Using power tools can make gardening much more easy and enjoyable. Although with only hand tools you can do most jobs in the garden upgrading to power tools can massively reduce time spent performing tasks and reduce user fatigue. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or just starting out these 5 power tools are absolute must haves and should be on everyone’s shopping list. This top 5 will provide you with a great starting basis of tools such that you can tackle the majority of gardening jobs.
We have based our decision on the recommended products on multiple aspects; firstly the best value for money, the most suitable for the average gardener and the popularity of the product – we find that often the market itself identifies which product is the best.
If our recommended product isn’t suited to you then use the ‘Shop Here’ buttons to browse at a collection of products.
If you are completely starting from scratch you may want to read our ‘Top 10 Essential Gardening Tools’ blog as well.
1. Lawnmower
The lawnmower is the quintessential garden power tool, a good-looking, well-maintained lawn makes a massive difference to your garden. When looking to keep your garden maintained your lawn is the best place to start, keeping your lawn groomed can completely transform the look and feel of your garden.
The best choice of lawn mower for you will depend on the size of your lawn; if you have a large lawn then a riding mower is the best choice. However, if you only have a small patch of lawn then a compact, lightweight electric or petrol mower is best suited.
Our recommendation: Bosch Rotak 34 R Lawnmower
Features:
⭐Motor Power: 1300w
⭐Torque: 17Nm
⭐Adjustable handle and double foldable to use up less space
2. Chainsaw
A good chainsaw will make light work of tree maintenance and clean-up of a neglected garden. They are perfect for pruning/trimming (removing small/medium sized limbs), limbing (cutting off branches from a felled tree), bucking (cutting a felled and delimbed tree into logs) and felling (chopping down a tree).
There are 3 main types of chainsaws: Petrol Powered, Electric (corded) and Battery Operated each with their own pros and cons.
Petrol Powered:
Pros:
✅Most powerful
✅Long cutting times
✅Very portable
Cons:
❌Requires fuel mixed with oil
❌Produces fuel emissions
❌The loudest and heaviest
Electric (corded):
Pros:
✅Lightweight and quiet
✅Affordable
✅Easiest for beginners to operate
Cons:
❌Must be plugged in to an electrical outlet
❌Inconvenience of being limited to the cord length
❌Requires professional servicing for repairs
Battery Operated:
Pros:
✅Low maintenance
✅Fully portable
✅No fuel emissions
Cons:
❌The most expensive
❌Can’t use it when the batteries are charging
❌Cutting speed equal to electric but not as fast as gas
Depending on what you will use your chainsaw for will dictate which option to go for, our suggestion for the average gardener is a petrol chainsaw; it offers portability that the corded chainsaw cannot and is also more affordable than its battery-operated counterpart.
Our recommendation: Makita 32cc Petrol Chainsaw
Features:
⭐Anti-vibration design and environmentally friendly engine
⭐Nimble and manoeuvrable for tight spaces
⭐Noise and emissions are as low as possible
3. Leaf Blower
It can be quite the chore to remove fallen leaves and debris from your garden and sometimes a rake just won’t cut it. Save yourself time, hassle and physical exhaustion with a leaf blower. If you have a large garden or are surrounded by trees then a leaf blower is a definite must have. Make light work of tidying up fallen leaves into neat and tidy piles.
Although you will get most use from a leaf blower when tidying up your garden it has other applications: use it to clear light snow from paths and driveways, clean out gutters quickly and effectively and blow out clogged grass from your lawnmower and/or strimmer.
Our recommendation: Hikoki 550W Blower and Dust Collector
Features:
⭐High efficiency impeller fan for high output air volume
⭐Variable speed motor allows a wider variety of tasks to be performed
⭐Soft grip wrap-around handle for ease of use at any angle
4. Hedge Trimmer
Sculpting shrubs, trees and bushes can be a time-consuming arduous job but with a hedge trimmer you will be done in no time. As with most power tools on our list the hedge trimmer offers you convenience and is designed to save you time and effort when undertaking gardening tasks.
You may be using a combination of secateur’s, shears and a possibly a handsaw to prune your shrubbery however using a hedge trimmer eliminates that need for several tools in order to shape your hedges.
Our recommendation: DeWalt Cordless Hedge Trimmer 18V
Features:
⭐Blades made from hardened steel for longer life and lasting sharpness
⭐Wrap around aux handle provides a comfortable grip in multiple orientations
⭐19mm cutting capacity
5. Strimmer
For neatly trimmed lawns and edges a garden strimmer is a must have, instead of having to get your lawn mower out every time the strimmer offers a great alternative to deal with overgrown grassy areas. A strimmer is also ideal to use in combination with a lawn mower to tackle patches of grass next to tall objects such as a garden wall or a birdbath.
There are 3 main types of strimmer’s: Petrol Powered, Electric (corded) and Battery Powered each with their own pros and cons.
Petrol Powered:
Pros:
✅Provide the highest level of power and as such can handle the toughest of jobs
✅Have the convenience of not being restricted by a power cord
Cons:
❌Produces fuel emissions
Electric:
Pros:
✅The cheapest type, so the best option if you are working on a budget
✅Doesn’t require charging so offers convenience in this regard
Cons:
❌Has to be plugged on for use, so possibly not suitable for someone with a large garden and/or no outside sockets
Battery Powered:
Pros:
✅The most lightweight and easy to use and as such reduces user fatigue
✅Can be easily manoeuvred around the garden and into hard-to-reach tight areas
Cons:
❌Have to be charged up before use, an average strimmer only lasts approx. 20 mins
Our recommendation: DeWalt 18V XR Brushless Split Shaft Grass Strimmer
Features:
⭐Offers 2-speed control for versatility to the user
⭐Brushless motor gear drive design provides more torque whilst maintaining cut speed
⭐Padded aux handle for optimal user comfort
Honourable Mentions:
A few honourable mentions that just missed out on our top 5 our:
A pressure washer – it is perfect to revitalise dull and faded decking as well as blasting away dirt, algae and moss from patios and ponds.
A chipper is a great way to deal with light garden waste like leaves and small twigs as well as making your own homemade compost.
A rotavator/cultivator saves you time and effort when preparing spaces for planting by loosening soil.
As with all the tools that we suggest safety is a priority especially with power tools, we strongly recommend reading through the manufacturers guide before using any tool in this list.
Check out all our other blogs: Click Here