Essential Supplies and Lawn Care Gear for Lawn Care Professionals

Spring is in full swing and your lawn care service is roaring and ready to go. You probably have your tools sharpened and equipment ready, but let’s take things a step further and make sure your techs have what they need as well. Remember, working outside all day can wear anyone down and have adverse health effects. Let’s take a moment to go over some great gear and must-haves for lawn care pros. 

Sunscreen

Let's start with the basics. A solid sunscreen will protect your skin from long-term harmful UV rays. Based off the W.H.O. recommendation, a UV index above three can cause skin damage. (You can find out your area’s UV index here.) When deciding on what sunscreen to choose, consider these key points:

1. Waterproof/Sweat Proof – Make sure your sunscreen can survive your daily work. It’s no good if it runs right off!
2. SPF 30 or Above – For outdoor workers, SPF 30 or above will ensure you remain properly protected from harmful rays.
3. Allergies – Make sure to check the ingredients for any allergens. 

Neck Protection

Even with the proper application of sunscreen, you may still end up with sunburn or just not enjoy the heat of the sun beating down on you. A great way to alleviate this is with a neck gaiter (or something similar) or a sun hat. This is especially true when your agenda for the day involves a lot of groundwork. Keep in mid that color is important when trying to keep cool. Lighter colors work best when trying to keep temperature absorption to a minimum. 

Gloves

Working with your hands all day can get rough, especially if you run afoul of foreign objects or debris. A good pair of gloves can make a world of difference when it comes to doing yard work on a long-term basis. Of course, we'd place a lot of emphasis on getting good gloves here. Puncture resistance helps alleviate any chance of cuts or injuries on-site. Typically, you’ll want either a solid, all-leather glove or a PVC coated one. Leather can be more durable, but PVC coated gloves offer more breathability. 

Ear Protection

The beauty of modern-day lawn care is the vast assortment of tools at your disposal. One of the biggest downsides though is that a majority of these tools are LOUD. Noise exposure to anything above 85 dB for extended periods of time can cause hearing damage, something you cannot repair! Common equipment like leaf blowers or trimmers can exceed 90 dB in their sound rating. This isn’t an issue for very short bursts of exposure, but it can do real damage when you work around this level of noise all day. Wearing ear protection or plugs will help maintain your hearing health. When shopping around, make sure to read the NRR rating. This represents the level of protection the device offers. 

Water Bottle

If it’s a warm spring day, you know you’ll be sweating. Remember to stay hydrated and drink water often. Choosing a water bottle can be difficult, especially if you don’t know wether or not you’ll have a water source available for refills. Keep a gallon jug with a dispenser in your work truck, then find a smaller, insulated water bottle to keep with you. That way you can refill as necessary.

Hot Tip: Fill a large jug half-way with water and let it freeze overnight. You’ll have crisp water at your disposal all day this way. 

Branding

If you want to take the items mentioned here to the next level, you can do so with some good branding. Branded gloves, hats, and water bottles are affordable options that will give your workforce a professional look. Clients might not notice that everyone has matching gear, but they sure will see it when they don’t. On top of that, employees really do appreciate the little things. Better equipment gives you a good route to boost morale on a budget.