THE BEST YARD TOOLS: WHAT YOU NEED TO OWN

Spring is in full bloom and summer is just around the corner. Revived from its winter dormancy, your lawn is coming back to life with the help of the added sunlight and warming temperatures. Get ready for the summer season and make sure you have the best yard tools to care for your lawn.

Grass Cutters

If your yard consists of a grassy area that is 70 square feet or larger, you should own a lawn mower. For smaller patches of grass, a string trimmer can quickly cut your lawn. It’s difficult to get an even cut with a string trimmer, though. If you don’t have a lawn mower yet, find out the best lawn mower for your yard size before you buy. If you already own a mower, get it in shape at the start of the season by changing the oil and sharpening the blades.

Many Uses of a Rake

Another important tool you should have is a good rake. Rake design hasn’t evolved much over time, nor has the cost, and it’s worth it to spend a little more to get one with metal blades and a solid heavy-duty handle.

Besides raking leaves and lawn clippings, you can use a rake for spreading mulch or bark dust in flowerbeds and at the base of trees. If you have a more elaborate yard, you will probably need two rakes: a basic yard rake and a good steel-head garden rake. The garden rake can be used for turning over soil, removing dead grass and pulling weeds.

Dig, Dig, Dig

A good shovel is just as important as a quality rake. Like rakes, shovels come in many varieties. Shovels with pointed tips and a curved blade are excellent for digging holes and cutting roots, as well as moving and spreading material. Straight-edged shovels are better for loose material, such as bark mulch, and are handy for edging walkways and flowerbeds.

Shovels usually have two types of handles: a t-shaped or a d-shaped handle. Spend some time in the garden center trying the different handles and then choose the shovel head that’s best for your needs. Gardeners will also find smaller hand shovels, commonly referred to as trowels, invaluable to their endeavors.

Protect Your Hands

When you pick out your mower, shovel or any of the other best yard tools to own, don’t forget to get a good pair of work gloves. Whether it’s to protect your skin from poisonous weeds and plants, jagged branches and thorns, or to prevent blisters, a good pair of work gloves is essential. The kind of glove you buy depends on the type of yard work you are doing. Cotton gardening gloves are lightweight and breathable, while heavy-duty leather gloves come in handy when you’re working with hand tools, such as shovels and rakes.

Check out all the lawn & garden products available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on keeping your lawn tools in top running condition, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.