Essential Equipment for Landscaping Businesses
(When to Rent, When to Buy)
Bierschbach Equipment & Supply
If your landscaping business is ready to move past small rocking and sod jobs, you need equipment that can keep up with bigger, more demanding work. Corporate and municipal landscaping projects call for different tools and different machines than a typical residential job, and knowing which equipment for landscaping to buy versus rent can save you money as your company grows.
This article covers the most common landscaping tools and equipment your crews need on site, from hand tools to heavy machinery, along with guidance on when buying makes sense and when renting keeps your business flexible.
Essential Landscaping Tools and Equipment
Landscaping work covers a wide range of tasks, so your equipment needs to cover a wide range too. A well-rounded landscaping business carries hand tools for detail work and heavy equipment for moving soil and grading larger sites.
Hand Tools
Plate compactors, shovels, rakes, and pruning tools handle the detail work every landscaping job still needs, even on projects that also require heavy machinery. These are the essential tools that stay in the truck no matter the job size.
Yardwork Equipment
String trimmers, pole trimmers, lawnmowers, and a lawn aerator round out the equipment set for ongoing lawn care tools and maintenance work. A lawn aerator in particular is good to have on hand for seasonal jobs where soil compaction is a recurring issue.
Light Equipment and Machinery
Mini skid steers, walk-behind compactors, mini excavators, and walk-behind brush cutters give your crew site machinery built for tight spaces, fence lines, and residential lots where full-size equipment won't fit. Other specialized tools include trenchers and concrete saws for hardscaping, drainage, or utility work.
Other specialized tools include mini excavators, trenchers, and concrete saws, which all have a place on landscaping jobs that involve hardscaping, drainage, or utility work alongside the planting and grading.
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Heavy Equipment and Machinery
Larger landscaping projects call for larger machines. Skid steers and track loaders with the right attachments handle grading and moving soil, and stump grinders take care of removal work that would otherwise slow a job down. Dump trailers, backhoes, compactors, and excavators round out the heavy duty jobs list for landscaping businesses working municipal contracts, new construction sites, or large-scale commercial properties.
Buy vs Rent Landscaping Equipment
Buying New or Used Equipment: Higher Investment for Long-Term Needs
If your business runs the same equipment on most jobs, buying new or used equipment is usually the better long-term move. Hand tools, mowers, and compactors that see regular use pay for themselves over time, and owning high-quality equipment means it's ready whenever a job comes up.
Renting for Landscaping Equipment Needs: Better for Step-Up Needs
Stepping up your landscaping services from smaller jobs to larger jobs often means using equipment your business doesn't own yet. Renting lets you take on bigger landscaping projects, like a municipal contract or a new commercial build, without a large upfront investment. It's also the right call for specialized machinery you'll only need once or twice a year.
Landscaping Equipment Rentals
Bierschbach Equipment & Supply provides landscaping equipment rentals in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Sioux City, Fargo, and Dickinson, with locations built to support landscaping businesses close to their job sites.
Each location carries the equipment and attachments landscaping crews need for the job in front of them, whether that's a small residential job or a full commercial site. Contact us to check availability or get help matching the right equipment to your next landscaping job.
FAQs
Should I rent or buy landscaping equipment for a one time job?
Renting is almost always the better choice for a one time or seasonal job. You get access to the right machine without tying up cash in equipment that will sit unused most of the year.
What size equipment do I need for a residential landscaping job?
Most residential jobs call for compact equipment like mini skid steers, mini excavators, or walk behind compactors. These machines fit through gates and tight yards without damaging existing landscaping.
When does it make sense to buy equipment instead of renting?
If you're using the same tool or machine on most jobs, buying usually pays off over time. Mowers, trimmers, and compactors that see regular use are good candidates for purchase.
Do I need heavy equipment for municipal or commercial landscaping contracts?
Larger contracts often call for heavier machinery like skid steers, backhoes, excavators, and dump trailers. Renting this equipment lets you take on bigger contracts without a large upfront investment.
Where can I rent landscaping equipment near me?
Bierschbach Equipment & Supply offers landscaping equipment rentals in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Sioux City, Fargo, and Dickinson. Contact your nearest location to check availability.