Essential Power Equipment for Fall

All the power tools you need for your home

Outdoor power equipment minimizes time and strain on your body. Operated by small motors or engines, these tools are available in a wide range of designs and have specific purposes. Examples of outdoor power equipment for fall use include lawn mowers, pole and chain saws, edgers, hedge trimmers and leaf blowers.

Consider these factors when selecting the best power tools for fall cleanup around your home:

Intended purpose
Amount of use
Cost of the equipment
Maintenance of the tool

Electric lawn mower options

Choosing the best electric lawn mower for your fall lawn and garden cleanup depends greatly on the features each model offers. Common features include height adjusters, mulchers, self-propelled controllers and bagger attachments. Select between corded and cordless lawn mowers that offer these capabilities.

Adjustable height lawn mowers

The type of grass you have and the area of the country you live in matters when it comes to how short you should cut your grass. Throughout the year, the length you should cut your grass to largely depends on personal preference and aesthetics. However, the level at which to cut it varies during the fall season. Lawn care experts recommend cutting it short until it stops growing back. Adjusting the cutting height of the lawn mower to 2.5 inches is ideal to prep for cooler weather.

Mulching lawn mowers

Removing dead grass, brush and leaves allows the sun and nutrients to reach the roots of the lawn. This is possible with mulching electric lawn mowers. Designed with blades that grind up debris such as grass and leaves, these machines create food for the lawn and prevents the need for removing debris, which also saves time and energy.

Self-propelled lawn mowers

Equipped with a speed-control lever on the handle or near the shifter of the machine, self-propelled lawn mowers move forward without the need for force. These types of fall lawn cleanup power tools save strain to your back, legs and arms. They come in single and variable speed models, the latter of which can cut your yardwork time in half – pun intended.

Lawn mowers with baggers

Using a lawn mower with a bagger attachment makes cleanup easier when mowing your grass. These attachments collect the grass clippings, leaves and other lawn debris, so you can compost it or place it in yard waste for trash pickup. Built-in handles allow you to carry the bagger to any disposal area, including composting piles around your yard.

Electric leaf blower considerations

Prevent fallen leaves from causing mold and odors around your property with leaf blowers. Allowing you to reach leaves that gather under bushes and crevices of your yard, leaf blowers offer thorough fall cleanup. They're available in either corded or cordless models.

Corded electric leaf blowers

Having a consistent source of power, corded electric leaf blowers let you complete fall cleanup tasks around your yard without recharging batteries. Designed to be lightweight, they're easy to carry and transport. Plus, they promote a healthier environment by not adding to carbon emissions in the air.

Cordless electric leaf blowers

Gain the freedom to move around your yard freely without needing an electrical outlet for operation when using a cordless electric leaf blower. Quiet operation means you don't have to wear ear protection when using these tools. When fully charged, most battery-powered leaf blowers can run for 40 minutes or longer.

Chainsaw and pole saw selections

Keep branches and tree limbs trimmed during fall cleanup around your yard. This prevents ice and snow from causing them to break off during the winter season. To handle all the tasks on your list, select chainsaws for larger jobs. Thanks to their powerful motors, these tools perform better than loppers or pruners for bigger and heavier tree limbs.

Fixed at the end of a long handle, a pole saw makes it possible to reach higher up into trees to perform limb and branch maintenance, thus alleviating the need for additional equipment such as ladders or safety harnesses. Also, their lightweight build lets you carry and transport pole saws more easily during use.

Trimmer and edger choices

Polish off complete fall lawn and yard maintenance with hedge trimmers and edgers. Create a seam between your lawn and hard surfaces like walkways and driveways with precision edgers. This action works well for providing a source of drainage for melting snow and ice. Additionally, it helps minimize damage, such as chipping, cracking and deterioration of concrete and asphalt, by reducing the likelihood of swelling when rainwater and snow freezes.

Designed to remove smaller branches and leaves, hedge trimmers are ideal for fall cleanup. These outdoor power tools leave your yard looking and feeling tidier. As the snow and ice builds up, there is less of a chance for weakened branches to break off and cause accidents or injuries.

Pressure washers

Prepare walkways, decks and patios for winter by giving them a thorough cleaning with a pressure washer. Remove mold and mildew from siding, fences and hardscapes around your property in preparation for the changing seasons. Clear out eaves, gutters and roofing surfaces of unwanted branches, leaves and other debris that gets in the way when snow and ice begin to melt. These power washers come in a variety of sizes and with different spray settings.

Batteries and chargers keep everything running

Make sure to keep extra batteries and chargers available to give you the power you need to finish all of your fall cleanup tasks. Check the users' manuals for your essential power equipment for the exact make and model batteries and chargers needed. Having a full charge between uses prevents damage from occurring to your power tools.

Check out the different options for the best power tools for fall lawn cleanup and outdoor maintenance available. Ideal for the fall cleanup tasks around your home, these power tools come in handy all year long. Consider your specific needs and the amount of usage you will get from each tool when making your selections to ensure receiving the most benefits from them.