Starting out as a landscaper or gardener, it is easy to spend a lot of money on kit you will not touch for a year. The shed catalogues are full of expensive machines, and half of what you see in other people’s vans is there because they have been in the trade for ten years and bought something every time a job needed it.
This guide is the opposite: the short list of tools you actually need in your first twelve months, in the order you should buy them. It is built around a mix of hand tools that last for decades and a small battery platform that covers the power jobs, and everything listed is available on Amazon UK at the time of writing.
The total comes to roughly £700 if you buy everything, but you can start with the first four items for well under £200 and add to the list as the work comes in.
Quick Verdict
Buy good hand tools first. A pair of Felco secateurs, a decent lopper, a folding saw and a proper spade will handle most of the jobs you are likely to get in your first few months, and they are the tools that will still be in your van in ten years.
Then choose one battery platform and build on it. For a first-year landscaper the Makita 18V LXT range is a sensible choice, with a strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower that all share the same batteries. Add safety gear for anything involving a chainsaw or a lot of kneeling, and leave the rest until the work justifies it.
The Kit, in the Order You Should Buy It
1. Pruning Secateurs: Felco 2
Felco 2 secateurs are the benchmark. They cut stems up to 25mm, the blades are replaceable, and every part can be bought as a spare, so a pair really will last a career. The 14,000-plus reviews on Amazon UK say the same.
At around £60 they are not cheap, but a cheap pair that blunts or breaks within a season costs more in the long run. Buy a pair, keep it oiled and sharp, and carry it in a holster so you do not leave it behind on a customer’s lawn.
- Comfortable, lightweight, sturdy aluminium alloy handles
- High quality hardened steel blades, forged aluminium alloy handles, wire cutting notch
- Anvil blade with sap groove, rubber cushion shock aborbers
- For a medium to large hand, right Handed; the handles have a non slip coating
- Lifetime guarantee, all parts replaceable
2. Bypass Loppers: Bahco P140
Loppers cover the stems too big for secateurs and too small for a saw. The Bahco P140 has 24-inch handles and a bypass action that makes a clean cut on live wood, and with more than 120 reviews on Amazon UK at about £45 it is a good middle-of-the-road option.
Look for a bypass design rather than an anvil one, because bypass loppers cut more cleanly and do less damage to the plant.
- The pivot bolt of the Bahco lopper is offset from the natural centre line of the tool
- Unique design feature creates a slicing motion during cutting
- Hook shape of the Bahco lopper counterblade enables a large cutting diameter and holds the branch steady during cutting
- Sap groove reduces the area of contact between blade and counterblade and results in less friction and sticking
3. Folding Pruning Saw: Silky PocketBoy 170
A folding saw lives in your pocket or on your belt and cuts anything from a small branch to a thick limb. The Silky PocketBoy is the one most professionals buy, with over 2,000 reviews on Amazon UK at about £40.
The blade cuts on the pull stroke, which makes it quicker and easier to control than a standard bow saw, and it folds shut safely.
- Original Japanese folding saw Pocketboy by Silky 170mm blade length with medium teeth (black) Test w
- The Pocketboy is a very handy saw for all types of use. Available in two lengths (130 and 170 mm) an
- Compact lightweight folding saw with 6-3/4-inch blade that will take up very little room in your poc
- The blade resists the effects of tree resin and easily wipes clean. The non-slip rubberized handle p
- Original Japanese folding saw Pocketboy by Silky 170mm blade length with medium teeth (black) Test winner at Stiftung Warentest 08/02/2013 - Best pruner for pruning Stainless, hard chrome coated blade with special Mirai-Me teeth for best cutting performance with ergonomic handle and robust plastic box for storage
4. Digging Spade: Bulldog Premier
Even a landscaper with a mini-digger needs a decent spade. The Bulldog Premier is a forged steel spade with an ash handle and a treaded blade, and it is the kind of tool that is handed down. At £55 it is a quarter of the price of a cordless tool and gets used on every job.
If you are buying one spade, buy this rather than a cheap pressed steel one that will bend the first time you hit a root.
5. Cordless Strimmer: Makita DUR193RT
The first power tool to buy is a strimmer. The Makita DUR193RT is an 18V LXT line trimmer supplied with a 5.0Ah battery and a charger, so it is a complete kit for around £180 and the battery will power everything else you add later.
It is the cheapest way into the Makita 18V platform, and it will deal with edges, fence lines and long grass.
- Cordless grass trimmer
- Loop type handle
- 260mm cutting diameter
- Easy loading bump and feed cord feed system mechanism
- 1.65mm four leaf nylon cord
6. Cordless Hedge Trimmer: Makita DUH523Z
Hedge cutting is one of the most common landscaping jobs, and a cordless trimmer is quieter and quicker to get going than a petrol one. The Makita DUH523Z has a 52cm blade, runs on the same battery as the strimmer, and is sold as a bare tool at around £139.
With over 80 reviews on Amazon UK it is a proven tool, and because it uses your existing battery you do not pay for a second one.
- Depth gauge for drilling consistency
- 2 mechanical gears
- Variable speed control
- Anti-vibration system
- Keyless chuck
7. Cordless Blower: Makita DUB185Z
A blower is the last of the three power tools that get used on almost every garden maintenance job. The DUB185Z is Makita’s 18V LXT blower, and it is one of the best-selling models on Amazon UK with more than 5,000 reviews and a price of under £60 for the bare tool.
It will clear grass clippings, leaves and debris off paving, and it saves a lot of time on sweeping.
- Variable speed controlled by trigger
- 3 air volume settings for low, medium and high
- Increased air volume
- Vacuum function; can be used as a vacuum with the addition of a dust bag
- Equipped with battery protection circuit
8. Chainsaw Trousers: Oregon Yukon
If you are going to use a chainsaw, you need chainsaw protective trousers. The Oregon Yukon trousers are a budget option with more than 3,000 reviews on Amazon UK at about £64, and they are a lot cheaper than an emergency visit to A&E.
You should also have the proper training before you pick up a chainsaw, and that means getting a recognised ticket first.
- Lightweight, comfortable, and abrasion-resistant trousers ideal for arborists, loggers, landscapers, and homeowners for heavy-duty outdoor tasks
- Two-way stretch polyester offers five layers of protective material against fuel, oil, and heat while keeping you cool all day
- Plenty of available tool storage - two large front pockets and one back pocket with hook and loop closure
- KWF Standard certified. Size medium (EU 46-48)
- EN ISO 11393-2 Class 1 Safety rated for chainsaw protection; recommended by professional loggers
9. Kneeling Board: OX Trade
Planting, laying turf, weeding and paving all mean kneeling for hours. The OX Trade kneeling board has handles to help you get up and costs under £30, which is a small price for protecting your knees.
It is not glamorous, but your knees will thank you when you are in your fifties.
- Firm foam for extra comfortable knee support
- One -piece base - with built in OX Grip handles
- Lightweight but study
- Easy-to-clean
Starter Kit at a Glance
| Item | Why You Need It | Approx. Price |
| Felco 2 secateurs | Daily pruning | £60 |
| Bahco P140 loppers | Medium stems | £45 |
| Silky PocketBoy 170 | Branches and limbs | £40 |
| Bulldog Premier spade | Digging and planting | £55 |
| Makita DUR193RT strimmer kit | Edges and grass, plus battery | £180 |
| Makita DUH523Z hedge trimmer | Hedge cutting | £139 |
| Makita DUB185Z blower | Clearing up | £58 |
| Oregon Yukon trousers | Chainsaw safety | £64 |
| OX kneeling board | Kneeling work | £28 |
What to Leave Until Later
A mini-digger or dumper
Plant hire exists for a reason. Until you have steady work that justifies owning a machine, hire one when a job needs it and pass the cost on in your quote.
A chainsaw
You only need one if you do tree work, and you should not use one without training. Many first-year landscapers can get by with a folding saw and loppers and leave tree felling to a specialist.
A van full of everything
Buy for the jobs you have, not for the jobs you might get. A tool that sits in the van unused is money you could have spent on insurance or on a spare battery.
A ride-on mower
Unless your customers have large lawns, a decent walk-behind mower hired or bought second-hand is all you need to start with.
Buying Smart in Your First Year
Stick to one battery platform
The single best saving you can make is to buy all your power tools on one battery system. A bare tool is far cheaper than a kit, and you will always have a charged battery to hand.
Insure the kit
Tool theft from vans is common in the UK. Make sure your policy covers tools in the van and at home, and use a proper lock on the van and a tool marker on the kit.
Keep the receipts
Most of what you buy is a business expense. Keep every receipt and you will thank yourself when it comes to your tax return.
FAQs
How much does it cost to start a landscaping business in the UK?
Hand tools and a small battery platform can be bought for around £700, but you will also need a van, insurance and possibly some training. Many landscapers start with just the essentials and add kit as the work comes in.
Do I need any qualifications to be a landscaper?
There is no legal requirement for general garden maintenance, but certificates such as those for chainsaw use or pesticide spraying are needed if you do that kind of work.
Which battery platform should a new landscaper pick?
Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee and Stihl all work well. Pick the one with the garden tools you need and a good local dealer, and then stick with it.
Should I buy new or second-hand tools?
Hand tools such as spades and loppers can be bought second-hand with no problem. For battery tools it is better to buy new with a warranty, because old batteries can be worn out.
Do I need a chainsaw as a landscaper?
Not at first. A folding saw, loppers and a pole saw will do most pruning work, and tree felling is best left to someone with the right training and equipment.
Final Word
The kit in this guide is deliberately short. A good pair of secateurs, loppers, a saw and a spade, plus a strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower on one battery, will cover the great majority of the jobs you will be offered in the first year.
Start with the hand tools, add the strimmer when the first lawn job comes in, and buy the rest as the work justifies it.
