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You don’t need a shed full of specialist equipment to maintain a great lawn. A handful of essential tools covers 90% of lawn care tasks. Here’s what you actually need, what’s nice to have, and what you can skip entirely.
The Essentials
These tools form the foundation of lawn care. Without them, maintaining a healthy lawn becomes difficult or impossible.
Lawn Mower
The single most important lawn tool. You’ll use it weekly for half the year, so quality matters.
Rotary mowers suit most gardens. They handle longer grass, rough ground, and varied conditions better than cylinder mowers. They’re also more forgiving of uneven lawns.
Cylinder mowers produce a finer cut and the classic striped finish, but require level lawns and regular maintenance. They’re best for those pursuing formal lawn perfection.
Cordless electric mowers have improved dramatically. For lawns under 200 square metres, modern battery mowers match petrol performance without the noise, fumes, and maintenance hassle.
Petrol mowers remain the choice for larger gardens or where runtime matters. They’re also better for tackling overgrown areas.
Whatever you choose, ensure it has adjustable cutting height. You’ll need to raise it for summer stress periods and lower it for spring and autumn. See our guide to mowing heights for seasonal recommendations.
Fertiliser Spreader
Even application is crucial for avoiding stripy lawns and fertiliser burn. Hand-broadcasting works for small areas but becomes inconsistent on larger lawns.
Rotary spreaders (wheeled with a spinning disc) cover ground quickly and give reasonably even distribution. They’re the best choice for most gardens.
Drop spreaders provide more precise application with less drift, useful near borders and in windy conditions. They’re slower but more accurate.
Handheld spreaders work for small lawns under 50 square metres. They’re cheap, simple, and adequate for modest areas.
Whichever type you choose, calibrate it according to the product instructions. Application rates vary between products, and getting this wrong causes fertiliser burn or ineffective feeding.
Spring-Tine Rake
The fan-shaped rake with flexible metal tines. Essential for removing moss, light thatch, leaves, and debris.
Regular raking stimulates grass and removes surface organic matter before it builds into problematic thatch. It’s gentler than scarification and can be done more frequently.
For leaves in autumn, a spring-tine rake works better than solid rakes, which can damage grass. The flexible tines lift debris without tearing turf.
Choose one with a comfortable handle length. You’ll spend considerable time using it, and a poorly sized rake causes back strain.
Half-Moon Edger
Nothing transforms a lawn’s appearance like clean edges. The half-moon edger (also called an edging iron) cuts crisp lines where lawn meets border, path, or patio.
Use it once or twice yearly to redefine edges that have become ragged or overgrown. Stand on the lawn side and cut vertically downward for clean results.
A sharp edge is essential. Dull blades tear rather than cut, leaving messy results. Sharpen annually or when cutting becomes difficult.
For maintaining edges between major cuts, long-handled edging shears trim grass that grows over the edge. See our guide to edging a lawn for technique.
Garden Fork
A standard digging fork serves multiple lawn care purposes.
Spiking compacted areas improves drainage and aeration. Push the fork in 10-15cm and rock back slightly, repeating across the area.
Lifting turf for repairs or renovation requires a fork to get underneath without tearing.
Checking soil condition—moisture depth, compaction, root penetration—is easiest with a fork pushed into the ground.
You likely already own one. If not, choose a sturdy model with a comfortable handle. Cheap forks bend under the leverage forces involved in lawn work.
Watering Equipment
A hose with a sprinkler attachment covers most watering needs. Oscillating sprinklers provide even coverage for rectangular areas; rotary sprinklers suit circular patterns.
A watering can remains useful for spot-watering new seed, treating bare patches, and applying liquid feeds to small areas.
For larger lawns or areas with watering restrictions, consider water storage. Butts collecting roof runoff provide irrigation water during hosepipe bans.
Nice to Have
These tools improve efficiency or results but aren’t essential for basic lawn care.
Daisy Grubber
A forked blade designed for extracting rosette weeds like dandelions, plantain, and daisies. Far more effective than trying to pull weeds by hand.
If your lawn has more than a handful of weeds, this tool pays for itself quickly in saved frustration. See our guides to removing dandelions and plantain for technique.
Hollow-Tine Aerator
Manual hollow-tine aerators remove plugs of soil, providing superior aeration to simple spiking. They’re hard work on large areas but effective for addressing compaction.
For extensive lawns, hiring a powered aerator makes more sense than buying manual tools. See our guide to aerating your lawn.
Lawn Lute or Levelling Rake
A flat-bladed tool for spreading topdressing material evenly. Essential for topdressing but rarely needed otherwise.
If you only topdress occasionally, the back of a standard garden rake works adequately, though more slowly.
Seed Spreader
For overseeding large areas, a dedicated seed spreader ensures even distribution. Many fertiliser spreaders have settings for seed application.
For small repairs, hand broadcasting works fine. Seed is forgiving of slightly uneven distribution.
Wheelbarrow
Moving materials (topdressing, soil, debris from scarification) requires something to carry them. A wheelbarrow is the obvious choice.
If you have a small garden and only occasional need, large buckets or garden trugs substitute adequately.
Hire Rather Than Buy
Some equipment costs too much to justify for annual or occasional use. Hiring makes more sense.
Powered Scarifier
Electric or petrol scarifiers transform a back-breaking task into manageable work. But you’ll use it once or twice yearly at most.
Hiring for a weekend costs £30-50. Buying a decent machine costs £200-400. Unless you have multiple large lawns, hiring wins.
Powered Aerator
Similar logic applies to powered aerators. Annual use doesn’t justify ownership for most gardeners.
Professional-grade hire machines outperform domestic models anyway. A day’s hire achieves better results than owning a lesser machine.
Turf Cutter
If you’re removing old lawn for renovation, a turf cutter strips turf far faster than manual methods. But it’s a one-off task, so hiring is the obvious choice.
Skip Entirely
Some frequently marketed tools offer little real value.
Lawn aerator sandals (spiked soles you strap on) provide minimal aeration compared to proper techniques. The spikes are too short and too close together to be effective.
Electric moss rakes are underpowered compared to proper scarifiers. They remove surface moss but don’t address thatch properly.
Robot mowers suit some situations (large, regular lawns; limited time) but cost significantly more than conventional mowers and require installation of boundary wires.
Tool Maintenance
Good tools last decades with basic care.
Clean mower blades after each use. Grass sap is corrosive and builds up, affecting cut quality. Sharpen blades twice yearly or when cuts become ragged.
Oil metal parts of hand tools before winter storage. A light coating prevents rust during months of non-use.
Store tools dry. Damp sheds and garages accelerate corrosion. Hang tools off the floor where possible.
Sharpen edgers, half-moon tools, and any cutting implements annually. Sharp tools require less effort and produce better results.
Building Your Kit
Start with the essentials: mower, spreader, spring-tine rake, half-moon edger, and a garden fork. These handle 90% of lawn care tasks.
Add specialist tools as specific needs arise. If weeds become a problem, get a daisy grubber. If you start topdressing regularly, invest in a lawn lute.
Hire occasionally-used powered equipment rather than buying. Your money goes further and results are often better.
Quality matters more than quantity. Five good tools outperform a shed full of cheap alternatives. For more lawn maintenance advice, explore our full lawn care guide hub.
Our Year Round Bundle takes the guesswork out of feeding. Four seasonal treatments arrive when you need them, with clear instructions for application. Pair quality tools with quality nutrition for the best lawn on your street.
