What Tools Do Landscapers Need?

Spades

• The common spade has a rounded shovel head with a slight pointed tip for ease of digging. A small hand spade is used for digging holes to plant small plants. It also works to dig up and transplant small plants or lift and remove weeds. Inexpensive, small hand spades start about $1, but a good quality hand spade could cost up to $10, as of 2011. The large spade is used to move dirt, gravel or mulch or dig large holes for planting shrubs, large plants or small trees. A large spade ranges in price from $20 to $30.

Rakes

• A plastic, bamboo or higher-quality spring-brace leaf rake is required to pull leaves or grass clippings into a pile. Leaf rakes can be purchased from $10 to $20, as of 2011. Landscaping or garden rakes are used for moving gravel or mulch and separating rocks from soil. Depending on quality, a gravel rake costs between $10 and $50.

Pruning Shears

• From smaller bypass shears for pruning roses to hedge shears for lopping tree branches, pruning shears are a landscaper's must-have. Either type of shear starts around $10, but could cost as much as $30 depending on durability.

Wheelbarrow

• The wheelbarrow is the pack horse of the yard and garden. Made from an assortment of materials from plastic to steel, this useful cart moves dirt, leaves, mulch and even tools from one place to another. A wheelbarrow costs anywhere from $30 to $60 and up, as of 2011.

Three-Prong Cultivator

• A three-prong cultivator is a clawlike tool used to break up soil clumps or spread dirt. It also works to loosen and pull weeds. A long-handled cultivator saves your back from a lot of bending in the garden. A three-prong cultivator costs between $10 and $20.

Hoe

• The hoe has a small flat blade at a right angle to the handle. The goose-neck hoe's sharper blade chops through weed roots. A garden hoe breaks up clumped dirt. A hoe makes quick work of turning soil and aerating between plants or before planting and costs from $10 to $40, as of 2011.

Edger

• Whether foot powered (costing about $30 in 2011), electric powered (about $90) or gas powered (about $190), an edger's sharp, flat blade makes crisp garden, lawn and walkway edges and separations.

Large Power Equipment and Tools

• Large power equipment and tools can run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars and usually require skilled, experienced operators. It may be more economical to hire a subcontractor for the services required from a chain saw, tiller, ditch-witch, crane truck or skid steer.