I am what is most commonly referred to as a “city girl.” In other words, I have spent the last 20 years living in condos and apartments in metro concrete jungles in some of the biggest cities in the U.S.A and abroad – think Chicago, Tel Aviv, and Washington DC amongst others. I do remember yard work vaguely from my childhood, still, it has been a few decades since I mowed a lawn or really dug into solid earth. My greenest accomplishment in the last twenty years has been maintaining two houseplants and a sad little cactus on my desk at work.
When I purchased my first home in the middle of nowhere midwest U.S.A (back to my ancestral stomping grounds), I had a fleeting thought or two that maybe there might be some lawn care maintenance involved in homeownership… but man was I ever caught unprepared.
Fast forward to two months of living in the burbs’ and I consider myself a pro…or at least someone who did entirely way too much research and figured it all out. I am embarrassed to say I spent hours on the internet and at least four solid hours talking to sales associates at Home Depot, Lowes, and Ace Hardware to consider quitting my day job and start a landscaping company. All joking aside, I know what the good stuff is and I am excited to share it all with you!
Here are my lawn care must haves for a beautiful lawn that will make your neighbors jealous. I designed this list for the newbies, like myself – enjoy my suggestions below:
1. Get Yourself a State of the Art Lawnmower
Alright, check out this awesome EGO LM2156SP-2 21″ Select Cut Self Propelled Lawn Mower – it’s the ultimate lawn-taming machine! s bad boy is the diamond in your ruff’. If you are looking for top of the line this is IT.
Don’t be a sucker and get a gas powered lawn more for these reasons 1) although they are cheap… they end up costing way to much money in the long run because they break and also the gas gets costly, and 2) who wants to lug around gasoline and use more fossil fuels?
Here are some of the best features of this mower.
Self Propelled: So, picture this: you’re cruising around your yard like a boss, not pushing, but the mower is doing all the work for you – that’s the magic of the self-propelled feature! No more sweaty struggles, just smooth sailing through your grassy kingdom.
Customizable Grass Cut and Mulching: The 21-inch Select Cut deck is like a Swiss Army knife for mowing. You can pick how you want your lawn to look – bagging, mulching, or side discharge – it’s like giving your grass a makeover! Customize it to suit your mood or your lawn’s personality – it’s all up to you. it moves itself (is self propelled), is extremely quiet, is designed for mulching (if you want an easy way to put some nutrients back into your lawn), and uses a battery (which is more desirable than gas powered) which I will explain briefly. I will admit the first time my husband mowed it looked a bit like a punk with a bad haircut mostly because we didn’t know how to adjust settings. After a five minute youtube video we figured it out, sometimes you don’t feel like reading a manual.
Very Quiet: This mower is quiet like a ninja. My husband has mowed the lawn while my children were sleeping…seriously.
Rechargeable Battery Powered: Now, let’s talk power – this bad boy comes with not one, but two 10Ah batteries! That’s some serious juice right there. You’ll be a mowing machine without any cords to trip over or smelly gas to deal with. Go green and mow mean! And don’t you worry about charging time. That 700W Turbo Charger is a beast! It juices up both batteries lightning fast, so you’re back in action in no time. No more waiting around – just charge up and get back to showing that grass who’s boss!
The best part of all the EGO product line, and I will say it a few times in this article – is that they all come equipped with a battery that you can switch between all of them so that you never run out of batteries because at any given time one is charging. This is a plus if you are blessed (or cursed) with a huge lawn and you need a backup charged battery ready to go. All of their batteries also come with a three year warranty so if you even suspect anything is wrong within three years, they will send you a new one, no charge. The guys that work in Home Depot all told me they have this baby and haven’t changed a battery in eight years so it has a good recommendation.
Honestly, this EGO lawn mower has been a total game-changer for my yard. this thing made our lawn look professionally cut. Let me tell you, if you use this lawnmower your lawn will look ready for a game of golf. I give massive kudos to this lawn mower and a few compliments to my hubby. It’s efficient, powerful, and whisper-quiet – like a ninja gardener. If you want to make lawn care a breeze and have the best-looking yard on the block, this mower is the way to go. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. This bad boy is the diamond in your ruff’.
2. Prepare Yourself to Wack Weeds (or just trim grass)
The EGO Power+ ST1521S is a high-performance and innovative string trimmer designed to make yard maintenance a breeze. This handy dandy gadget if you don’t know, because I didn’t, is for reaching those hard to reach areas of your lawn that your lawn mower can’t reach like next to the flower beds and around the backyard fence.
Durable and Light Weight: The trimmer’s Carbon Fiber Split Shaft enhances durability while keeping the overall weight low, ensuring comfortable handling during extended use. I love this weed wacker because it is light and comfortable to hold. I am an average size woman with little to no athletic ability and I wielded this baby like Luke Skywalker did his light saber. I know you can do it…trust me when I say if I can use it, so can you.
Rechargeable Battery Powered: This package comes with a 2.5Ah battery and charger included, ensuring you have everything you need to power up the trimmer and get to work right away. 
Whether you’re tackling tough weeds or trimming grass along fences and edges, the EGO Power+ ST1521S delivers exceptional cutting power, versatility, and user-friendly design, making it an excellent addition to your lawn care arsenal.
3. Become Acquainted with a Grass Blower
Cordless and Powerful Airflow: The EGO Power+ LB5800 is a powerful and versatile cordless leaf blower designed to tackle any leaf-clearing task with ease. With a whopping 580 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of airflow and variable-speed control, this leaf blower can handle both light debris and heavy leaf piles effortlessly.
Rechargeable Battery Powered: This is in the line of EGO products, which as you know by now from reading, I love because you can keep swapping batteries.
Quiet, Light Weight and Powerful: It’s also not loud at all. The power on this thing is a little addicting though, and I may love this a little too much. I guess bending wind to your will is a power trip. This thing is not too heavy and really easy to use…literally you push a button and WHOOOSH! Massive points for this piece of equipment.
4. Be Edgy and Get Yourself This Tool
I never noticed lawns until l I was surrounded by them on all sides. Now I notice all of them: the good ones, the bad ones and the ugly ones. It dawned on me that what really makes a “good” lawn is a clean look.
Sharp and Precise Cutting Power: The Yard Butler Step Edger is the ultimate manual steel edger lawn tool for achieving clean and precise landscaping edges around your yard. This tool is the best for making that crisp edging you are looking for next to the sidewalk. It is apparently not a naturally occurring phenomenon in grass to grow straight and end abruptly next to the side walk. Someone (maybe you?) has to cut it and edge it to make it look that way. This heavy duty tool makes your lawn go from amateur to pro in no time at all.With its rounded saw tooth cutter blade, this tool is designed to effortlessly create well-defined borders along sidewalks, driveways, or gardens, giving your lawn a professional and polished look.
Light Weight Design: Best of all? It is light weight and won’t kill your back.Made with a heavy-duty design, this edger is built to withstand tough outdoor conditions, ensuring it will be a reliable companion for years to come. Perhaps most importantly, anyone can use it and you don’t have to be butch a built to weld this bad boy.
5. Get Growing with Organic Lawn Fertilizer
Last but not least you need grass fertilizer.
Designed to provide your grass with all the essential nutrients it needs, this high-quality lawn food is a must-have for any lawn care enthusiast. Whether you’re dealing with patchy spots or want to maintain your lawn’s health and color, this fertilizer has got your back.
The 25 lb. bag ensures you have enough coverage to treat a sizable lawn area, making it perfect for both small residential yards and larger landscapes. With easy application instructions, you can confidently spread this fertilizer evenly, allowing your grass to soak up the goodness and thrive.
Promote strong root growth, improve resistance to environmental stress, and watch your lawn transform into a lush green carpet under your feet. Say goodbye to dull, lackluster grass and welcome the beauty of a well-fed, healthy lawn with this fantastic Lawn Food Fertilizer.
I am not the most environmental person in the world, but I do try. At least I know enough to know that you should use organic lawn fertilizer and not the other kind. Regular fertilizers stink and contain toxic ingredients that could harm you, your children, or your pets. Organic fertilizer, while sometimes stinkier, in its defense, is not contributing to the problem of putting poisonous toxins into the water that comes back to you in your sink. Still, this one doesn’t smell bad at all. If your lawn needs an instant face lift, this is your guy.
6. Get Your Rake On
The Colwelt Plastic Leaf Rake is your ultimate garden companion for effortless leaf collection and debris cleanup. With its 22 tines plastic head and lightweight stainless steel handle measuring 56 inches, this rake is designed to make your gardening easier.
Sturdy and Light Weight: Whether you want to or not you will need this tool for clearing loose leaves, grass clippings, and other garden debris. The rake’s sturdy plastic head efficiently gathers everything in its path. The durable yet lightweight stainless steel handle ensures comfortable use, reducing strain on your arms and back during extended gardening sessions. Most importantly this tool will not mess up your manicure.
Includes Gardening Gloves: I forgot you need these too so save a few bucks and get the rake because it comes with gloves. You will definitely need this extra protection for your hands while you work on your lawn.
7. Bring Out the Waterworks – Not Yours
Don’t cry I am almost done…just kidding! But seriously, this may seem obvious but we definitely didn’t have it at our house when we got here.
Durable, Strong and Doesn’t Kink: The SPECILITE 50ft 304 Stainless Steel Garden Hose is the ultimate solution for hassle-free watering in your yard and outdoor spaces. Crafted with heavy-duty 304 stainless steel, this metal hose is built to last and is resistant to punctures.Say goodbye to the frustration of traditional hoses that kink, tangle, and leak.
Great Length: 50-foot length, you’ll have ample reach to water all corners of your garden without having to constantly move the hose. Thanks to its flexibility, this hose won’t kink or tangle, allowing for smooth and uninterrupted water flow every time you use it.
Includes Two Nozzles: The package includes two nozzles, providing you with versatile watering options to suit different plants and tasks. From gentle watering for delicate flowers to powerful spray for cleaning, this garden hose has got you covered. I definitely understand you are more worried about your lawn when you just move in so I will write later about what you need for your gardening basics because that’s a whole different ball game.