New Homeowner Yard Equipment Checklist: What to Buy First

This checklist is ordered from first week to first year. Budget tiers use catalog prices at the time of writing; examples are catalog products, not the only good choices.

Mower type follows lawn size, and most other purchases follow the mower. Deck sizes follow common dealer and manufacturer guidance; each acreage has its own page under what size mower do I need.

• Snow climates: a shovel for steps plus a snow blower sized to the driveway. Single-stage machines suit short paved drives and light snow; two-stage machines like the PowerSmart 24 in. Two-Stage Gas Snow Blower with Briggs & Stratton 208cc or battery EGO Power+ SNT2405 24 in. Self-Propelled Two-Stage Snow Blower Kit handle deeper storms and gravel. Size it with the snow blower size calculator, and add pet-safe ice melt like Safe Paw Pet-Safe Ice Melt, 8 lb.
• Hot, dry climates: watering gear moves up the list. A smart controller such as the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller, 8 Zone for an existing sprinkler system, or hose timers like the Orbit B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Timer with Wi-Fi Hub for hose-fed beds, saves water and time.
• Wooded or leafy lots: leaves become the biggest job. Budget for a strong blower, and consider a tow sweeper or leaf vacuum on larger lots; see the best leaf blowers.
• Rainy climates: gutter maintenance and drainage matter, so a ladder and downspout extensions come early.
• Warm-season grass regions: mowing seasons are longer and more frequent, which favors a durable mower and a second battery on battery platforms.

Anything used once a year or for a single project is usually cheaper to rent from an equipment rental shop or borrow, and it does not take up storage. Buy when the use becomes regular.

For most suburban lots under about half an acre, battery. Battery mowers, trimmers and blowers start instantly, need no fuel storage, oil changes or winterizing, run quieter, and share one battery design across tools. The catch is committing to a platform: EGO 56V has the broadest lineup, Greenworks 60V and 80V cost less, and Ryobi 40V has the cheapest batteries. The comparison is in choosing a battery tool platform.

Gas still makes sense for large lots mowed in long sessions, heavy chainsaw work, big wooded leaf cleanups and properties far from an outlet. Run your own numbers in the gas vs battery cost calculator. A practical pattern for many new owners is a battery mower, trimmer and blower now, with a gas snow blower or chainsaw added only if the property demands it.

Plan in tiers rather than one number, since lawn size and climate swing the total by thousands.

• Essentials for a small lot: a battery push or self-propelled mower, a tool-only trimmer such as the EGO Power+ ST1500SF 15 in. String Trimmer (tool only) ($137.99) sharing the mower's battery, a corded or tool-only blower, a hose, rake, shovel and safety gear. This is the beginner new homeowner yard kit.
• Typical suburban lot: add a spreader, sprayer, cart, second battery and seasonal snow or leaf tools. See the intermediate kit.
• Acreage: a riding mower such as the Husqvarna TS 120 42 in. Lawn Tractor ($2,799.00) becomes the main line item, with tow-behind accessories and storage. See the expert kit.

Where to save: buy tool-only versions once you own a battery, rent single-project tools, and skip a pressure washer or hedge trimmer until the need is real. Where not to save: safety gear, and a mower sized correctly for the lawn.

A garage wall system handles handheld tools, but mowers, snow blowers, carts and bags of seed and fertilizer fill a garage fast. A deck box like the Keter Westwood 150 Gallon Deck Box holds hoses, cushions and hand tools; a shed holds machines. Size a shed from what you will own in a few years, not just today, with the shed size calculator and how to choose a storage shed.

• Store batteries indoors at moderate temperatures, off hot or freezing floors.
• Keep gasoline only in approved containers, away from anything that sparks, and let engines cool before storing.
• Keep weed killers and fertilizers in original containers on a high, locked shelf away from children and pets.
• Drain and bring in hoses and hose-end timers before freezing weather.

Hold off on these until the yard shows you it needs them:

• A robot mower, until you have mowed a season and know the lawn's slopes, zones and obstacles.
• A tiller, unless you are building beds right away; rent one for the project.
• A chainsaw, unless you have trees and firewood needs; a pole saw handles most pruning, and felling belongs to arborists.
• A big pressure washer, when a 2,000 PSI electric covers the deck, furniture and car.
• Bundled weed and feed products, before a soil test and before you know which weeds you have.
• Specialty attachments, until the base tool has earned its keep.

Gift ideas for someone who just bought a house are in gifts for new homeowners.