As a follow up to our 20 Tools Every Homeowner Should Own blog, we decided to expand to include the outdoor tools.  Since summer is in full swing, the outdoor tools are being used the same, if not more, than the indoor tools during the summer.

Here is a list of the 20 Outdoor Tools that Every Homeowners Should Own:

1. Lawn Mower:  This one is a no brainer.  The size and terrain of your yard determines the type you need- push, self-propelled, ride on, stand on, etc.  Need to tune up your lawn mower?  Check out our past blog post on tuning up lawn mowers for tips.
2. Weed Whacker:  For those hard to reach places that the lawn mower just can’t get to.
3. Wheelbarrow:  To transport dirt, rocks, mulch, and just about anything else you can think of.
4. Gloves:  To protect your hands from becoming a complete disaster.
5. Hose/Sprinkler:  For many yards, a hose should be sufficient but if you have a large yard, you may want to add a sprinkler to the essential list.  Unless, of course, you are lucky enough to have a underground sprinkler system.  In which case, I am jealous!
6. Garden Rake: To evenly distribute the dirt.
7. Trowel:  A small garden hoe used to loosen the soil and help weed your garden.  No matter what size your garden, this tool is an essential.
8. Leaf Rake:  For those pesky leaves and other debris from bushes, trees, etc.
9. Gardening Shears:  From cutting fresh flowers to pruning trees and shrubs a good pair of shears will last a lifetime.
10. Pruners:  To prune those tougher trees and shrubs that the shears can’t handle.
11. Garden Spade:  To help dig, loosen dirt and break up the lumps in your garden.
12. Gardening Fork:  To loosen, lift and turn over the soil.  It is often used in conjunction with the spade.
13. Gardening Hoe:  To loosen the soil and help weed your garden.
14. Edger:  The edger is great because it really puts that finishing touch on your yard and makes it look neat and clean.  Think of this as the explanation point in your landscaping.
15. Hori Hori Knife:  Many consider this tool the Swiss army knife of the gardening realm.  Use this tool to weed, cutting roots, vegetables and sod, and transplanting and diving perennials.   Some have even used for hunting and fishing.  Talk about multipurpose!
16. Gardening Shovel:  To dig, till and plant.
17. Push Broom:  For cleaning up after your yard work is complete.  Want an easier and quicker way to clean up?  Get a leaf blower.
18. Hedge Clippers:  To keep your shrubs, hedges and bushes from becoming unruly. 
19. Shovel:  Since we live in New England, it is essential to have a good shovel.  While we may not have needed it after this mild winter, we all know that New England weather is fickle and this year could be brutal.  Want to step it up a notch?  Get a snow blower to make easy work of each snow storm.
20. Ladder:  Our Gutter Hemet and Ice Defense customers probably use their ladders far less than the rest of us since they don’t have to clean their gutters.  But, for all of those hard to reach places, a ladder does come in handy. 

Are there any tools we missed?  What are your outdoor tool essentials?  Let us know in the comments below.