Tools Used for Clearing a Backyard

Lawnmower

• Clearing a backyard with a lawnmower is necessary particularly when the grass is actively growing. In fact, the more active the growth, the more often the lawn needs to be mowed. Periods of active growth include summer for warm-season grasses and fall or spring for cool-season species. When the grass has gotten too tall, mowing the lawn on a frequent schedule is necessary -- at least initially -- to avoid removing more than a third of the grass leaf at a time. Over time, you should be able to mow less frequently because the grass will be shorter and thus easier to maintain at your desired height.

Weed Tools

• A string trimmer cuts neatly around plants and fences where a mower can't go, but it's also useful for chopping off stubborn weeds such as broadleaf weeds and dandelions in your yard quickly and easily. Clearing your backyard of weeds is critical because weeds compete with grass and other desirable plants for water and necessary nutrients. A weed puller is another weeding tool that simply allows you to position the tool over your target weed, step on the foot pedal and pull the entire weed up, including the weed’s root portion. The weed puller offers the advantage of removing the whole root and thus is more effective at combating weeds in your backyard than is a string trimmer.

Rake

• A rake is helpful for clearing out a backyard that is covered with leaves. Raking up leaves is important because this not only makes your lawn look better but also removes material that blocks important sunshine from reaching your lawn. Leaves also potentially contribute to yard disease such as mildew and mold because a leaf-covered lawn does not have access to adequate air flow. A lawnmower that mulches is a suitable alternative to using a rake, as this type of mower not only clears out backyard leaves but also turns them into a finely chopped organic material and distributes it on your lawn to enrich it.

Other Tools

• Tangled roots and stems in your backyard are easy to remove using a dethatching rake. Dethatching makes room for new, healthy plant growth in your yard. In addition, a wheelbarrow is helpful for collecting stems, roots and weeds you pull up using a tool or even by hand. An herbicide additionally is helpful for chemically clearing out various weeds in your yard. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using this type of product, to avoid causing damage to nearby plants.