A lawn sprinkler system is a permanent system designed to automatically water your entire lawn. The PVC pipes are buried in your lawn. Sprinkler heads are positioned and adjusted to evenly water all parts of the lawn. Sprinkler heads can be rotary sprinkler heads, which permanently stick out of the ground, or pop-up sprinkler heads, which remain flush with the ground (unless in use) and may be mowed over without concern. A programmable electronic control system manages the sprinkler system, which turns on the sprinkler system at regular times, often engaging on section of the lawn at a time.

A drip irrigation system is very similar to a lawn sprinkler system, but it is designed to water your flowers and plants using much less water than conventional sprinklers. Like the sprinkler systems, it uses PVC pipe to deliver the water to the plants and is managed by a programmable electronic control system. Unlike the sprinkler system, drip mist systems use a range of emitters, sprayers, and sprinklers to provide water in the optimal amount and manner to each plant.

A lawn mower is a machine that uses one or more revolving blades to cut your lawn to an even height. If the blades revolve on a vertical plane, the mower is a rotary mower. If the blades rotate around a horizontal axis, the mower is a reel or cylinder mower. A mower’s blades and wheels can be motorized or human powered. Mowers can be steered by the user walking behind it or by the user riding on top of it. Human powered mowers are all walking mowers, and are called push mowers. Mowers that are motorized and guided my a walking user are called motorized walking mowers. All mowers that are ridden are motorized, and are called ride-on mowers.

Many landscape designs require or benefit from a clean line between the lawn and the sidewalk, plant and flower beds, and other non-lawn landscape features. Because lawn mowers cut grass along a horizontal plane, they are not designed to do edge work. An edger has a vertical, rotating blade that cuts a clean line between the lawn and the landscape features that adjoin it. An alternative to buying a dedicated edger is to buy a string trimmer designed to convert to edger.

A chainsaw is a portable, motorized saw. Chainsaws are powered by gasoline or electricity. You use a chainsaw to cut branches and trees faster than can be done with manual tree saws. Look for chainsaws with complete safety features, and follow safety instructions carefully.

A sprayer is a portable tank and hose combination used to deliver liquid pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers to your garden. The liquid is propelled by pressure created by an integrated pump. Small sprayers can be carried by hand or by backpack, while large tanks are mounted on wheels for rolling, or are designed to be mounted on the back of a ride on mower.

A power rotary tiller is a garden machine with rotating blades designed to break up the soil. You use a tiller to aerate the soil prior to planting. You can also use a tiller to mix soil with mulch or other organic matter. Tillers are available in a variety of sizes and strengths, and you should purchase a tiller that is appropriate for the density and rockiness of your soil, as well as the size of your garden.

A powered trimmer is important tool for maintaining a formal garden or for creating uniform pruning lines. It uses reciprocating blades, two blades moving back and forth in unison. In addition to foliage, the blades can cut branches with a maximum width of 3/8” to 1 ¼”, depending on the size of the trimmer. Look for a trimmer with good balance and a solid hand guard, because these devices can be dangerous if you lose control.

A mulcher, also called a chipper, is a machine that uses spinning knives to chop organic waste. A mulcher can chop organic waste from the garden and/or the kitchen. As a result, the waste is significantly compacted, and takes up less space if it is being transported and dumped in a landfill. If the waste is being composted, the kitchen waste will not attract vermin, and the mulched waste will convert to fertilizer in half the time of non-mulched waste.

A hose is a flexible tube used to transport water from your faucet to your garden. Hoses come in varying lengths, are available in several materials, and come in a range of prices. A recent trend is to sell hoses with integrated reel systems, making it easier to coil and store the hose after use.

Pruners and shears are non-powered tools used to trim hedges, shrubs, and trees. There are many types of pruners and shears, each designed to remove plant matter in a different way. A hedge sheer is used to lightly trim hedges. Lopping sheers are used for heavier branches. Bypass pruners do exacting pruning and anvil pruning work well when the job requires less precision. Pole pruners extend up to 18 feet, and are used to trim high branches. It is important to get a sense of the type of pruning and trimming your garden will require, and acquire a set of tools that are designed for to meet all of your needs.

Weed and pest control are essential parts of lawn and garden maintenance. It does not make sense to spend your weekends planting and sewing, only to have your work overrun to weeds or pests. Weed control products, also called herbicides, are available in two basic types. Premergence herbicides that affect germinating seeds, and postemergence herbicides that are sprayed on plants that are already growing. Selective postemergence herbicides are designed to kill weed in your lawn but not hard your grass. Postemergence selective herbicides can harm your trees, shrubs, and flowers, so be careful when applying them. The other kind of herbicide to use on growing plants is postemergence nonselective herbicides, which kill everything. These are used to spot kill weeds that are resistant to other herbicides, or to kill areas of your lawn in preparation for planting seeds or laying sod.

Pest control products, also known as pesticides and insecticides, are substances used to destroy, repel, or prevent a pest. You can use pesticides on your lawn or garden when you have pesticide infestation. To find the appropriate pesticide, you must identify both the pest and the plant, and carefully read the labels of available products. Some pesticides pose health risks; follow directions carefully regarding application, safety, and clean up.

Fertilizer is supplemental food for your lawn and plants. Often, the plants we want to grow are not native to the soil in our yard, and may require additional nutrients. Another factor is after many seasons of supporting our lawns and gardens, the soil in our yards becomes depleted. The type of fertilizer you use will depend on three factors: the condition of the soil, the nutrient requirements of each plant you are fertilizing, and the time of year. A comprehensive gardening book will often have information of the types of fertilizers required by common plants and grasses. Also, it is a good idea to create a file system to save the information tags for the shrubs and plants you purchase.