comes in and tells you that he was doing his routine morning equipment check, and he discovered your blower stopped working… for the third time this week… and you’re starting on a huge project today.
This is why reliable landscaping gear is so important.
To help shortcut your search for equipment, I’ve created a list of essential tools for you to choose from.
By the way, if you hadn’t had a chance to read the rest of our Lawn and Landscaping Gear Series, you can check out Part 1 here. It’ll give you a list of the best lawn mower options.
It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out… or you’ve been in the business for years… this list is for any landscaping business owner that’s looking for tools to run their business.
WARNING:
Remember, that with the operation of ANY power equipment, you MUST provide and enforce the use of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment). This keeps you in compliance with OSHA regulations.
“Dedicated Hand Tools” are the regular hand tools without multi-tasking abilities. Whereas, the “Multi-Task Tools” are the hand tools in which you can purchase different attachments.
Within the last few years, Echo and Stihl have begun creating their own versions of multi-task tools.
This means you can purchase the “Multi-Task Tools” (AKA the motor)
As you try to decide which one you should purchase, consider this:
Are you primarily in lawn care or landscaping?
If you’re primarily in lawn care, you’ll want to purchase “Dedicated Hand Tools”.
You don’t want to waste time and energy switching between string trimmer and edger attachment heads while you’re on the job.
However, if you’re primarily in landscaping, you’ll want to purchase “Multi-Task Tools”.
Typically, landscapers aren’t going to be switching between different attachments as frequently as lawn care professionals.
And so, you can potentially save a lot of money (especially starting out!) by purchasing a “Multi-Task Tool”.
| SPECIFICATIONS | STIHL | ECHO |
| MODEL | KM 131 R | PAS-2620 |
| ENGINE DISPLACEMENT (CM³) | 36.3 | 25.4 |
| ENGINE POWER (BHP) | 1.9 | 1.3 |
| FUEL CAPACITY (FL OZ) | 24 | 20.6 |
| WEIGHT (LBS) | 9.7 | 9.9 |
| MSRP | ≈ $380** | ≈ $320** |
**Price includes the motor ONLY. All attachments and accessories are sold separately.
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Blowers are essential to landscaping because of their versatility.
They can be used to remove leaves and debris from:
They’re just one of those staple items you need in your landscaping business.
While backpack blowers are the industry standard, you’ll also want to remember to purchase a handheld blower too.
Handheld blowers will help you reach those tight spaces (e.g. flower beds).
| SPECIFICATIONS | ECHO | HUSQVARNA | REDMAX | STIHL |
| MODEL | PB-8010T | 580BTS MARK II | EBZ8550-RH | BR 800 C-E MAGNUM |
| BLOWING FORCE (N) | 44 | 41 | 41 | 41 |
| WEIGHT (LBS) | 24.5 | 26.3 | 24.9 | 25.8 |
| ENGINE DISPLACEMENT (CM³) | 79.9 | 75.6 | 75.6 | 79.9 |
| CFM** | 1071 | 941 | 941 | 912 |
| MPH | 211 | 206 | 206 | 239 |
| HP | - | 4.3 | 4.43 | 4.4 |
| FUEL CAPACITY (FL OZ) | 83.8 | 87.9 | 77.8 | 67.6 |
| MSRP | ≈ $600 | ≈ $570 | ≈ $650 | ≈ $650 |
**All CFM is based on round nozzle.
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While lawn care businesses might be able to get away without hedge trimmers, landscaping businesses cannot.
Hedge trimmers are useful for cutting or pruning bushes.
Trimming bushes is a fairly easy upsell you can pitch to your clients to make more money on a job. It’s also a simple, quick task your crew can complete in no time.
| SPECIFICATIONS | ECHO** | HUSQVARNA** | STIHL** |
| MODEL | HC-2420 | 522HD60S | HS 82 T |
| CUTTING SPEED (CUT/MIN) | - | 4400 | 5100 |
| KNIFE LENGTH (IN) | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| WEIGHT (LBS) | 11.5 | 11 | 11.2 |
| ENGINE DISPLACEMENT (CM³) | 21.2 | 21.7 | 22.7 |
| HP | - | 0.8 | 0.94 |
| MAX RPM | 10500 | 7800 | 8500 |
| IDLING RPM | - | 3000 | 3000 |
| FUEL CAPACITY (FL OZ) | 12.5 | 15.2 | 15.6 |
| ELECTRODE GAP (IN) | - | 0.02 | - |
| FRONT HANDLE VIBRATION (M/S²) | - | 2.8 | - |
| REAR HANDLE VIBRATION (M/S²) | - | 2.5 | - |
| MSRP | ≈ $500 | ≈ $530 | ≈ $530 |
**All of these hedge trimmers have a 30-inch blade option.
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Chainsaws are highly individualized and largely depend on how you’re going to be using them.
However, for most typical lawn and landscaping businesses, battery chainsaws will do the trick because they’re:
In most cases, primarily tree businesses would truly benefit from using gas chainsaws.
If you’re mostly only grooming/pruning trees, a battery chainsaw should do the trick.
So unless you also do tree removal, you may not want to invest $1,000+ on a chainsaw that can remove trees.
Plus, you’ll be working in quiet neighborhoods, so electric chainsaws are more ideal in noise-restricted areas.
Now, let’s talk battery chainsaws…
| SPECIFICATIONS | DeWALT | ECHO | MILWAUKEE | STIHL |
| MODEL | DCCS670X1 | CCS-58V4AH | M18 FUEL | MSA 200 C-BQ 36V |
| VOLTS | 60 | 58 | 18 | 36 |
| POWER SOURCE | LITHIUM-ION | LITHIUM-ION | REDLITHIUM | LITHIUM-ION |
| AMP HOUR | 3 | 4 | 12 | 6 |
| RUN TIME (MAX CUTS) | 70 | 112 | 150 | 200 MIN MAX (W/ AR 3000)** |
| BAR LENGTH (IN) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 10-14 |
| WEIGHT (LBS) | 12.2 | 13.7 | 13.9 | 11.1 |
| MSRP | ≈ $330 | ≈ $250 | ≈ $450 | ≈ $630 |
**Stihl calibrates their run time differently than the other contenders.
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Pole saws are useful for trimming trees and brush in hard-to-reach places.
Tree trimming is a pretty typical service, and it can also hold a fairly high price tag.
… And since pole saws are fairly inexpensive, this means they can be quite a lucrative tool.
| SPECIFICATIONS | ECHO | STIHL |
| MODEL | PPF-2620 | HT 133 |
| ENGINE DISPLACEMENT (CM³) | 25.4 | 36.3 |
| ENGINE POWER (BHP) | - | 1.9 |
| FUEL CAPACITY (FL OZ) | 20.6 | 24 |
| WEIGHT (LBS) | 13.2 | 15.9 |
| MSRP | ≈ $480 | ≈ $650 |
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Buying a trailer for your lawn and landscaping business is extremely personal.
So I can’t recommend whether you should buy an enclosed or utility trailer.
However, I CAN help you come to your own decision.
Deciding between these two trailer types depends on:
As you’re looking to find the right equipment trailer for your landscaping business, all of these factors come into play.
At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer. The choice is yours.
When it comes to trailers, there are a wide variety of options to choose from. It’s probably best to stop by your trusted dealer in your area to explore the trailers in person.
Your local dealer will be able to help you find what best suits your needs. And if need be, you might be able to go to them for assistance or repairs.
Additionally, purchasing from your local dealer allows you to get a hyper-personalized trailer that’s exactly perfect for you and your business.
Once your business starts to grow - I mean really GROW - you’ll want to look into getting a dump trailer.
As a landscaper, owning a dump truck is important because it allows you to save money… BIG time.
Dump trailers allow you to:
… And guess what?
Just by owning a dump trailer, you can offer more services. Plus, you won’t have to rely on paying other companies to deliver products.
Dump trailers truly have the potential to quickly pay for themselves.
The purpose of your dump trailer will determine which one is right for you.
This is why it’s best for you to reach out to your local dealer to find the best option for your landscape business.
Based on things like your truck and budget, they’ll be able to personalize a fit that’s right for you.
First off, if you’re offering fertilization and weed control, you’re going to need a license.
Every state is different, so contact you local government to find out the steps you need to take to get properly certified.
Then, you need to decide whether you want to purchase a skid sprayer.
Primarily, skid sprayers are used for weed and pest control. They can be a serious investment, but it’s likely they’ll yield you some serious profits.
When priced correctly, you can make as much as $1,978 gross daily profit and $9,890 weekly gross profit - just with this sprayer.
However, you should only consider this investment if you’re an established lawn and landscape business.
There’s no sense in committing to such a huge investment if you don’t have the satisfied clients to purchase your new services.
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No matter where you’re at in your business - backpack sprayers are great.
They’re somewhat of an easy investment that allow you to provide more services to your clients.
Backpack sprayers can be used to treat special problems. For instance, you could use it for a specific bug or weed infestation.
Usually, these backpacks can hold between 2-4 gallons of product.
Based on the types of insects you want to treat, you’ll be able to determine which backpack sprayer is right for you.
For instance, if you want to treat flying insects (like mosquitoes) you’ll need something that has a high spray range.
However, if you’re not treating for flying insects, you could probably choose a less expensive model.
Also, I recommend purchasing a gas-powered sprayer, because it will spray faster, farther, and more efficiently than a manual-operated backpack sprayer.
| SPECIFICATIONS | MAKITA | SOLO | STIHL |
| MODEL | PM7650H | 451 BACKPACK MIST BLOWER | SR 450 |
| ENGINE DISPLACEMENT (CM³) | 75.6 | 66.5 | 63.3 |
| ENGINE POWER (BHP) | 3.67 | 2.9 | 3.9 |
| CHEMICAL TANK CAPACITY (GALLONS) | 3.9 | 3 | 3.7 |
| FUEL CAPACITY (FL OZ) | 61 | 64 | 57.5 |
| WEIGHT (LBS) | 29.3 | 23.8 | 28.2 |
| MSRP | ≈ $770 | ≈ $700 | ≈ $700 |
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If you’re applying dry fertilizer or other ingredients to the property, you’re going to need a spreader.
Depending on the type of product you’ll be spreading, the distance, terrain, etc. will all determine the type of spreader you need.
Check out these spreaders to find the right one for you:
In order to really give your landscape business the boost it truly needs, you should choose a software solution.
You need a software that provides:
While you can technically operate without a software, it’s definitely going to grow your business much more quickly and profitably if you have one.
And even better?
Service Autopilot gives you that and so much more.
With Service Autopilot, when you choose a partnering credit card processor, you can set it up to automatically charge your clients and email invoices.
Plus, if you have
This means you don’t have to take time to hunt down your clients to get their updated account information.
So stop wasting time and money, and start utilizing Service Autopilot.
Instant invoicing
Better scheduling
Manage your clients and employees all in one system
In the landscaping industry, there are so many potential tools at your disposal.
As a result, your consistent need for new equipment will never end.
This is why it’s important you choose specific areas of expertise and then add more services later.
You can’t do everything at once, so just do a few things you’re good at and have the right equipment for.
Then, you can gradually expand your services as you can afford the proper equipment and training.
While the lawn and landscaping equipment mentioned in this article is just the beginning of what you need - It’s enough to keep your landscaping business afloat.
Every landscape business is different.
So it’s important to evaluate what kind of landscaping business you’re aspiring to be. Then, choose the equipment that’s right for you.
If you follow the tips in this article, your landscaping business will likely be lightyears ahead of your competition.
Originally published Sept 17, 2019 7:00 AM
Tags: Business Operation