Essential Lawn Tools for Tiny Home Spaces
Congratulations, you’re a tiny homeowner! Not all tiny homes have lawns or outdoor spaces, but if you’re reading this, you’re likely in charge of some yard space—at least for now. Caring for a small lawn may seem tricky due to tight corners or edges, but most general lawn care tips and tricks apply even to the tiniest lawns. You’ll need to make a few adjustments regarding your tools and equipment, though. You’re likely going to want to go, well, tinier.
Small Mowers
Regardless of size, you’ll need some way to trim your lawn. Thankfully, tons of different mowers can get the job done easily. You will likely want to look for smaller-sized options. Mowing a tiny yard doesn’t require as much power as the larger models provide, and the larger the equipment, the more difficult it is to store and lug around. Rideable mowers aren’t necessary for tiny lawns (unless you have significant mobility issues that require you to ride).
I found tons of lawn mowers for sale near me that were on the smaller side of the mowing spectrum—perfect for a tiny home yard. Mowers can be gas-powered, electric (with a cord), or battery-powered. Most people prefer not to deal with gasoline or a cord, but it’s up to personal preference. As a bonus, smaller mowers are less expensive, which is also great for the wallet. You’re short on storage space in a tiny home. Don’t go too big!
Rechargeable Mowers
Battery-operated mowers may be the most convenient choice for small lawns. A battery will likely last the entire duration while mowing a small lawn. You won’t have to worry about pesky cords getting in the way, which will happen more frequently when the space is smaller. You also won’t have to worry about purchasing and refilling gasoline in your mower for such a small space. Many rechargeable mowers come with an additional battery, so you can always have a charged option.
Reel Mower
You may only need a manual mower if your lawn is particularly small. A reel mower is pushed around to propel a spinning cylinder of blades. These blades cut your grass without any gas or electrical power. Some reel mowers are electric or gas-powered, but they are unnecessary for your small yard. Reel mowers are also very cost-effective and tend to be lightweight for storage.
Weed and Edge Trimmers
On a small lawn, there will likely be many tight corners and areas where a mower may not fit. You’ll likely want to purchase an affordable edge trimmer for this. There are rechargeable and handheld edge trimmers for small yards and jobs, which may be perfect for this occasion. Typically, edge trimmers are used to create clean lines and edges for a yard, but they can also be used to mow tight corners and edges neatly when a mower can’t fit.
Irrigation Tools
Lawns require frequent watering, sometimes several times a week in some climates. A small sprinkler or watering wand will work perfectly for a tiny yard, but not all tiny homes have an exterior spigot for hoses. If you can’t attach a hose for a sprinkler, you’ll need to get creative.
Watering Can or Sprayer
A watering can can do the trick with particularly small yards. Watering cans come in all shapes and sizes to fit various storage needs. You can even harvest rainwater by leaving your watering can outdoors when it rains. If your tiny yard is a bit bigger, there are also manual sprayers with more range. With most small yards, these will do fine for light watering needs.
DIY Irrigation
Watering cans or sprayers may not penetrate the soil well enough to provide full irrigation. For these purposes, you can create DIY irrigation without a hose. You can take a plastic bottle and fill it with water. You can leave the lid off or poke a small hole in it for drainage and place it into the soil as a reservoir for thirsty lawns.
Fertilizer
Even small lawns require the right nutrients to grow. Invest in a healthy, natural fertilizer for your lawn to promote growth and vibrancy. You can even make your own natural fertilizer at home—rice and potato water work well. Fertilizers usually have nutrients like salt and nitrogen that help lawns stay healthy. You’ll want to be careful, however. Too much fertilizer with ingredients like nitrogen and salt can build up and lead to an unhealthy lawn, so don’t over-fertilize. Small lawns require even more care regarding fertilizer amounts. It’s recommended to use only one pound per 1,000 square feet of lawn; you’ll likely be using a lot less.
Leaf Blower
If there are a lot of trees surrounding your tiny home property, you might deal with a lot of leaves in your yard, especially if you experience seasonal changes. Leaves can actually be a beneficial fertilizer for your lawn if you mulch the ground with them. However, too many leaves may suffocate or smother the grass. A leaf blower can help remove or redistribute leaves easily to prevent this problem. A handheld, battery-operated leaf blower will suffice for small lawns. Alternatively, you can rake leaves, but this is more labor-intensive.