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In the 2-years since we started The Mow Bros we have researched many tools for our business. Following is a list of what we use and recommend:

 

Since our #1 goal is always to do an excellent job for our customers, the top criteria for any purchase is does the tool perform well? Is it reliable? Is it straightforward to use? Is it good value? Our priority has always been to use eco-friendly battery driven equipment...but only if it performed in the ballpark of its gas driven counterparts.

 

Please note: Links to the tools below may include affiliate links. Unless otherwise specified, we use these tools and recommend them regardless of any commission received. Also, we'll always be fully transparent about any drawbacks we come across.

 

Lawn Mower:

The most important purchase for a mowing business is your lawn mower. Even if you can borrow the family mower, it's still worth considering a second mower anyway in case the first isn't powerful enough, or if it breaks down (which is why we have two of just about every type of equipment). While the future is clearly battery driven lawncare equipment, gas driven equipment typically wins for power and endurance in the commercial space. For this reason, two years ago we decided to go with a top of the line 21" gas-driven Honda mower*.

 

If you take care of them, Honda engines have a reputation for lasting for years. We love our mower! It starts easily, handles well, it's robust, it can move fast, gives an excellent cut, and can also mulch leaves in the Fall...which is much easier than blowing/raking leaves and also helps fertilize the lawn.

 

*Honda have recently discontinued all their gas mowers and are replacing them with their new line of battery driven mowers. If one of our mowers packed up tomorrow, we'd replace it with the Honda HRX-BV (what's exciting is it's almost identically spec'd to our current HRX-217VKA mower), and purchase an additional 12Ah battery and a Quick Charger. Not cheap but an excellent long term investment!

 

Blade Edger:

 

You really don't want to skimp on power when purchasing a blade edger because you'll likely regret it in very short order when the blade starts jamming in the ground! For this reason we purchased the Ego blade edger ME0820. Ego has a reputation for being best-of-breed in battery driven equipment and is supported with good warranties. Unfortunately, their OEM batteries can be eye-wateringly expensive...and you'll want at least a 5Ah battery for this device. Pro tip: purchase equipment with batteries bundled whenever possible, or consider aftermarket batteries which are much cheaper.

 

String Edger:

 

Creating clean straight lines is by no means easy! That's why we decided on the 18V Ryobi P2008A Edger....it has a wheel which makes it really easy to guide the edger. It can also be flipped to convert from edger to trimmer. 5Ah batteries are perfect for overall balance (OEM or off-market). We like the "pull trigger to extend the string" mechanism, and we purchase off-market string spool replacements in packs of 9. FYI, we also purchased an Ego edger/trimmer which is more powerful but we rarely use it except for big trimming jobs because we just prefer the convenience and ease of use of the Ryobi edger!

 

Leaf Blower:

 

We would recommend the 765 CFM Ego Power+ blower which comes with a 5Ah and also includes additional attachments. We love it! It starts instantly, has a turbo mode, and is nicely balanced.

 

Safety Glasses:

 

 

It is critical that protective eyewear be worn at ALL TIMES when edging, and they really should be worn when using a leaf blower too. We love these DeWalt safety glasses. They comfortably fit pretty much any head size, they resist scratching, include UV protection....and they're great value too! We always have several on hand.

 

Headphones Hearing Protection:

 

 

Protecting your hearing is also critical if using gas-powered equipment AND sometimes even when using battery powered equipment such as leaf blowers. We love these Prohear headphones! They not only offer great hearing protection and comfort with the gel ear pads, but they also include bluetooth for listening to music and podcasts while mowing!

 

Foam Earplugs:

 

 

A budget alternative to headphones are simple earplugs. We love these Lysian Earplugs because they are comfortable, can be used in multiple scenarios, and are excellent value. While they are not as effective in blocking out sound as headphones, sometimes that can be a preference!

 

Folding Cargo Carrier for 2" hitch:

 

We started our business carrying/pushing our equipment around the neighborhood which wasn't the best use of our time so we invested in an Arksen folding cargo carrier which is great value and has proved incredibly useful. It's so easy to flip the rack up and down and is the perfect size for our mower and other equipment. Just be sure to have a couple of bungy cords on hand to secure everything, and a bucket for your accessories!

 

Summary: 

The number and types of lawncare devices out there can be overwelming so hopefully this post will prove useful as you shortlist the equipment you'll need for your business. Be careful about buying high end equipment until you are certain that this business is right for you, but at the same time try and avoid cheaping out on equipment that may only slow you down and frustrate you!

 

Our next post will cover tips and tricks we have learned as we manage our lawncare business...and will be accompanied by video on our soon to be launched YouTube Channel. Later posts will also cover yard work, snow removal, pressure washing, and dog walking!