DIY Yard Maintenance
Low Maintenance Garden
the correct edger and other tools is the key to a neat & tidy, well maintained garden
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Garden Tools & Independence
Photo: Worx Edger / Trimmer
Yes, DIY gardening goes with independence. Women can easily maintain their own yards - if they have the right tools.
My husband used to do all mowing and edging. Then, he injured a foot and I had to take it over for a while. It was a blessing in disguise.
I decided to take it over permanently. He still helps me as time permits (he works in an office, and I work my own hours from home), but I have control now.
No more waiting for someone else to get to my house to do the work. No more hoping my husband can get to it when I want it done.
I am a bit “fussy” when it comes to the yard. It is my accountant personality showing, I suppose. My husband (an engineer) is also fussy, and did a beautiful job - but he didn’t always have time to “get around to it” when I wanted it done. You know what I mean. By taking over the job myself, I can get it done WHEN and HOW I want.
Size Is Important
A note about size:
The type of edger (weed whacker / trimmer) and other tools you use must be of a weight and size to be used SAFELY by you. I am a small person (just over 5’ 1”). When I first took on this task, I used my husband’s large edger. NO GOOD! It was unwieldy for me, and much too heavy. I was aching everywhere by the time I finished the yard.
I knew I needed to get my own garden tools - lawn mower, edger, wheelbarrow, yard waste bin on wheels, large pruners, garden shovel, gloves, and small garden tools.
Edger / Trimmer
Every edger I had ever seen was HUGE. I thought surely there was an edger out there that was made for a woman or small person. I actually went to Google and searched “edger for small woman.” Much to my delight (yes, I was quite happy), I found one on Amazon.
It is a Worx cordless string trimmer / edger, weighing only 6 pounds. The line is fed with just a touch of a button, and is easy to replace. It runs on a rechargeable battery - no cords or heavy fuel to deal with. I have no patience for that. It is light weight enough, at only 6 pounds, that I can cart it around the yard without hurting my back, and the length is perfect for me (adjustable length). I LOVE it!
I’m sure there are other good edgers out there; this is the one I own and love. I can trim grass up close to our raised beds, and edge the gardens.
The edger is adjustable; it works as either a trimmer (cuts grass close to a rock wall, for example), or an edger, (cutting a nice edge along the garden outline), depending on the position it is set to.
I mow as close to my moss covered wall as I can, then run along the wall base with the trimmer.
I also use my trimmer to cut around our easy DIY firepit.
Leaf Blower
When I’m finished with mowing and trimming, I use my Black And Decker leaf blower. It is also cordless and runs on a rechargeable battery. I chose the cordless, hand held blower. Mine only has one speed; I see they now have 2 speeds. Nice!
Lawn Mower
This post would not be complete without mention of my Snapper electric lawn mower. It is also easy for me to maneuver around the yard. Plenty of power, several height levels, easy to change batteries, no gasoline to deal with.
For my mower, I chose a small, battery operated mower with catcher. Our yard is not large enough to justify a riding mower (which is what many of my neighbors have) but is quite large. I needed a mower that was maneuverable for me. Again, no cords or heavy gas.
The downside is that one battery does not last long enough to complete the front and back yard. I have a LARGE yard. In spring, when the grass is long (first cut of the season), I can go through 4 batteries on the front and back lawns. Keep that in mind. I have to recharge after partially completing the front, and at least once while mowing the back yard. Therefore, I always keep 4 charged batteries on hand.
Another downside to this type of mower (as opposed to a rider mower) is the grass-filled catcher. It can get heavy, especially when the grass is a bit wet (which it always is during a Northwest spring and fall). If you are a small person, you will need to empty the catcher before it fills with heavy, wet grass, or have your yard can handy.
I have a small yard waste can on wheels. It was worth the investment. I can empty the catcher into that, and move the can as needed. I also have a very nice wheelbarrow. It is not heavy, but is deep enough to hold a lot of grass. The grass can then be moved from the small can or wheelbarrow to our large garden waste bin. The large garden waste bin gets too heavy for me to cart around the yard; my system works for me.
My Snapper mower is shown in front of our painted chain link fence. That was an awful project, but so worth it! It used to be a rusted mess; It looks sharp and new now.
Wheelbarrow
The wheelbarrow I chose has dual front wheels. This is important. It is not quite as easy to maneuver as a single wheel, but it is MUCH MORE STABLE. It is not as likely to tip over when turning corners or being pushed over uneven ground. I purchased my wheelbarrow at a local big box store.
Garden Boots
Garden boots are also very important. I purchased mine at Costco. Amazon also has a large selection of garden boots. I keep mine in a shoe holder just inside my door. I also have a pair of old jeans that I only use for weed whacking. You can see by the photo that having a dedicated pair of garden jeans is a smart idea. 😊
Weed Barrier Cloth & Mulch
Keeping down weeds while retaining moisture is important for a well maintained (and easy-maintenance) garden. The most natural, and my favorite, is bark. I love the smell, and I love the look of it.
Before laying down mulch, it is well worth the time to lay down weed barrier cloth.
We have an informative article on cutting and laying garden cloth before applying mulch. Trust me - it’s better to do a bit of up-front work than spend the rest of your life pulling weeds.
Other types of mulch, such as black “dirt” are not always healthy. If it is real dirt, that is fine. I have seen a lot of unnaturally looking black “dirt” though. I was curious about what made it look so black, so I researched it. It can be a mix of who-knows-what all ground together and dyed black. Nope - not in my garden.
Do your homework and choose what works best in your area. In Phoenix, we didn’t use mulch. NOTHING grew in a spot unless we put water on that spot, so weed control was not needed very often. My husband built raised wood flower boxes for plants not native to the desert. In the Northwest, the closest thing to “forest floor” is bark. Small weeds don’t like it, and more moisture is retained in the dirt than would be if exposed to the hot sun of summer.
Long & Short Handle Pruners
I use long handle pruners for cutting shrubs, and small pruners for small branches, dead stems, etc. If the branches are really large, my husband uses his larger saw.
Motivation
Stay motivated - you can do this!
The following photo is of a lilac garden I love to visit in Woodland, Washington. It was cold the day I went, but the sights and scents of the lilacs inspired me to get my garden cleaned, edged, and planted. Yes, I bought a couple lilac plants. Photo: Hulda Klager Lilac Garden, Woodland WA
Remember WHY you DIY. For me, there are two reasons. It gives ME control. I get the lawn done when and how I want. Also, I save a LOT of money. I used my savings to purchase a new e-bike. My husband purchased a regular bike. This opened up a new world of recreation for us. See our articles below from our Lifestyle Blog.
Finding Nature & Inspiration
Entertainment is purchased in the city; it is provided by nature in the wilds. Being outdoors, in natural environments, is important for our physical and emotional wellbeing.