Top 7 Best Lawn Sprinklers for Your Backyard in 2021.

Properly watering your lawn when it is first getting established is probably one of the most important things to help you grow a healthy and beautiful lawn. Stop standing outside like a dud for half an hour every second day watering your lawn with a garden hose and get a lawn sprinkler. Sprinklers are very useful for ensuring that you get even and consistent coverage when watering. Today we’ll be going over the different types of lawn sprinklers and how to pick the best one for your landscape. We’ve also reviewed some of the most popular lawn sprinklers in the market and compiled our list of the top 7 best lawn sprinklers for your backyard in 2021.

Types of Lawn Sprinklers

Oscillating sprinklers

best backyard sprinkler
sprinkler

Oscillating sprinklers are one of the most popular sprinklers that are super easy to use and set up. Oscillating means that the sprinkler moves from one side to another or back and forth, spraying water in a set area that mimics how rain falls. Oscillating sprinklers are pretty good at covering a large area, considering they are stationary.

Rotary sprinklers

rotary sprinkler

A sprinkler with a rotating head with several sprinkler tips attached to it is called a rotary or rotating sprinkler. When the sprinkler receives pressure from turned on the water, it starts spinning the head and the arms pushing the water in all directions around itself. They are great at covering large circle-shaped areas. The higher pressure your hose can provide, the larger area it will cover.

Misting sprinklers

water mist

Misting sprinklers deliver water in a mist-like pattern and are perfect for greenhouses with seedlings or small or raised garden beds with flowers or delicate plants in general. The most significant disadvantages of misting sprinklers are evaporation and spray drift. If you live in an area with high winds or very hot days, the amount of water delivered from misting sprinklers will be much lower than more powerful water stream sprinklers.

Sprinkler hoses

Sprinkler hoses are garden hoses with many holes in them. A sprinkler hose can be used as a sprinkler if you point the holes upwards or as a soaker if they face the ground. Sprinkler hoses are great for watering garden beds or just seeded grass areas. They are great for occasional seasonal watering tasks as you can manually set them up in any pattern but don’t look very appealing on your landscape.

Fixed Pop-up sprinklers

A fixed spray pop-up sprinkler provides a constant circular fan-like flow of water for your garden and lawn. The most significant advantage is that when the watering is done, they automatically retract into the ground out of sight and don’t require any physical labor. Your grass and garden can be watered even when you’re on holiday. However, they do require some time and labor to install initially into your landscape.

Raised sprinklers

Raised fixed sprinklers are almost identical to pop-up sprinklers, but instead of popping up at a set time, they stay raised all the time. They are great to set up in smaller gardens close to your house, making them less visible but still providing water over plants and flowers to your grass.

Traveling sprinklers

The traveling sprinkler, as you can guess from the name, is one that can travel. These sprinklers are pretty new to the market but gaining popularity fast. A traveling sprinkler is moved by the water pressure and guided by the hose in a pattern that you can set up yourself. They have a rotating head on top to reach a larger area, but there are models with stationary spray heads too.

These sprinklers are great for larger landscapes that don’t have automatic or in-ground irrigation systems installed.

Impact sprinklers

Everyone knows the clacking sound some sprinklers make when they operate. These are the impact sprinklers, and the sound is created when a small paddle on the sprinkler hits the constant stream of water. Impact sprinklers can provide a lot more water at the same time compared to oscillating sprinklers. They can be adjusted at how far or wide the water stream will go.

What to Consider When Buying a Lawn Sprinkler

Lawn size

If you have a small backyard, you might be ok with just a simple oscillating sprinkler that you can relocate in a few spots to cover the whole area or install a couple of stationary raised fix-spray sprinklers.

If you have a large backyard with a lawn that needs constant watering, you something that doesn’t require a lot of manual labor like pop-up sprinklers, traveling sprinklers, or an impact sprinkler that can shoot the water stream very far. 

Materials and Construction

Most lawn sprinklers will either be made from plastic or some kind of metal. Plastic sprinklers will be cheaper than metal ones, but their construction will be weaker and won’t last as long. Metal sprinklers are more expensive and heavier but will last much longer because of their sturdy construction.

We would advise going for a metal construction sprinkler if you’ll be using it with high water pressure. Impact, traveling, or rotary sprinklers should have a sturdy build and construction to withstand constant water pressure.

Top 7 Best Lawn Sprinkler Reviews in 2021

Melnor 65074-AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler


We’re starting our list with Melnor 65074-AMZ XT Turbo, the best oscillating sprinkler on our list for a budget price. It can cover up to 4,500 sq. ft. area and has adjustable spray width and length. This allows to set up the sprinkler in a position where one side can spray water far away while the other can water only a thin bed of flowers.

Melnor gets a lot of praise for their budget pricing while still having sturdy plastic construction to last way longer than other plastic sprinklers. The only weakness of the sprinkler is that the oscillation sometimes gets stuck, and you may need to wiggle it a little.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 4,500 sq. ft. area
  • 20 precision nozzles
  • High-quality build
  • Comfortable stream adjustment
  • The durable Infinity turbo motor
  • Nice exterior
  • Budget price

Weaknesses:

  • Sometimes the oscillation stops

Dramm 15075 ColorStorm Spinning Sprinkler


Dramm 15075 is a relatively heavy but sturdy spinning sprinkler that can cover up 38 ft. in diameter with a thin spinning water stream similar to a mist. It is perfect for low water pressure systems like wells as it only needs the PSI to be above 20. 

It is a very simple sprinkler with no adjustments. On the one hand, all you need to do is connect the fittings and let the water run, but on the other hand, you can’t adjust the radius or water stream. The only workaround would be to play with your water pressure, increasing or decreasing how far the water mist will go.

The downside of the Dramm sprinkler is that many parts are made from brass and might contain some lead making the sprinkler not a suitable option for organic lawn growing or organic edibles.

Key features:

  • Water stream goes up to 38 feet in diameter
  • Heavy-duty sturdy build
  • Powder-coated and rust-free
  • Very simple and easy to use
  • Great for low-pressure water systems

Weaknesses:

  • Brass parts are not fit for organic grass or plants
  • No adjustments

GrowGreen Sprinkler, Rotating Lawn Sprinkler


The GrowGreen sprinkler is made from ABS plastic and rust-proof polymer. The build does feel very sturdy and has connections on both sides for multiple sprinkler systems. 

The rotating heads spin at 360 degrees radius while the three hands shoot out water up to 32.8 ft. distance and can cover up to 3,600 sq. ft. area, making it great for smaller lawns or backyards.

We were impressed that the plastic construction feels pretty solid and should be more durable than your regular plastic sprinkler. The only weakness we saw was the plastic connection which didn’t feel as it tightened properly and did leak a bit on higher pressure. Other than that, it’s a cheap but high-quality rotating sprinkler designed for small lawns.

Key features:

  • 360 degrees rotation
  • 32.8 ft. spray distance
  • Covers up to 3,600 sq. ft. area
  • Lightweight
  • Great for small lawns
  • Low price
  • Can connect multiple sprinklers

Weaknesses:

  • Low-quality connection

GARDENA ZoomMaxx Oscillating Sprinkler


Garden ZoomMaxx is a modern oscillating sprinkler designed for small lawns as it covers up to a 2,300 sq. ft. area. It has a stable base, so even high pressure won’t flip over the sprinkler. This oscillating sprinkler’s most significant selling point is that you have a lot of water stream customization freedom, making it perfect for weirdly shaped areas. You can adjust the width and the length of the water spray and even control the flow rate to avoid hitting an overhead hanging roof.

The sprinkler does cover quite a small area; however, if your lawn and garden have complex compositions with regions that don’t need watering, a few ZoomMaxx oscillating sprinklers could be set up to only water the area you want.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 2,300 sq. ft. area
  • Lightweight sprinkler
  • Stable base
  • Easy to adjust the width and length of water spray
  • Variable flor rate
  • Compact
  • Perfect for irregular lawns or gardens

Weaknesses:

  • It covers only a small area
  • Expensive

Kadaon 360 Degree Garden Sprinkler


If you’re looking for a cheap option, Kadaon 360 sprinkler is the best budget lawn sprinkler on our list that is super lightweight and easy to set up. All you need to do is connect the sprinkler with your hose and stick it into the grass in the area you want to be watered. It covers only a 3,000 sq. ft. area, but you can connect multiple sprinklers for more extensive coverage. The flow rate of the sprinkler is not very strong, so it takes a bit of time to water an area. However, when you connect multiple Kadoan sprinklers, they don’t lose pressure and evenly saturate the whole area.

The build is plastic and doesn’t feel very durable but comes at a bargain price for people on a budget.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 3,000 sq. ft area
  • Easy to set up
  • Very cheap

Weaknesses:

  • Not very durable
  • Small area coverage

Melnor 65067-AMZ Pulsating Sprinkler


This is another excellent product from lawn and watering products supplier Melnor. The 65067-AMZ Pulsating Sprinkler can shoot water streams up to 85 ft. in length, which is ideal for large landscapes. You can easily adjust the spray distance, coverage radius, and water diffusion. If needed, you can take out the radius adjustment pin, and the sprinkler will turn in circles covering 360 degrees area.

We love that the spray head and the base are made from metal, making it much heavier. Impact sprinklers operate at a higher water pressure to shoot out water further away. A heavier base allows the sprinkler to be much more stable. The only disadvantage of the build is that the head sometimes gets stuck at one side of the cycle and doesn’t get back. Increasing the water pressure seemed to fix the issues. 

Other than that, it’s the best impact sprinkler on our list suitable for a large lawn and won’t leave your pockets empty.

Key features:

  • Covers up to 5,600 sq. ft area
  • Shoots water up to 85′
  • It can be adjusted to cover 360 degrees radius
  • Durable metal sprinkler head
  • Sturdy metal base for stability
  • Easy to adjust distance, radius, and diffusion
  • Seven-year limited warranty
  • Budget price

Weaknesses:

  • Sometimes gets stuck at one end of the rotation cycle.

Orbit 58322 Traveling Sprinkler


Last on our list is Orbit 58322 traveling sprinkler. This is the best traveling sprinkler on our list and most likely on the market overall. Orbit tractor-shaped sprinkler is guided by the hose and pushed by water pressure. You can set up the hose in a pattern you want the sprinkler to go and position the little ramp at a point you want the sprinkler to stop. This allows you to turn on your sprinkler and leave as it will stop when it finishes its route. 

Orbit traveling sprinkler has a very sturdy and durable cast-iron construction. It will be hard to knock over with a ball or by pets, but it is quite hard to carry around. However, unlike any plastic sprinklers, Orbit is a wise investment that might serve you for decades.

If you have a large lawn, this sprinkler is great because you can create any path you like by laying your hose where the sprinkler needs to go. You can also adjust the spray diameter and traveling speed for various water output needs. 

Key features:

  • Can cover up to 13,500 sq. ft. along a 200 ft. hose
  • Three speeds
  • Extremely durable cast-iron construction
  • 15-50 ft. adjustable spray coverage diameter
  • Great for large lawns
  • Can leave unattended

Weaknesses:

  • Quite bulky and heavy

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to water my lawn?

If you live in a very dry area where grass would usually not grow, then we advise watering your lawn 2-3 times a week to get 1-1½ inches of water into your lawn per week. It’s better to heavily water a couple of times instead of daily to allow the water to get deep into the soil. If you live in an area where grass grows naturally, you won’t need to water once your lawn is established and continued, frequent watering may even be harmful to your lawn’s root developement.

When is the best time of the day to water my lawn?

It is best to water your lawn early in the morning as it reduces water evaporation allowing you to water your lawn faster and use less water. You could also water early evening when it’s warm as long as there is enough time for the plants and soil to soak up the water.

 

 best garden hose article link

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Top 7 Best Small Wood Chippers for Your Landscape in 2021

A big part of landscape maintenance is collecting and disposing of debris left after cleaning up your trees from dead branches, trimming down, or removing unwanted bushes and shrubs. If you’ve been throwing away all of that debris or paying someone to collect it, you should consider getting a small wood chipper to save money and improve your softscape by returning all of the debris in the form of mulch back into the soil. A wood chipper shredder is one of the best tools to deal with unwanted branches, twigs, shrubs, and leaves. Today we’ll go over different types of wood chippers, how to pick the best one, and will provide our picks for the top 7 best small wood chippers for your landscape in 2021.

Types of Wood Chippers

Gas

Wood chippers and shredders running on gas are most used in both residential and professional landscaping. They provide much more power than electric wood chippers as their power ranges from 4-10 horsepower. More power means that the shredder can work faster while also tackling thicker and harder landscape debris. The disadvantages of gas-powered wood chippers are louder noise, heavier weight, and more maintenance.

Electric

Small electric wood chippers are great for landscapes with smaller trees as they have a hard time handling tree branches larger than 2 inches, but they are much lighter, easier to transport, and most importantly, produce way less noise and no smoke. They are an excellent option for eco-friendly gardeners looking to build a sustainable landscape. The most significant disadvantages of the electric wood chippers and shredders are that they require a nearby outlet and shred slower than gas chippers.

PTO

Power Take-Off (PTO) wood chippers and shredders are connected to a tractor’s PTO shaft, which allows it to power the wood chipper. Because of the higher power a tractor can generate, PTO wood chippers are much more powerful than gas or electric chippers. Even though you can find smaller PTO wood chippers, they will still be quite bulky, loud, and, most importantly, require a tractor to power them. PTO wood shredders come at a higher price tag, so most casual gardeners and landscapers will use small gas or electric wood chippers, which are not as powerful but are cheaper and easier to use. If you are serious about landscaping or own a vast landscape with many trees, then it might be wise to own a PTO wood chipper as a long-term investment.

What to Consider When Buying a Small Wood Chipper?

Feed Capacity

The feed capacity is one of the most important considerations to take before buying a small wood chipper. It determines the size of branches you can feed into the chipper. Most small gas and electric wood chippers can handle 2-5 inch thickness branches. If your main goal is to clean up small 1-3 inch diameter branches and use larger ones for your fire pit, then almost all small wood chippers will do great. If you have plenty of thicker branches, you need to look for a higher-capacity chipper designed for professional use.

Power type

If you’re doing casual landscape cleaning a couple of times a year, a small electric wood chipper will be plenty. Electric-powered shredders are much quieter than gas ones, so you can use them in highly populated neighborhoods without disturbing anyone. They are also low maintenance and lighter, but you’re tied to an electrical cord and can’t use it in an area without a power source. Gas-powered wood chippers are also a touch more powerful and will complete your yard cleanup a bit faster.

Reduction Rate

best wood chippers
wood chips

The reduction rate is pretty straightforward; it means how much the chipper will reduce original debris volume. Most small wood chippers’ reduction rate will be from 8:1 to 20:1, meaning they can shred branches, twig, or leaves to 4-10% of their original volume. A smaller reduction rate shredder will require less power, while a higher reduction rate chipper needs to be more powerful to spin the blades faster. 

If you’re going to use mulch for your landscape, think how big you want the pieces to be, this might be a good indication of what reduction ratio to go for.

Blades

In general, it’s better to go for a wood chipper with more blades. If there are fewer blades, the individual blade is used more often, will dull faster, and require sharpening. If there are more blades, then the wear of the blades splits more evenly, allowing the blades to be sharp for longer.

Additional Features

A simple but convenient additional feature to look for is a mulch or debris bag that you can attach to the chipper. It collects everything that goes through the chipper and allows for easy disposal or scattering of the mulch. You can also find chippers with multiple feeding chutes, a bigger one for branches and twigs, and a smaller one for leaves and other soft debris. Finally, some chippers will have vacuum attachments which are handy to collect small debris and keep the grass clean.

Top 7 Best Small Wood Chipper Reviews in 2021

Sun Joe CJ603E Electric Silent Wood Chipper/Shredder


Sun Joe CJ603E is a very silent electric wood chipper that is great for everyday gardening needs. This model has 15 Amp power and has a reduction ratio of 21:1, meaning you’ll have very fine mulch for your flower garden bed or compost box. 

CJ603E capacity is up to 1.73 inch thick branches and twigs. It can’t handle thick branches, but the ones that fit are shredded with ease. This small electric wood shredder weighs just 38.6 lbs. And can be moved around on the 7-inch wheels. Very portable as long as you have enough extension cord length.

All in all, Sun Joe CJ603E is the best small wood chipper for regular homeowners who want to regularly clean up small branches, twigs, or leaves and reuse them as mulch. 

Key features:

  • Power: 15 Amp
  • Capacity: up to 1.73 inch
  • Reduction rate: 21:1
  • Weight: 38.6 lbs.
  • Very compact 
  • 7-inch wheels for portability
  • Tamper included

Weaknesses:

  • It needs a power outlet

SuperHandy Wood Chipper Shredder Electric


SuperHandy electric wood shredder is the best small, lightweight wood chipper on our list, with a weight of only 24.5 lbs. The impenetrable wheels allow for easy storage and maneuverability over grass, soil, and other uneven surfaces. A hopper on top allows you to collect and dump leaves into the shredder conveniently. If needed, a tamper is included for a quick and safe push.

The two cutting blades behind a rust-proof polypropylene housing can shred backyard debris into 17 times smaller pieces for easy disposal, composting, or mulching.

We love the compact and lightweight design that allows for easy maneuvering around the landscape if your electrical cord allows it. Despite the only disadvantage of small capacity, the SuperHandy wood chipper is a fantastic option for regular backyard cleanup.

Key features:

  • Power: 15 Amp
  • Capacity: up to 1.57 inch 
  • Reduction rate: 17:1
  • Weight: 24.5
  • Very lightweight
  • Rust-proof polypropylene housing
  • Compact to store
  • Tamper included
  • Durable housing

Weaknesses:

  • Can shred only thin branches 

Earthwise GS70015 15-Amp Garden Corded Electric Chipper


Earthwise is our best small electric wood chipper if you want to clean up your landscape fast and efficiently. Its reduction ratio of 10:1 cuts branches into larger chunks than other chippers but allows the shredding process to be completed much quicker.

The big chute on top of the chipper with the tamper allows you to dump many dead plants, leaves, and twigs and push them into the blades quickly and effortlessly.

We love the sturdy collection bin instead of the bag. It allows for an easier pour. You can even store your mulch in the bin to dry out.

All in all, this small wood chipper is designed for people who want to clean up their backyards fast and don’t really care about the size of mulch that comes out.

Key features:

  • Power: 15 Amp
  • Capacity: up to 1.75 inch
  • Reduction rate: 10:1
  • Weight: 31 lbs.
  • Big chute
  • Durable build
  • Tamper included
  • Sturdy collection bin
  • Wheels for portability

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive for an electric wood chipper

SuperHandy Leaf Mulcher Shredder Electric


Are you tired of having truckloads of fallen leaves every week during autumn? SuperHandy leaf mulcher and shredder is designed to mulch leaves and small branches with a powerful but silent 15 Amp motor.

This small wood chipper can handle twigs and smaller branches of only up to 0.5 inches thick but deals with them quickly, and with no noise, so you can do your chores early morning or late at night. You’ll also receive a large 50-gallon tear and water-resistant bag for mulch collection. 

This small leaf and wood mulcher has two 8 inch wheels for easy transportation and relocation. The build itself also feels very sturdy as its frame is made from steel. 

SuperHandy Leaf Mulcher’s disadvantages are small branch shredding capacity and higher price point. However, the fantastic leaf mulching efficiency and build quality make it a wise investment, especially for gardeners tired of dealing with mountains of leaves every year.

Key features:

  • Power: 15 Amp
  • Capacity: up to 0.5 inch
  • Weight:
  • Sturdy steel frame
  • Durable 8-inch wheels
  • Water-resistant debris bag

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive

Landworks Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher Super Heavy Duty


If you’re on a budget but still want a larger and more powerful gas-powered wood chipper, Landworks shredder might be your best option. This model is powered by a 7hp 212cc 4 stroke engine to mulch branches up to 3-inch thickness through the side hopper. The top hopper is designed for small twigs, leaves, and trimmings of up to 0.5-inch thickness.

This small gas wood chipper is designed for residential backyards with many dead or fallen branches or trimmings that weaker electric shredders can’t handle. If needed, you can buy extra attachments like a vacuum insert for an extra tidy backyard and a big discharge bag attachment. Although, it would have been nice if the model already came with the bag attachment.

Landworks wood chipper might not be the most powerful gas shredder but is the best small gas-powered wood chipper if you’re on a budget.

Key features:

  • Power: 7hp 212cc
  • Capacity: top hopper 0.5 inch, side 3 inch
  • Reduction rate: 15:1
  • Weight: 130 lbs.
  • Small but powerful
  • Two wheels for easy relocation

Weaknesses:

  • No collection bin or bag

EFCUT C30 Mini Wood Chipper Shredder Mulcher


EFCUT C30 is probably the best small gas wood chipper on our list that money can buy. Yes, it is expensive, but it’s amazingly built, lightweight for a gas shredder, and is powerful enough to handle most tree debris on your landscape.

Inside the shredder, you’ll find a unique cutting system of 2 steel cutting blades and four cutting hammers that go through leaves, twigs, trimmings, and branches like a knife through butter. You also have a handy check window to see if anything is stuck between the blades.

The 7hp 212cc 4 stroke engine allows it to tackle branches up to 3 inches and reduce their volume 15 times. We were surprised to see how stable the shredder is when feeding branches larger than 3 inches. There was no jumping or unusual wiggling, only a slight deceleration of shredding speed, but that is expected when trying to shred thick branches.

If you don’t mind spending more for a long-term investment, EFCUT C30 is the best small wood shredder on our list for larger backyard cleanups.

Key features:

  • Power: 7hp 212cc
  • Capacity: up to 3 inch
  • Reduction rate: 15:1
  • Weight: 90 lbs.
  • 10-inch airless wheels

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive

Patriot CSV-3100B Briggs & Stratton Gas-Powered Wood Chipper/Leaf Shredder


We have Patriot CSV-3100B, our pick for the most powerful small wood chipper to finish off our list. The chipping cone at the side can handle up to 3 inch thick branches because of the small but powerful 10hp engine that can create up to 14.6 lb-ft. torque. Anything smaller than 3 inches in diameter will be crushed, shredded, and cut into small pieces reducing the original volume up to 20 times.

It’s nice to see that Patriot took small details like engine noise into account and added a muffler to reduce some of the noise. There is also a convenient oil indicator to remind you if oil levels drop. 

This small, powerful shredder weighs 140 lbs. but it isn’t that hard to maneuver because of the low center of gravity and comfortable large wheels.

Key features:

  • Power: 10hp
  • Capacity: up to 3 inches
  • Reduction rate: 20:1
  • Weight: 140 lbs.
  • Easy to maneuver

Weaknesses:

  • Heavy

Top 8 Best Pruning Shears for Your Garden in 2021

Professional gardeners, landscapers, or anyone who owns at least a few plants or a tree should have a pair of quality pruning shears among their landscaping tools. When you need to cut some vines, thin branches, or handle something as delicate as flowers pruning shears is your best option since they are very maneuverable, ergonomic, and easily fit in your pocket. Today, we will talk about different types of pruning shears and how to pick the best one for you. We’ll also give our recommendations for the top 8 best pruning shears for your garden in 2021. 

Types of Pruning Shears

hydraulic shears

There are so many pruning shears designed for almost every landscaping and gardening task. But which one is the best? It always depends on your needs, but without specializing too deep, we’ll look at the most popular ones, which should cover all your basic softscaping needs.

Bypass

bypass pruner

Bypass pruners are probably the most common type and should be your first pruner if you don’t have a pair yet. As the name suggests, Bypass pruning shears will have a blade that will bypass the other blade providing an extremely clean and precise cut if the blade is sharp enough. Pruning small live branches, vines, flowers, or fruit and veggie harvesting is a breeze with a pair of bypass pruners.

Anvil

These pruners are called anvil shears because when the blade goes down, it pinches anything in the way against the anvil and crushes instead of cutting. Anvil pruning shears are great to use on already dead plants and things you don’t care about the integrity of the stem afterward. They are most popular for their speed at cleaning up small dead branches, rose bushes, and unnecessary vines. 

Ratchet

Ratchet pruning shears are the heavy lifters in the realm of pruning shears. They are pruners with a mechanism that allows cutting in stages. The extra leverage allows to cut through thicker and more rigid materials and handling larger branches and roots. Ratchet pruners are very popular among people who have weak wrists or injured hands. 

What to Consider When Buying Pruning Shears?

assorted tools

With so many different pruning shears on the market, it might be a little challenging to pick the best one because, honestly, everyone needs a different type of pruner. Here are a couple of points you should consider to choose the best pruner for your personal landscaping tasks.

Blade Quality

Most pruning shears will either have a high carbon steel blade or stainless steel one. None of them are better or worse, so it depends on how you use your pruners or what you’re going to cut or trim. Carbon steel is a bit tougher metal and should last a bit longer since it’s more resistant to scratches and scrapes but does rust faster, so you need to keep it away from moisture.

Pruners with stainless steel blades also rust, but they rust way slower. Most stainless steel blades are not as tough as high carbon ones but are a bit cheaper. Great for light pruning tasks that don’t require a lot of force.

Ergonomics

The grip handle is a very important piece of a pruner. If you use your pruner constantly, you want to have a comfortable and, most importantly, tight grip on your pruner. A soft rubber material or coating will deteriorate over time, but comfortable pruning and tight grip are worth the extra amount you’ll spend over simple hard plastic grips. 

Blade Style

tools on the wall

As we’ve already covered the two main styles of pruning shears, all you need to do is figure out what landscaping task you need the pruner for. If your backyard or garden has been abandoned and has a bunch of dead branches, bushes, roots, or vines, go for the anvil pruner for a quick cleanup. 

If you’re looking to trim and cut down live plants, need precision cuts, or just a pruner for general garden maintenance, bypass pruner is a go-to for casual and beginner gardeners.

Cutting Mechanism

You’ll have either a ratchet or spring mechanism on your pruners. If you want extra power and pressure on your pruner, pick a ratchet anvil pruner. They are designed to cut thicker branches, roots, and even plastic. It is also an excellent option for people with arthritis or weak hands in general. 

Spring pruners are the most common ones and probably the cheapest ones. When going for a spring-loaded pruner, remember spring mechanism is a bit more delicate and is easier to damage. If possible, go for a pruner that has its spring covered to protect from things getting into the spring.

Safety features

One of the most critical safety features for pruning shears is the locking mechanism. Non-spring pruners could get by without it, but spring pruners will always have blades open if you release the handles. The locking mechanism in spring pruners allows the blades to be closed when you’re not using them. This feature usually adds extra cost to the pruner but will save you from cutting yourself with extra sharp blades.

Top 8 Best Pruning Shear Reviews in 2021

Fiskars 379451-1002 SoftGrip Pruner


Fiskar landscaping tools are among the best in the market, so it’s not hard to guess that we’ll have Fiskars pruning shears on top of our list. These bypass shears have razor-sharp blades with an anti-rust coating that provides low friction extremely precise cuts even when dealing with saps. 

You’ll have no trouble cutting live plants of up to ⅝ inch thickness without damaging the stems. The high-quality build is solid and gives a comfortable and tight grip because of the soft handles. We appreciate the bright orange color, which allows you to quickly find your shears if you leave or drop them in the grass.

All in all, Fiskars 379451-1002 bypass pruner is one of the best pruning shears on our list for beginners or people on a budget. 

Key features:

  • Cut capacity: ⅝ inch
  • Anti-rust coated blade
  • Precision ground razor-sharp blade
  • Soft grip handles
  • Excellent price to quality ratio

Weaknesses:

  • No locking mechanism
  • Spring is open to debris

Mueller Soft Grip Garden Pruning Shears


Mueller hardened titanium blade pruning shears are amazingly sturdy and feel very durable. It seems to be built very well with no flimsiness or loose screws. The hardened titanium blades are extra sharp and can cut through branches of up to 1.2-inch thickness. The locking mechanism will allow you to lock the blades and carry the shears without fear of cutting yourself.

We find the padded handles very comfortable and enjoy a tight grip even if they are wet or dirty, but we doubt their durability in the long term. 

Excellent build, sharp blades, and comfortable grip make Mueller Garden Pruning Shears one of the best bypass pruners on our list.

Key features:

  • Cut capacity: 1.2 inch
  • Extra durability with hardened titanium blades
  • Very sturdy
  • Protected spring
  • Comfortable grip
  • Locking mechanism
  • Cheap

Weaknesses:

  • Padded handles might not last too long

Corona BP 3180D Forged Classic Bypass Pruner


Corona is a landscaping tools company from the USA that makes high-quality, affordable tools for your garden. We’ve already given praise to their hand pruning saw, and now Corona BP 3180D is one of the best bypass pruners on this list too. 

The heat-treated forged steel alloy construction doesn’t have the best looks but is very solid and designed for heavy use in your backyard or even professional landscaping projects. It even has a sap groove that protects the blades from sticking when dealing with heavy sap vegetation.

It is nice that the blades open wide enough to handle larger branches; however, we felt that the shears struggled quite a bit cutting 1-inch thickness branches. You should also take into consideration that this bypass pruner is a bit heavier than the competition.

Key features:

  • Heat-treated forged steel alloy
  • Locking mechanism
  • Sap groove
  • Non-slip grips

Weaknesses:

  • Quite heavy
  • Couldn’t deal with 1 inch thick branches as advertised

Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruner Non-Stick Blades


Looking for something very precise for fine cuts when pruning delicate flowers, herbs, or leaves? The Fiskars micro-tip pruner is basically a very sharp and sturdy scissors for your landscape. 

The fully hardened, precision-ground stainless steel blades provide a clean cut without damaging the plant’s stem. You’ll also have a handy lock mechanism to keep the blades closed. It’s also nice to have a non-stick coating that reduces friction and protects from buildup. 

If you’re very meticulous and love shaping and cherishing plants, flowers, and bushes to the smallest detail, Fiskars micro-tip pruner snips are the best snips on our list for micro gardening tasks.

Key features:

  • Perfect for small plant shaping 
  • Precision-ground stainless steel
  • Very sharp blades
  • Lock mechanism
  • Non-stick coating to reduce friction and buildup

Weaknesses:

  • Can’t handle thicker plants

Fiskars Power-Lever Anvil Pruner


Another Fiskars pruner? Yes, this time, it’s an anvil pruner for dead greenery cleanup. The Power-lever anvil pruner from Fiskars offers excellent quality, durability at an extremely low price, so it’s a no-brainer why it takes a spot as one of the best anvil pruners on our list.

The power leverage technology allows for up to 2x more cutting power as the Fiskars four-point pivot design maximizes leverage. Combine that with sharp precision ground blades and low friction rust-resistant coating to get a pair of anvil shears that can cut up to ⅝ inch thickness dead branches with ease. 

Cushioned handles allow for a steady and slip-resistant grip even when you need to use a lot of force. The only disadvantage we’ve spotted in Fiskars build is that the locking mechanism is tough to engage. 

Key features:

  • Cut capacity: ⅝ inch 
  • A perfect tool to quickly clean up dead plants
  • Precision-ground extra sharp blade
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Power leverage technology
  • Cushioned grip
  • Locking mechanism

Weaknesses:

  • Locking mechanism hard to engage

Gardenite Power Drive Ratchet Anvil Hand Pruning Shears


Suffer from arthritis or just don’t have enough power for those ½ inch branches? This Power Drive ratchet anvil pruner is great for people who have weaker hands but still want to deal with more formidable hedges and thicker live branches. The ratchet mechanism is great for improving the cutting power without using much force. Pruning with this ratchet anvil pruner will take more time, but you won’t put a strain on your arms.

The Gardenite ratchet anvil pruning shears have a comfortable handle with a non-slip grip and locking mechanism to carry and store the shears safely. We did experience that the ratchet function and the whole build are a bit flimsy, but for the budget price it’s being sold, you can’t complain too much.

Key features:

  • Effortless cutting with ratchet mechanism
  • Hardened steel blades
  • Ergonomic design
  • Lock mechanism
  • Budget price
  • Great for beginners or casual landscapers

Weaknesses:

  • Ratchet function a bit flimsy
  • The build could be sturdier

The Gardener’s Friend Pruners, Ratchet Pruning Shears

Last but not least on our list is Gardener’s Friend ratchet anvil pruning shears. These premium shears come at a pretty high price tag but do offer excellent quality and durability.

A sharp blade allows cutting through even thicker branches, twigs, or roots without using much force. The ratchet mechanism makes it a perfect gardening tool for elders or people with injured hands. The only flaw of this tool is that the blade locking mechanism is slightly hard to engage or disengage.

If you don’t mind spending extra for quality and durability, the Gardener’s Friend anvil ratchet pruning shears is the best anvil pruner on our list in terms of durability and build quality.

Key features:

  • Great for people with weak hands
  • Very sturdy
  • Can handle delicate and tough cuts
  • Sharp blade

Weaknesses:

  • Lock difficult to engage

Felco F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner, F 2, Red


For my money, the Felco brand of pruner is the absolute best on the market. I have been using them for many years of landscape construction and maintenance and have found them to be consistently the best. I have tried countless other varieties and none of them have held a sharp edge and held up longer than the Felco brand.

Key features:

  • Very strong and durable blades
  • The ability to buy replacement blades
  • Trouble free coiled spring
  • Comfortable handle
  • Light weight
  • These will cut whatever you have to strength to cut.

Weakness:

  • As with any pruner, the blades can be bent if twisted sideways while in a large branch

best hand pruning saws

Top 7 Best Lawn Edgers and Trenchers in 2021

Having neat and tidy lawn edges is probably the second most important softscaping task after proper lawn mowing if you want to have a beautiful and healthy landscape. A well-cut edge will give you a crisp, tight, and clean separation from your turf and sidewalks or garden beds. A lawn edger or trencher is a tool specifically designed to create these sharp and defined edges. Today we’ll introduce you to various types of lawn edgers and trenchers, talk about which type is best for various landscapes and lawn types, and give a few tips on what to consider when buying a lawn edger or trencher. Finally, we’ll share our picks for the top 7 best lawn edgers and trenchers in 2021.

Types of Lawn Edgers and Trenchers

There are three main types of lawn edgers and trenchers: manual, gas, and electric ones. Here are some of their advantages and reasons to pick one over the other. 

Manual Edgers

As it’s clear from the name, this type of edgers and trenchers don’t need gas or electricity. You’ll have to put your hands and feet to work to edge your turf. They are still a common pick for smaller landscapes as they are convenient, don’t take much space, and are very compact and portable. Manual edgers require very little maintenance since there are no motors, bearings, or electricity involved, but best of all, it makes no noise! All you need to do is clean it up after use and store it away. Finally, manual trenchers and edgers are quite cheap and budget-friendly.

 One of the most popular manual trenchers is a roller edger that requires you to step and push the tool with your foot to cut the edges of your grass. Then there’s also a half-moon edger that looks like a spade or a shovel. You use it by pushing it into the ground and rocking back and forth to cut the grass.

Gas Powered Edgers

Gas-powered edgers and trenchers are the most powerful type of lawn edgers. Their power rating usually ranges from 20 to up to 160 cubic meters depending on the size. These larger lawn edgers are perfect for bigger yards and provide very consistent and clean cuts due to their sheer power. All gas-powered trenchers and edgers are on wheels, so you barely need any manual power. However, they are pretty noisy and cost a bit more than manual or electric edgers.

Electricity Powered Edgers

Electric-powered edgers can be corded or battery-powered and are very lightweight. Similar to handheld electric saws, battery-powered edgers have more portability over corded ones but need to be charged quite often. People prefer electric edgers over gas-powered ones since they produce no exhaust, aren’t as loud, and don’t require much storage space.

What to Consider When Buying a Lawn Edger and Trencher

Lawn size and shape

It’s pretty important to think about how big your lawn edging task will be. If you have a huge yard, using a manual edger will take a lot of your time and, most importantly, a lot of physical power, so it’s wiser to use a gas-powered edger for quick and effortless edging unless you’re really keen on a good workout!

Additionally, suppose your lawn has many tight edges or awkward-shaped flower beds close to the wall, bushes, or on a tight slope. In that case, the gas edger might be too bulky, so an electric or manual one will be easier to maneuver and work around tight spaces.

Power

The more power your edger has, the easier it is to achieve a clean, sharp, and consistent edge on your lawn without much physical effort. A powerful gas edger is best for a clean and effortless cut if you have a long lawn with straight edges. Electric edgers aren’t as powerful but are much more maneuverable and lightweight. 

Blade type

Rectangular blade with a straight edge

This is the most simple and basic type of blade found on an edger. They are more than enough for small and straightforward lawn edging. Best suited for lawns connecting with same height driveways, walkways, or short flower beds. Rectangular blades should be used on gas and electric edgers only because you won’t be able to turn the rectangle shape blade with a manual edger.

Rectangular blade with scoop-cut ends

A rectangular blade with scoop-cut ends works best for garden, flower, and tree bed edging that has soil covered in mulch or other material. The unique shape of the blade allows for a delicate and precise cut without throwing weeds all over your flower bed.

Star-shaped blades

This type of blade can be used on gas, electric, and manual edgers. A star-shaped blade has many sharp points and can handle bushes, shrubs, small tree branches, and other dead greenery much more efficiently than rectangular blades. 

 If you’re using a manual edger with a star-shaped blade, it can also be used as a lawn aerator. Just make sure not to put too much pressure, and the blade will provide small punctures into the soil.

Safety features

When buying a non-manual lawn edger, make sure to consider safety features like trigger lock, debris guard, and padded grips.

Debris guards 

As the name suggests, a debris guard prevents debris from flying out the back of the edger into your feet and torso. Hard dirt and rocks can hurt you, while grass debris can stain your clothes.

Trigger lock

A trigger lock is the most common safety feature on any powered landscape equipment. It prevents users from accidentally starting the edger when picking it up or storing it. In order to start, the edger trigger lock needs to be pressed, held, and only then can you fire up the edger.

Padded grips and straps

Powered edgers and trenchers produce vibration, so having padded grips and over-the-shoulder straps allows for a much more ergonomic edger handling. Even if you’re working around short lawn edges or garden beds, padded grips make a huge difference.

Additional features or accessories

Adjustable blade position and angle

To deal with different types and shapes of flower beds and lawns, you might want to be able to adjust blade position and angle. Your lawn near a driveway might be close to the ground, while the garden bed will be deeper into the ground requiring different height edging.

Additional wheel

The additional wheel feature is helpful for heavier and bulkier gas-powered edgers. It can provide a lot of extra stability when on uneven surfaces and paved driveways or walkways. 

Cord length and battery size

When picking an electric lawn edger, make sure to check the length of the cord and battery size. If you have a large backyard, make sure the cord is long enough for your needs; otherwise, you’ll have to buy an extension cord. Cordless lawn edgers are not as powerful as corded ones and are best for smaller edging tasks. If you have a larger landscape and still want a lightweight and portable cordless edger, make sure to get on with a larger battery or one that has two batteries included to avoid having to recharge the battery in the middle of your chores.

Top 7 Best Lawn Edger and Trencher Reviews in 2021

Fiskars 38.5 Inch Long-handle Steel Edger


As we know, Fiskars produce excellent landscaping tools of great quality and price ratio. The Fiskars 38.5 inch steel edger is no exception. This lawn edger is one of the best manual edgers and trenchers if you’re on a budget. We love that this shovel-looking edger is perfect for creating and maintain garden and flower beds. It has a sharp and deep steel blade that allows you to create a garden bed by yourself easily.  

The Fiskars steel edger is cheap but really sturdy and should last you years. It is also ergonomic for a manual edger and trencher. The long shaft allows edging your lawn without bending too much, and the large foot platform helps to efficiently use your whole body weight to maximize force without using arm strength.

All in all, Fiskars long-handle steel edger is the best manual edger for lawn care and garden bed creation if you’re on a budget.

Key features:

  • Sharp steel blade
  • Ergonomic design
  • Great for garden bed creation
  • Durable build
  • Cheap
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to store

Weaknesses:

  • Requires a lot of manual labor for large area edging

Truper 32100 Tru Tough Rotary Lawn Edger


Here we have Truper 32100 rotary lawn edger, which is another lightweight manual lawn edger perfect for smaller territories, especially if you have little storage space. The 48-inch handle is made from American ash with a lacquer finish, while the bottom has a sharp star-shaped blade and a wheel to push on the sidewalk or by garden beds for a clean cut.

The Truper 32100 manual rotary lawn edger is very straightforward and easy to use. All you need to do is put the wheel on the pavement next to your lawn or garden bed and move the edger 2-3 times forward and backward to form an edge. 

Manual rotary lawn edgers are a great alternative to more expensive electric or gas-powered edgers. If you just want to freshen up your lawn a few times a year and don’t have a huge backyard, Truper 32100 might be the best rotary manual edger for you that won’t cost a fortune.

Key features:

  • Strong and durable 48-inch American ash handle
  • Lightweight
  • Simple and straightforward design
  • Cheap

Weaknesses:

  • Not fit for large landscapes

WORX WG896 12 Amp 7.5″ Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher


The WORX WG896 is one of the best lawn edgers and trenchers for regular homeowners and amateur landscapers. It has a cutting line indicator and three depth selections for various edging and garden trenching projects. It is lightweight for an electric edger, but the 14 lbs is heavy enough to hold it down while trenching more challenging soil.

This 12 Amp electric edger comes as one piece out of the box. All you have to do is pop in the shaft pieces, tighten the handle, put the wheels on, and you are ready to edge. 

This corded lawn edger has a 7.5-inch star-shaped blade that should easily deal with any grass and soil, considering the motor can spin it at 4700 RPMs. What makes it a versatile edger and trencher combination is the ability to choose between 3 depths of trenching. You can do regular edging around sidewalks and garden beds with the smallest depth selection and switch to trenching with the other two depth choices.

All in all, WORX WG896 is the best budget electric lawn edger and trencher combo on our list. It is a perfect landscaping tool for homeowners who don’t want to pay for professional landscaping services and would rather do these small chores themselves.

Key features:

  • Power: 12 Amp motor
  • 7.5-inch blade
  • Three depth adjustments
  • Cutting line indicator
  • Adjustable shaft
  • Very accurate and sharp cut
  • Lightweight for an electric edger

Weaknesses:

  • Corded

Greenworks Pro 80V 8 inch Brushless Edger


If you’re tired of dealing with oil changes and gas refills, then electric tools might be a significant relief for you. The Greenworks Pro 80V brushless edger is a very powerful landscaping tool that allows you to effortlessly move around your garden without being constrained by a cord or heavy gas engine. 

It comes 95% assembled; all you need to do is tighten the handle and put the battery in. In all honesty, the battery is the biggest weakness of this edger. No, it isn’t of bad quality; it’s just not included with edger! When bought additionally with the charger, it does add up to quite a hefty price tag.

This edger is very well built with an 8-inch steel blade, sturdy guard, and a flap to stop any debris from coming your way. It’s also nice to know that Greenworks provides a 3-year warranty for their products if anything breaks.

If your budget is not a concern, Greenworks Pro 80V lawn edger is the best cordless lawn edger on our list for comfort, portability, and ease of use.

Key features:

  • 8-inch steel blade
  • Multiple speeds
  • Adjustable handle
  • Comfortable grip
  • Curb wheel for easy edging
  • Relatively silent for an edger
  • No emission
  • Almost no assembly is required
  • 3-year warranty

Weaknesses:

  • Battery not included
  • Expensive when bought with battery and charger

Craftsman CMXGKAME30A 30cc 4-Cycle Gas Powered Grass Lawn Edger


If you need a powerful edger for larger landscapes, you should go with a gas-powered lawn edger. Cordless edgers can’t run for long periods without a battery switch, and corded tools constrain your movement. Craftsman CMXGKAME30A is a small but powerful lawn edger. The 30cc 4-cycle motor is powerful but not as loud or heavy as bigger gas lawn edgers.

The Craftsman lawn edger is easy to use even if you’re not experienced with landscaping tools. It’s easy to assemble, and the prime and pull start will get you going in seconds. A 9-inch heavy-duty steel blade is sharp enough for any lawn and soil, while the six different height positions will let you pick how deep you want your trenches to be. Finally, there are three premium quality wheels for extra stability and effortless pushing.

The build itself could be a bit more solid; however, it does come at a very low price point for a gas lawn edger. All in all, it’s one of the best budget gas lawn edgers for casual gardeners who want to keep their lawn sharp and clean all year long.

Key features:

  • 30cc 4-Cycle motor
  • Easy prime and pull start
  • 9-inch heavy-duty steel blade
  • 6 cutting positions up to a 1.75-inch depth
  • Three wheels for stability 

Weaknesses:

  • Not very sturdy

SOUTHLAND SWLE0799 79cc Walk Behind Gas Lawn Edger


SOUTHLAND SWLE0799 is the closes you can get to a professional lawn edger without paying a professional price tag. The 79cc four-stroke motor is a beast that can handle any type or height of grass growing on the toughest soils. 

Its 9-inch triangular blade can adjust +/- 15 degrees to produce natural-looking beveled edges around your flowerbeds. You also have five depth options ranging from 0 to 2.5-inches which is more than enough to create a garden bed or irrigation trenches.

There are three massive wheels that allow hopping on curbs, making lawn edging near driveways a very easy task. It is, however, a bit difficult to use on curved cuts. 

The SWLE0799 is a very powerful gas lawn edger and trencher perfect for homeowners with larger landscapes and maybe even landscapers just getting into the business. 

Key features:

  • 79cc 4 stroke motor
  • 0 to 2.5-inch depth positions
  • +/- 15 degrees blade angle adjustment
  • Can hop curbs
  • 9-inch blade

Weaknesses:

  • The handle could be more ergonomic
  • Not very agile on curves 

SANJIAN Cordless String Trimmer, Weed Wacker, Edger 

The last on our list is SANJIAN multipurpose tool for trimming, weed whacking, and lawn edging. This versatile cordless battery-powered landscaping tool is an excellent option for gardeners and homeowners who are on a budget and don’t want to store multiple gadgets for once-a-season landscaping chores.

There are three different blades to choose from. The plastic blades are for soft grass mowing and trimming. Stainless steel metal blades are great for lawn edging, weed whacking, and small shrub trimming. Finally, the manganese circular saw blade will deal with thicker shrub and branch pruning.

You’ll have two 21V lithium batteries included, which are not the most powerful ones, but you’ll be able to charge one while you use the other. 

In conclusion, the SANJIAN cordless trimmer is a great multipurpose tool for casual homeowners. Yes, the quality isn’t premium; however, the price is really low. If you need to deal with small landscaping quite often but don’t want to buy a bunch of expensive and bulky, this versatile cordless edger might be your best pick.

Key features:

  • Two 21V lithium batteries included
  • It comes with 3 blade types 
  • Very lightweight
  • Multipurpose landscaping tool
  • Budget price

Weaknesses:

  • Cheap build
  • Batteries don’t last long

Please keep in mind that no matter which type of lawn edger you choose, there is always the possibility that you may cut through electric cables or sprinkler lines, so always use caution and have lines marked before you begin.

Top 7 Best Hose Reels for Your Backyard in 2021.

Every household with even the tiniest backyard needs to have a hose to water plants, grass, greenhouse, or to perform washing duties. But, using the hose doesn’t need to be a dreaded chore; stop hurting your back with all the bending required to pick up, coil, unwind, or store your hose. Hose reels allow handling the hose much quicker and easier while also keeping it clean. There are various types of hose reels depending on the length of your hose, your house and landscape design, and of course, your budget. Today we’ll talk about different types of hose reels and how to pick the best for your needs. We’ll also give our picks for the top 7 best hose reels for your backyard in 2021.

Types of Hose Reels

If you’re actively looking to buy a hose reel, you know that there are quite a few different hose reel types or even mixtures of various types, but the majority of hose reels fit into these categories:

Wall-mounted hose reels

wall mounted hose reel

It’s pretty straightforward; it’s a hose reel that you can be mounted to a wall, a post, or any other solid surface. Wall-mounted hose reels are a great option if you have a long hose and need to water continuously in the same area. They are an excellent pick for smaller backyards to water grass, plants, glasshouses, or clean garages.

Cart hose reels

Cart hose reels are very portable and great for people who live on large properties or for professional landscapers. As it’s evident from the name, these reels work like carts and can easily move around.

Hose boxes

Hose boxes are a great addition to your backyard. You can find different styles, colors, and designs to fit your garden or backyard exterior. These reels are also great at protecting your hose from rain, various debris, and even rodents. Just remember, they are stationary with no wheels. If you decide to use your hose outside the reachable radius, you’ll have to move the hose box too.

Hose stands

These are probably the most simple and budget-friendly. Stationary hose stands have sharp legs that you can stick into the grass for stability and some kind of a rack at the top where you can hang your hose. 

What to Consider When Buying a Hose Reel?

Hose Length and Width

Before buying a hose reel, always check what length and width hose you have. If you have a hose reel that fits 80 ft. but your actual hose is 140 ft., you’ll have trouble coiling all of it into the reel, leaving you with 60 ft. of hose hanging on the ground. 

Hose Reel Construction

best hose reel
wound up hose

You’ll find reels made of plastic, polyresin, and metals like aluminum, stainless steel, or even cast iron. Metal hose reels are way more durable and long-lasting but will cost a bit more and aren’t as portable (unless on wheels). Polyresin reels are strong and lightweight but must be protected from the sun as it weakens the construction. Finally, plastic is as cheap as it gets and is very lightweight but also very fragile.

Stationary or Portable?

If you have a small garden, a greenhouse, or a garage, you need constant watering, or washing a stationary hose reel will make your life way easier. Stationary hose reels require no lifting but can reach only a set amount of area depending on the hose length. If you have a large landscape, you’re probably better off with a hose reel on wheels so you could reach multiple spigots or transport your hose from one property to another.

Hose Leader

These days almost all hose reels have a hose leader varying in length from 2-10 ft. A longer hose leader will give you extra length to cover a larger area. Long hose leaders are great if your spigot is in a full garage, basement, or some other tight spot where the hose reel itself couldn’t fit. It is also essential to always check the diameter of your hose and the hose leader. If they don’t fit, you won’t be able to thread them.

Top 7 Best Hose Reel Reviews in 2021

Giraffe Retractable Garden Hose Reel 1/2″ x 130 ft


We’re starting our list strong with Giraffe Retractable 130ft garden hose reel that already has a hybrid hose included and preinstalled. This heavy-duty black and dark gray hose reel has a 180 degrees swivel and a very convenient slow return system, so you don’t even have to do any winding yourself.

Conveniently, the hose is already preinstalled and hidden in a tight casing that protects from rain, wind, sun, and unwanted debris. All you have to do is tighten the bracket to a wall or a post and hook up the hose reel. In case you want to store your hose inside, the whole reel casing easily detaches and attaches with just a single handle. 

Sturdy construction, a return system, and a preinstalled high-quality build is a fantastic package that isn’t cheap but is the best hose reel on our list for your money.

Key features:

  • Hose capacity: 130ft x ½ inch
  • Hose leader: 6 ft x ½ inch
  • Wall-mounted
  • Hose pre-installed
  • Slow return system
  • 180 degrees swivel bracket
  • Heavy duty
  • Effortless unwinding and coiling

Weaknesses:

  • A bit expensive

Liberty GARDEN 712 Swivel Garden Hose Reel, Holds 125-Feet of, 5/8-Inch


Liberty Garden is a beautiful-looking hose reel that will not only fit your garden or house exterior but will improve it! The 18 gauge steel construction has an anti-rust powder coating that makes the reel good-looking, sturdy, and durable during harsh weather.

You’ll be able to fit up to 125 feet of ⅝ inch thickness regular garden hose and effortlessly unwind it with a soft handle. What makes it one of the best hose reels on our list is the 360 degrees rotating reel, allowing you to move in a wide range of directions. The pull-up knob on top allows you to either lock it or let it move freely.

The hose comes fully assembled, but you’ll need to have your own mounting hardware and maybe drop a touch of grease on the swivel for smoother spinning. Other than that, this reel is no the cheapest one but very durable and definitely the most beautiful hose reel on our list.

Key features:

  • Hose capacity: 125ft x ⅝ inch 
  • Hose leader: 5 ft x ⅝ inch
  • 18 gauge steel construction
  • Weather-resistant coating
  • Aesthetic design
  • Really sturdy build

Weaknesses:

  • Swivel might need a touch of grease
  • Mounting hardware not included

Giraffe Metal Hose Reel Box 130ft 


Giraffe Metal Hose Reel Box is a reel built for the outdoors. The sturdy metal construction weighs 30 lbs which keeps the box in place when unwinding the hose. Forget plastic hose reels that are light as a cardboard box and can’t handle any harsher weather. Giraffe rust-resistant paint on the box improves durability and allows you to keep your hose box outside even during hot summer days or the rainy autumn season.

The Giraffe hose reel box can fit 130 ft of ⅝ inch or 200 ft of ½ inch garden hose. It also comes with a 5 ft x ⅝ inch hose leader hermetically sealed into the box. You can put this box by the wall, on your patio, or even on the grass. The decorative design blends with any surface and can even be used as a landscape piece.

If you’re not on a tight budget Giraffe hose reel box is a great-looking hose hideaway that can blend into various areas.

Key features:

  • Hose capacity: 130 ft x ⅝ inch or 200 ft x ½ inch
  • Hose leader: 5 ft x ⅝ inch
  • Heavy duty
  • Rust-resistant paint
  • Decorative design blends into any area
  • 24 months warranty
  • Heavy enough to not move when handling hose

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive
  • Handle a bit flimsy

BluBird RMX BluSeal Retractable Water Hose Reel 50 ft


If you need a hose reel with a short hose for a greenhouse, garage, or a small garden BluBird is the best short hose reel on our list. This sturdy hose reel by BluBird comes with a 50 ft BluSeal lightweight, strong, and flexible 100% rubber hose. It also comes with a 6 ft x ⅝ inch hose leader.

The powder-coated 20 gauge steel reel can be mounted on a wall, deck, or a 6×6 pole without the fear of rain or sun damaging it.

The convenient auto-retract mechanism and a nine-pattern spray nozzle on top of a high-quality, sturdy build make it a package well worth the higher price.

Key features:

  • Hose capacity: 50 ft x ⅝ inch
  • Hose leader: 6 ft x ⅝ inch
  • Nine pattern spray nozzle
  • Heavy-duty brass fitting
  • Auto-retract
  • It comes with a hose

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive for a small hose reel

Liberty Garden 870-M1-2 Industrial 4-Wheel Garden Hose Reel Cart


Have a very long hose for your large backyard, work as a landscaper, and tired of hauling 200-300 ft length hoses every day? Liberty Garden is an industrial hose reel cart designed for extra long hoses.

The double-coated finish on 13 gauge steel construction is mounted on four 10-inch pneumatic wheels that allow the cart to go through mud, rocks, sand, or any other surface. 

This hose reel isn’t made to look good but instead to move and store heavy hoses. The robust build allows for daily heavy-duty use by both amateur and professional landscapers. 

Key features:

  • Hose capacity: 300 ft x ⅝ inch
  • Hose leader: 5 ft x ⅝ inch
  • For extra long hoses
  • 13 gauge steel construction
  • Double powder coat finish
  • 4 x 10-inch pneumatic tires
  • Very heavy duty

Weaknesses:

  • Not very attractive looking
  • Rusts

AMES 2388340 ReelEasy Side Mount Reel, 100-Foot Hose Capacity


Ames ReelEasy hose reel is the best budget hose reel on our list. It is very lightweight and can be mounted on any wall. The reel can hold up to 100 ft x ⅝ inch of regular garden hose. 

You’ll find that it has a comfortable, easy spin grip to coil your hose and a clip to secure the nozzle.

Ames ReelEasy is a great budget option for casual gardeners who want to store their hoses neatly.

Key features:

  • Hose capacity: 100 ft x ⅝ inch
  • Hose leader: 6 ft x ⅝ inch
  • Lightweight
  • Integrated hose guide
  • Hose clip
  • Easy spin grip
  • Very cheap

Weaknesses:

  • Fragile and a bit flimsy build

TomCare Garden Hose Holder


This is not exactly a hose reel since it doesn’t have an actual reel, but it holds hoses very well, so we decided to include it in our best hose reel list. TomCare garden hose holder is made from solid 0.2-inch thickness metal and can hold even large hoses. This freestanding holder is easy to assemble and has three long sharp stakes that stick deep into the ground and keep the holder stable. Moving is also straightforward if you need to hose a different part of your garden or store the holder away for the off-season. 

We love the unique and attractive holder design, which is a beautiful addition to any home or backyard while keeping the hose neatly packed and out of the way.

Key features:

  • Attractive design
  • Sturdy structure
  • Easy to assemble
  • Easy to move during the off-season
  • Heavy-duty metal
  • 12-month warranty

Weaknesses:

  • Need to coil the hose manually

Top 7 Best Hand Pruning Saws in 2021 for Landscaping

Have your magnolias, crabapples, or boxwood shrubs started getting out of control that even the best pruning shears have a hard time cutting through? It’s time to get a pruning saw to help you deal with branches, stems, or roots thicker than 1,5 inches. A good pruning saw is very easy to use, doesn’t take a lot of space, and can be easily carried around. You’ll see that there are hundreds of pruning saws with different shapes, sizes, and price points. Continue reading our round-up of the top 7 best hand pruning saws in 2021 for landscaping to find the best option for your needs.

Different Hand Pruning Saw Types

Non-folding hand pruning saw

Probably the oldest and most common type of pruning saw. The straightforward construction of a handle at one end and saw blade at the other end. Non-folding pruning saws are usually more durable and sturdier because they don’t have a folding mechanism. They do require some sort of a case or sleeve if you want to carry it around. Saw blades are extremely sharp, so you can’t just put an uncovered blade in your pocket.

Folding hand pruning saw

folding hand saw

These have the same construction as non-folding hand pruning saws except that they fold in the middle, which allows for safer storage and takes up less space. Folding hand pruning saws are very popular with regular homeowners and professional landscapers as well. You can quickly take the saw out of your pocket to deal with small branches, roots, or shrubs and go back to other tasks in seconds.

As we already mentioned above, folding hand pruning saws can be a bit flimsier because of the folding mechanism, so it’s essential to pay attention to build quality, especially when picking budget options.

Straight blade

A straight saw is designed to work at the waistline. If your backyard is full of small trees or bushes (or you use a ladder for larger trees) and most of your sawing is done between the waist and shoulder level, then a straight saw blade is more efficient. It doesn’t mean you can’t use a straight blade to cut up high or down low; it’s just that it will provide the most efficient cut at that level.

Curved blade

A curved saw blade is designed to use above the head or below the waist. The angled position, whether it’s up or down, gives comfortable arm movement, and the curved blade will naturally dig into the wood with all of the saw blades.

You can use it at waist level, but it won’t be as efficient or comfortable. When doing the push and pull action, you’ll see that the blade lifts up a little and misses the wood with the middle of the blade. This, in turn, makes us do a weird curved motion to try and use all teeth of the blade. This hand movement is inefficient and non-ergonomic.

What to Consider Before Buying a Hand Pruning Saw

Blade length

Best hand pruning saw
tiny saw

If you’re going to be pruning thin 1 – 4-inch branches, then even a small folding pruning saw is sufficient and easy to handle. But thicker trees or branches are better tackled with longer 10+ inches saw blades. A longer blade means more teeth and quicker sawing.

Teeth Per Inch

Most hand pruning saws have coarse to medium toothed blades with 5-10 TPI (teeth per inch). In general, smaller TPI is better for softwoods and dry wood since it allows the teeth to snatch and break off larger pieces of wood. Anything from 5-7 TPI will do great.

For hardwoods or wet wood, go for a larger 8-10 TPI to allow for a slower, more precise cut with less friction.

Material

Almost all hand pruning saw blades are made from high-quality carbon steel, making the blade very hard and durable. There are two different hardening techniques used for hand pruning saws: Quench hardening and Impulse hardening. 

Quench hardening is the process of heating the blade to a very high temperature and dipping it into oil, water, brine, or air. Impulse hardening is a new technique that uses impact energy to heat and cool the blade at very precise time intervals. Impulse hardened saw blades are up to 3x harder and more durable than quench hardened blades but come at a higher price.

Finally, pay attention to the saw handle. Weak and low-quality plastic handles might come at a very low price but won’t be comfortable and can even crack when sawing with a lot of force.

Top 7 Best Hand Pruning Saw Reviews in 2021

Corona RS 7265D RazorTOOTH Folding Pruning Saw, 10-Inch


If you have read our Best Manual Pole Saws and Pruners article, you should remember that Corona makes incredible quality landscaping tools at very competitive prices. RS 7265D folding pruning saw has a massive 10-inch blade full of 3 sided impulse hardened teeth. This allows for a quick and effortless pruning of branches up to 6-inch thickness.

The impulse hardening technique allows the blade teeth to be sharp for a very long time, and the chrome-plated blade is rust-resistant. Still, we advise keeping any stainless steel tools away from any moisture to improve longevity and occasionally lubricate the blade.

We love the comfortable non-slip handle that allows for a tight grip with any type of gloves or when wet. This Corona folding saw is excellent for camping as it’s lightweight (360 grams) but still can cut through thicker branches and wood. The only weakness of the build is that when folded, some of the blade teeth as exposed.

Despite the small design flaw Corona RS 7265D gives is very sharp, sturdy, and easy to handle, making it the best folding pruning saw on our list.

Key features:

  • Blade length: 10-inches
  • Weight: 360g
  • 3 sided razor impulse hardener teeth
  • Up to 6 teeth per inch
  • Chrome plated
  • Great price
  • Perfect for cutting up to a 6-inch thickness

Weaknesses:

  • Teeth are a little exposed when folded

FLORA GUARD 7.7 Inch Folding Hand Saw

Constantly on your knees in your backyard or need to get into tight spaces between tree branches, bushes, or hardscapes? Flora Guard 7.7-inch folding pruning saw is an excellent tool that will fit in any pocket to deal with that annoying branch or stem in your way.

This small folding hand saw is excellent for the occasional pruning job in your backyard. It is very compact and easy to transport when landscaping and dealing with branches up to 4-inch thickness.

Triple-cut razor teeth are very sharp, but the blade itself is a bit thinner than other blades in the market. The whole build seems lower quality, too; however, for the price it’s selling, you can’t ask for more. 

If you have a few smaller trees in your backyard that need pruning once a year, then Flora Guard is the best small folding saw on a budget.

Key features:

  • Blade length: 7.7-inches
  • Lightweight
  • Very compact
  • Triple cut razor teeth
  • Perfect for occasional small pruning jobs
  • Great budget price

Weaknesses:

  • Lower quality
  • Thin blade

Silky GomBoy Curve Professional Folding Saw 240mm Large Teeth

Silky GomBoy folding saw is a fantastic Japanese-made curved saw. It is designed to be used by pulling, not pushing, thus saving energy and giving better results. The excellent quality of the build is no surprise as they are manufactured in Hyogo, Japan. Impulse hardened teeth are precision ground and mounted on an ergonomic handle.

The whole pruning saw weighs around 270 grams making it a perfect addition to any homeowner, backpacker, or camper looking to cut wood for a campfire or clean up fallen branches. They also include a carry case for the saw to protect it from unwanted debris or moisture.

If a gas chainsaw is a bit of an overkill for your backyard firewood needs, the Silky GomBoy folding saw is an excellent high-quality alternative and one of the best folding saws on our list.

Key features:

  • Blade length: 9.5-inches
  • Weight: ~270g
  • Light and portable
  • Impulse hardened teeth
  • Precision ground
  • Excellent quality
  • Ergonomic Japanese handle
  • Carrying case included

Weaknesses:

  • A bit expensive

Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw, 7-1/2 -Inch Blade

Bahco 396-LAP is probably the best pocket pruning saw for homeowners who often go camping and hiking but also need to do seasonal pruning in the backyard. The Laplander saw is a very solid but lightweight (just 200g!) folding saw. 

The 7.5-inch sharp blade can cut through both dry and wet wood. Seven teeth per inch are perfect for smaller up to 4-inch thickness tree branches or wood.

Even though Bahco is not the most popular tools manufacturing brand, their saws are very high-quality, sturdy, and long-lasting. The 396-LAP saw blade has a special coating for rust protection and better friction. The handle is made from two-component plastic for a soft but sturdy grip with a safety lock to protect the saw from accidentally opening up.

Key features:

  • Blade length: 7.5-inches
  • Weight: 200g
  • Solid build
  • Specially coated blade for rust protection and lower friction
  • Comfortable plastic handle with leather strap
  • Safety lock

Weaknesses:

  • Anything over 4-inch thickness will take more effort and time

Fiskars 15 Inch Pruning Saw with Handle

Fiskars, well known for their excellent quality landscaping tools, is introducing an entry-level non-folding curved blade pruning saw. 

Why entry level? First of all, the amazing budget price makes it affordable to everyone. An ergonomic soft-grip handle allows for safe and easy sawing. The D-shaped handle also allows you to flip the saw for easy undercuts.

The 15-inches blade will allow you to cut anything from small branches, stubs, or bushes to medium-sized trees and wood. The long blade full of triple-sided sharp teeth produces long and effortless strokes; however, since the blade is manufactured for pull and push sawing, this blade doesn’t bite into the wood as well as competition. But in the end, the versatility, high quality (lifetime warranty), and budget price make it the best hand pruning saw for beginners on our list.

Key features:

  • Blade length: 15-inches
  • Weight: 340g
  • Triple side teeth
  • Ergonomic soft-grip handle
  • Full lifetime warranty
  • Easy to control for beginners
  • Budget price

Weaknesses:

  • It doesn’t bite into the wood as well as the competition.

Könnig Professional Heavy Duty Pruning Saw

Love spending your weekend afternoons in the backyard cherishing your landscape by doing all the manual work yourself? The Könnig saw is a fantastic heavy-duty pruning saw that is designed for rough handling and thick cuts. 

This non-foldable pruning saw has a 14-inch curved saw blade best suited for overhead tree pruning, large bush trimming, or cleaning up after fallen branches. The Japanese tooth design allows for a smooth cut even through thicker branches and flexible control when using overhead.

The pruning saw comes with a set of gardening gloves and also a saw case for safe storage. 

All in all, it’s a straightforward tool with no special features, but the sharp blade and durability of the build make it one of the best heavy-duty hand pruning saws for larger landscaping projects.

Key features:

  • Blade length: 14-inches
  • Weight: 230g
  • Strong heavy-duty design
  • Japanese tooth design
  • It comes with a protective case and gardening gloves

Weaknesses:

  • Not the most comfortable handle

Silky ZUBAT Arborist Professional Hand Saw 330mm XL Teeth


To finish off the list, we have another Silky pruning saw. This time it’s a premium curved hand pruning saw Zubat. A 13-inch blade is full of Japanese steel razor-sharp teeth, perfect for cutting dry and wet trees. The build of the saw is very sturdy because it’s a full tang saw with the metal going all the way through the handle. Along with a high-quality plastic handle and metal screws going through the tang, this eliminates the risk of breakage and provides more stability.

It is also nice to have a professional scabbard come with the saw. Store your saw safely in your tool shed or attach it to your belt or leg straps.

The only negative thing about this saw is the very steep price. If your budget allows, Silky Zubat is one of the best hand pruning saws currently in the market. 

Key features:

  • Blade length: 13-inches
  • Weight: 300g
  • Professional Scabbard
  • Full tang saw
  • Sturdy and stable

Weaknesses:

  • Steep price

 

 best pruning shears article

best pole saws and pruners article

best gas chainsaw article

Top 7 Best Gas Chainsaws in 2021

If you have a large backyard or a garden full of trees, then a gas chainsaw is an essential tool for taking care of tree removal or limb removal. Gas chainsaws are very powerful and do most of the heavy lifting if there are trees in the way. You can use a smaller chainsaw for pruning, trimming, or cutting small-medium trees, while a larger chainsaw can handle cutting, bucking, and felling even old large trees. To pick the best gas chainsaw for your needs, read our list of the top 7 best gas chainsaws in 2021 for landscaping and backyard maintenance.

What to Consider Before Buying a Gas Chainsaw?

What trees are you going to cut?

gas chainsaw and big tree

Before you jump in and buy a gas chainsaw, consider if you really need one. What kind of trees are growing in your garden, or what type of landscaping project are you taking on? If you’re looking to trim and prune thin branches, maybe a small manual pruning saw or a pole saw will be more efficient.

If the trees need to be cut down or there are multiple thick branches, then a gas chainsaw is always a better option.

Blade size

best gas-powered chainsaws
cutting a small tree

You will usually see 12 to 24-inches blade size. The length of the blade determines how thick a tree the chainsaw can cut. 12 – 16-inches length blades are more than enough for beginner landscapers and homeowners. This size can easily handle small-medium trees, and the chainsaw is much lighter and easier to maneuver.

Larger 18 – 24-inches blade lengths are for heavy-duty projects and professional landscapers. These chainsaws are usually bulkier, heavier, and more powerful.

Power and engine size

gas saw cutting log

Engine size is measured in cc (cubic centimeters) capacity. The larger the capacity, the more fuel engine can use and, in turn, provide more power.

You’ll find that gas chainsaw engines will usually range from 24 to 60 CC. Smaller and lightweight chainsaws will be on the smaller 24-42 CC range and are perfect for light-duty work like tree trimming or bush pruning. To cut larger trees, go for a more robust 50 – 60 CC engine.

Remember that larger engines are more powerful but will be bulkier and, most of the time, cost more.

Safety features

Gas chainsaws are very powerful and one of the most dangerous landscaping tools if you’re not careful. It is always important to wear personal protective equipment like safety goggles, gloves, a hard hat, and ear protection.

To protect yourself from any injuries and accidents caused by the chainsaw, look for safety features like:

Chain brake – an emergency brake usually located at the top of the front handle to stop the chain from spinning. It is activated by manually pushing forwards with your hand or automatically from a kickback.

Trigger lock – a safety feature that prevents accidentally turning on the chainsaw.

Chain catcher – a feature that catches the chain if it breaks or derails.

Top 7 Best Gas Chainsaw Reviews

Husqvarna 24 Inch 460R Gas Chainsaw


Husqvarna is one of the top brands for gas-powered chainsaws and manufactures extremely durable and heavy-duty tools. The 460 Rancher gas chainsaw is the best large gas chainsaw for landscaping on our list.

The 24-inches length blade size and 60.3 CC engine can cut anything from small to large trees. It has minimum kickback and very little vibration, even with tough hardwoods. The reliable starting mechanism allows starting the chainsaw every time with minimum effort.

Additionally, there are a number of features and accessories that allow for safer and easier operation. An automatic chain oiler will lubricate the chain as needed, while the side-mounted chain tensioning system allows adjusting the chain’s tension with no additional tools. Finally, along with the trigger and throttle lock, there is inertia activated chain brake that will protect you from unexpected kickbacks.

If you have a large backyard full of trees that needs constant landscaping, Husqvarna 460 Rancher is not a cheap gas chainsaw but an excellent investment that will last a long time.

Key Features:

  • 24-inches blade length
  • 60.3 CC engine
  • Heavy-duty
  • Great for large trees
  • Reliable start
  • Automatic chain oiler
  • Inertia activated chain brake
  • Side-mounted chain tensioning system
  • Easy to clean and replace the air filter

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive
  • Quite heavy

HUYOSEN 60CC 2-Stroke Gas Powered 20-inch Chainsaw


Huyosen 60 CC 2-stroke gas chainsaw is a powerful tool to cut down one or two large trees in your backyard. It is also a great starter chainsaw for beginner landscapers. Huyosen 60 CC is the best powerful chainsaw if you are on a budget and need to cut down bigger trees.

The chainsaw is a 20-inch blade that is powered by a 2-stroke 60 CC 3.9hp gas-powered engine. It can cut through wood, trees, or even ice with minimal kickback. We were surprised by the comfortable non-slip and shock-absorbing handle, which is very ergonomic, allows for a firm grip, and reduces vibration. Honestly, even $800+ chainsaw handles can’t compare to this one.

To increase air filter longevity and reduce fuel consumption Huyosen has an automatic air filtration system. There is also an automatic oil filling to provide constant lubrication and reduce chain and guide bar wear. Despite having proper lubrication, we feel that the chain wears out quite fast on this Huyosen chainsaw. Most likely, the chain is a bit cheaper, but you can’t expect everything high-quality while paying a budget price.

Key Features:

  • 20-inches blade length
  • 60 CC engine
  • Budget price
  • Air filtration system
  • Automatic oil filling
  • Excellent non-slip and shock-absorbing handle
  • Throttle and trigger lock
  • 1-year warranty

Weaknesses:

  • Requires a bit of assembly
  • Chain quality low

ECHO CS-271T 12 In. Chainsaw


Echo CS-271T might look like a baby saw, but this little bad boy can bite! The 26.9 CC engine might seem small, but it gives plenty of power to spin the chain on a 12-inch blade.

Casual landscapers and professionals praise it. If you have a backyard that needs pruning, trimming, brush clearing, or occasional tree cutting, CS-271T is a versatile, maneuverable, lightweight (just 11 pounds!) yet powerful chainsaw. Professional landscapers love it because they can easily use it one-handed while high on a tree or in tight spots (although one-handed operation is never advised). The 12-inch blade length is enough to straight cut a 10-inch tree or, if you have 360 degrees access, up to 15-inches branch/tree.

The build of this small gas chainsaw is high-quality and sturdy. No leaking, unnecessary clacking, or vibration. Very reliable as it starts every time without much effort.

High-quality, superb performance, longevity, and maneuverability do come at a much higher price. If you are looking for a small, lightweight chainsaw to last you a decade, Echo CS-271T is the best small chainsaw on our list that money can buy.

Key Features:

  • 12-inches blade length
  • 26.9 CC engine
  • Lightweight
  • Maneuverable
  • Powerful
  • High-quality build
  • Easy to start and handle
  • For beginners and professionals

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive
  • Too small for 15-inch+ tree thickness

Husqvarna 16 Inch 130 Gas Chainsaw

Here we have another Husqvarna chainsaw on our list, this time a smaller and much more affordable Husqvarna 130 gas chainsaw. This model is one of the entry-level chainsaws in the Husqvarna lineup targeted at casual landscapers and DIYers.

It is equipped with a 38 CC engine, which gives more than enough power for the 16-inch blade to cut down small to medium trees or large branches. The LowVib vibration reduction system does wonders, probably the lowest vibration if compared to similar price chainsaws. Additionally, the 10.4-pound weight is excellent for casual, young, or old users.

As all Husqvarna chainsaws, 130 has inertia activated chain brake for safety, an automatic chain oiler, and no tools chain tightening system.

We did find a couple of weaknesses compared to other products of Husqvarna. The plastic covers and the handguard of the chainsaw feel very flimsy. Additionally, we ran into trouble starting the chainsaw on a few occasions.

All in all, it’s a powerful and lightweight entry-level chainsaw from a reputable brand and shouldn’t disappoint you despite the flimsy plastic and motor start shortcomings.

Key Features:

  • 16-inches blade length
  • 38 CC engine
  • Lightweight
  • Inertia activated brake chain
  • LowVib vibration reduction system
  • Automatic chain oiler
  • No tools chain tightening system

Weaknesses:

  • Sometimes hard to start
  • Flimsy plastic on the chainsaw

Remington Gas Powered Chainsaw Automatic Chain Oiler-Anti Vibration System


As the company states itself, Remington RM4216 is for the “suburban homeowner.” A lightweight but powerful chainsaw that won’t leave your pockets empty. This chainsaw is equipped with a 16-inch chain blade and powered by a 42 CC engine to provide plenty of power to cut down small to medium-sized trees.

The RM4216 is a pretty average chainsaw. It has an automatic oiler, an anti-vibration system, and quickstart technology. We were pleased with the quickstart feature as it allows you to start your chainsaw very easily, whether it’s cold or warmed up. However, the engine seems to be leaking oil a little, so it needs constant cleaning; otherwise, you’ll have gunk accumulating at the bottom of the chain.

On a brighter note, we love the heavy-duty carry case! It allows to safely store or transport the chainsaw without damaging it or making a mess.

Yes, the chainsaw doesn’t stand out for its quality or features, but it is very cheap. If you need a chainsaw just a couple of times a year, RM4216 is the best budget chainsaw for casual landscaping on our list.

Key Features:

  • 16-inch blade length
  • 42 CC engine
  • 5 point anti-vibration system
  • Quickstart technology
  • Automatic oiler
  • Heavy-duty carry case included
  • Great price

Weaknesses:

  • Leaks a bit of oil
  • Needs constant cleaning

Craftsman 42cc-16 (2020 Model) S165 42cc Gas Chainsaw

Craftsman is another reputable brand in the gas chainsaw industry. They offer fantastic value for your money for both beginners and professionals. The Craftsman 42cc 16-inch gas chainsaw is just a sturdy, powerful, and easy-to-operate landscaping tool.

The S165 has an anti-vibration system, inertia-activated chain brake, easy start technology, automatic chain oil, etc. These features are standard, but the build quality is just way sturdier; it’s a Craftsman product for a reason.

The only downfall we observed was that it’s much harder to start when the engine is cold. Sometimes required 3-4 pulls to get it going.

Overall, powerful and fantastic quality gas chainsaw for beginner landscapers and homeowners.

Key Features:

  • 16-inch blade length
  • 42 CC engine
  • Easy start technology
  • Budget price
  • Lightweight
  • Anti-vibration system
  • Inertia-activated chain brake
  • Comfortable to operate

Weaknesses:

  • Hard to start when cold

Poulan Pro PR4218, 18 in. 42cc 2-Cycle Gas Chainsaw


Poulan Pro PR4218 is the best large gas chainsaw on our list if you’re on a budget. Had a big storm, and there’s a ton of fallen trees? Poulan 18-inch chain blade is perfect for medium and even larger trees. The 42 CC engine might not be the most powerful for large trees and might take a little longer, but in the end, it does the job.

The most significant advantage of PR4218 is that it weighs just 13 pounds allowing it to operate without much strain on your back and arms. It is also very easy to start the engine, probably the easiest starting chainsaw on our list. However, we’ve heard a few customers complaining that the pull starter broke sooner than expected.

We like that you also get a carry case and an additional chain in case the original breaks. All in all, this is a reasonably priced and quality chainsaw for larger personal landscaping projects or tree clearing needs.

Key Features:

  • 18-inch blade length
  • 42 CC engine
  • Lightweight (13 pounds)
  • Carry case, and extra chain included
  • Effortless pull starting
  • Anti-vibration system
  • 2-year warranty
  • Great price

Weaknesses:

  • Low-quality pull starter

Steps to Follow Before Starting a Gas Chainsaw

Check gas level – make sure that you have enough gas to run the chainsaw. Gas chainsaws use a gas and oil mix to run the engine. Check manufacturer’s manual for appropriate gas and oil mix ratios.

Check chain tension – before starting the engine, check the chain tension. If it’s too loose, it might be a safety hazard. All gas chainsaws will either have tensioning tools included or a knob that doesn’t require a tool. Always read the manufacturer’s manual to learn how to tension the chain properly.

Wear PPE – always wear personal protective equipment like goggles, helmet, gloves, and chainsaw pants; even when operating the best chainsaws with all the safety features, you need to wear PPE.

Starting the chainsaw – Never start a chainsaw by drop pulling. Always set the chainsaw on the ground with no obstructions in the way. Get the chain brake on so it doesn’t spin. Now you can turn on the choke, or if it’s a primer, push it 4-5 times to get the gas into the carburetor.

Set the toggle switch on or if it’s a master controller into the cold start position. Now you can start the engine with a swift pull of the starter handle. If it didn’t start the first time, move the master controller to a warm start position; otherwise, you might flood the engine. Now swiftly pull the starter handle again. You might need 2-3 pulls, depending on the chainsaw.

For extra stability when pull starting a chainsaw on the ground, we advise slipping your foot into the opening of the rear handle while holding the top handle with one hand.

Operation – Always hold a chainsaw tightly with both hands while operating. Always be sure to wrap your thumbs around the bar when holding on to it and be ready for kickback. Even experienced operators will experience kickback on occasion. Always be aware of where your feet, legs and body is in relation to your cut and never put yourself in the path of the blade should it pass quickly through the piece you are cutting

Check out our manual pruning saw and pole saw articles.

Top 7 Best Garden Hoses for 2021

You don’t need to be a professional landscaper or a die-hard gardener to understand that a good garden hose is a must-have tool for anyone with a piece of grass, greenhouse, or garage to keep the property clean fresh, and green. At first sight, all garden hoses look similar but can vary in quality tremendously. If you’re on a tight budget, you can buy an extremely cheap hose; however, adding even as little as $10-$20 can make a huge difference and turn watering and washing chores into a relaxing and pleasant time outdoors. In our buyer’s guide, we’ll explain how to pick the proper hose for your landscape needs, and we’ll also provide our picks for the top 7 best garden hoses in 2021.

What to Consider When Buying a Garden Hose?

man using a hose

Length

It’s really important to consider where you’re going to use your garden hose and what area you want to reach. For a small garden, backyard, or garage, a 50 ft. hose is more than enough, but if you have a larger property go for a 100 ft. length hose. You don’t want to end up with a hose that can’t reach behind your house or all the way to the property edges. Before buying your garden hose, it’s a good idea to measure the maximum distance you might need to reach and add 5-10 ft. for maneuverability. If you need to buy a 100 foot hose, you may want to avoid the heavy hose material like rubber which will be quite heavy to pull around. Also, for longer hoses, you should probably consider buying a hose reel for easier transportation and storage.

Material

Garden hoses are usually made from vinyl, rubber, rubber hybrids, latex, metal, or polyurethane. Vinyl hoses are cheap but prone to kinking, heavy, and don’t last as long, so you might end up saving initially but might have to buy a new one much quicker. Rubber is usually very rigid, long-lasting, the most enjoyable to use, but much heavier, while polyurethane is very light but not heavy-duty. There are also garden hoses made from latex layers that allow the hose to expand when filled with water and shrink when emptied. Such hoses do not have coil memory, are lightweight, and easy to store, but tend to restrict water flow considerably.

Diameter

man in a chair with a hose
spraying with a hose

The diameter of the hose will determine the amount of water that can flow through the hose. A smaller diameter hose will handle less water and be more restrictive, while a larger diameter hose will provide a larger stream and be less restrictive. If you live in a city with a small backyard or garden and use a basic spray nozzle or a sprinkler, a ½ inch diameter hose should be plenty. For larger properties and tasks that require more flow, like filling large containers or watering crops, you can go with a ¾ inch or 1 inch diameter hose to speed up the process. Just remember, the larger the diameter, the heavier, bulkier and more expensive the hose will be.

Coupling

You’ll find that garden hoses can have couplings made from plastic, brass, nickel, stainless, and other metals. They can come in round or octagonal shapes. Cheaper hoses can have aluminum or plastic couplings which are cheap but fragile, while nickel, brass, or stainless steel are not afraid of being thrown on the ground or even ran over by truck tires. We would also advise buying an octagonal shape coupling instead of a round one for an easier grasp with pliers.

Weight

A 200 ft. rubber hose might be very rigid and reach far away, but it will be a pain to drag it around as it can weigh up to 40 lbs. If you don’t need to use a pressure washer, go for a lighter expanding hose that is easier to maneuver and move around. For longer lifespan, durability, and pressure washing, you’ll have to reconcile with a heavier hose.

Layers

You’ll find garden hoses ranging from 2-6 layers. The more layers a hose has, the stronger it is and more resistant to kink and twisting. A suitable hose should be flexible for ease of use but kink as little as possible. Cheaper hoses with 2-3 layers will often kink, which quickly reduces their life span and aren’t suitable to use with pressure washers since they can’t hold high pressure. Premium hoses with 4-6 layers don’t kink as much and can even be crush resistant to withstand cars or machinery driving over them with no damage.

Is It Food Safe?

dog playing with hose

If your household has children or animals that might drink water straight from the hose (if your tap water is drinkable), it’s advisable to pick NSF and FDA-certified hose. If the hose is not food safe, it might leak harmful chemicals into the water. Also, remember never to drink water that has been standing in the hose, especially in warm weather. Standing warm water is a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.

Top 7 Best Garden Hose Reviews in 2021

Eleegan 100′ Garden Hose


The expandable Eleegan garden hose is a multipurpose hose that is lightweight, long, durable, and compact. It is mainly designed for watering tasks like grass watering, greenhouse watering, or car washing. The lightweight four-layer latex core is easy to drag through the grass even when full of water. You could pull it over the pavement as well, but it will wear much more quickly.

The expandable material increases the hose size from 33 ft. to 100 ft. when filled with water. The compact size makes it perfect for RVs, camping, or even apartments with larger balconies.

Even though the hose itself is designed for light use, it has a rigid brass coupling and a ten-function nozzle for different watering needs.

If you have a larger backyard or greenhouse and are tired of dragging heavy hoses day after day, the Eleegan 100 ft. hose is the best lightweight garden hose on our list to help you out.

Key features:

  • Length: 100 ft.
  • Diameter: ¾ inch
  • Material: 4 layer latex core
  • Brass coupling
  • Lightweight
  • Burst strength: 145psi
  • Expandable
  • Ten function nozzle

Weaknesses:

  • Not heavy duty

Flexzilla Garden Hose, 5/8 in. x 100 ft.


Flexzilla is one of the most known garden hoses currently in the market. The hybrid polymer 100 ft. is very flexible and easy to drag around corners and trees. They advertise it as a kink-free hose because of the hybrid polymer material and their Swivel grip technology. The grip handle allows the hose to spin around inside the grip, which is very useful when uncoiling.

This bright, durable hose can withstand harsh weather conditions and stays flexible even at -40 to 150°F degrees days.

Flexzilla hose is also great for families with children or pets as the hose is made from lead-free materials.

We love that it is more rigid than expandable garden hoses while still very flexible and lightweight. It is also safe for kids and animals to drink. The only big disadvantage is the higher price tag.

Key features:

  • Length: 100 ft.
  • Diameter: ⅝ inch
  • Material: Hybrid polymer
  • Weight: ~7 lbs.
  • Aluminum alloy coupling
  • Flexible and durable
  • Weather-resistant
  • Drinking water safe
  • Swivel grip

Weaknesses:

  • Expensive

Macuvan Garden Hose 100 ft Heavy Duty


Macuvan is made from a heavy-duty four-layer polymer blend to withstand harsh weather conditions of -40F – 160F degrees. The ⅝ inch diameter hose provides water flow enough for watering your backyard grass and plants in an area up to 100 ft. Its 4th layer of hybrid polymer is abrasion resistant, so you can drag it over the pavement for washing tasks without fear of damaging the hose.

It’s nice to have a nickel-plated brass connector as it doesn’t leak, but on the other end of the hose, the 9-way spray nozzle does feel a bit cheap and might not hold up as long as the hose itself. Despite the questionable nozzle quality, the Macuvan is one of the best heavy-duty garden hoses for regular homeowners.

Key features:

  • Length: 100 ft.
  • Diameter: ⅝ inch
  • Material: 4 layer polymer blend
  • Nickel-plated brass connector
  • Heavy-duty
  • Burst strength: 500 psi
  • 9-way spray nozzle
  • Weather-resistant of -40F – 160F

Weaknesses:

  • Nozzle feels very cheap
  • A bit expensive

GrowGreen Heavy Duty Expandable Garden Hose


The next product on our list is the GrowGreen heavy-duty expandable hose. It’s a very comfortable to use and maneuverable hose. The expandable design allows the hose to be virtually kink-free. It expands up to 3 times when filled with water making this hose just 17 ft. in length when empty. This allows it to be squeezed into a small bag to carry around or store virtually anywhere.

It’s a great small and compact garden hose for small watering tasks like plants or flower watering, garage, or runway spray down. We feel that the water flow rate is too weak for more frequent or larger tasks and just takes too long. This is definitely a light duty tiny space, homeowner hose and not meant for any heavy duty application.

Key features:

  • Length: 50 feet
  • Diameter:
  • Material:
  • Very lightweight
  • Expandable kink-free design

Weaknesses:

  • Weak flow rate
  • Restrictive
  • Very light duty

The FitLife Flexible and Expandable Garden Hose


The FitLife flexible and expandable hose is our pick for the best short garden hose as it’s super lightweight, making it perfect for small backyards, RVs, or patios. The hose has a triple-layer latex core that is very flexible, won’t crack when stepped on or driven over, but sadly can be damaged by lawnmowers.

Empty hose weighs just 1.8 lbs. and is very compact, perfect for RVs, small houses, or even apartments. When filled, the hose expands to 25 ft. in length and can withstand a maximum pressure of 300-350 psi. The spray nozzle has eight different streams, which can be easily switched with your thumb. The nozzle itself does feel a little cheap, but you can’t expect premium quality for a budget price.

Overall, this short-budget garden hose is for light use and simple watering tasks. It’s not very durable for heavy-duty use, especially in winter, as it doesn’t withstand temperatures lower than 23F.

Key features:

  • Length: 25 ft.
  • Diameter: ¾ inch
  • Material: triple layer latex
  • Weight: 1.8 lbs.
  • Burst strength: 300-350 PSI
  • Heat resistant
  • Solid brass fittings
  • Very lightweight
  • Cheap
  • Eight pattern spray nozzle

Weaknesses:

  • Can’t leave outside in winter

Bionic Steel 100 Foot Garden Hose


Are you tired of buying new garden hoses every year? You need to try out the Bionic Steel heavy-duty 100 ft. garden hose. This hose is made from 304 stainless steel, can be dropped, stepped on, ridden over with a car, or even a lawnmower.

From first sight, the hose looks to be heavy but weighs just 3 lbs. Making it the lightest heavy-duty garden hose on our list. The hose is kink-resistant since you can’t bend stainless steel without using a lot of force. Bionic Steel hose can withstand up to 500 PSI, so it can be used for pressure washing and regular watering tasks.

This stainless steel garden hose is perfect for hot or freezing temperatures can be left outside in any weather conditions as it is corrosion and rust-free.

Key features:

  • Length: 100 ft.
  • Diameter: ⅝ inch
  • Material: 304 stainless steel
  • Weight: 3 lbs.
  • Burst strength: 500 PSI
  • Weatherproof
  • Extremely durable
  • Corrosion and rust-free

Weaknesses:

  • No nozzle sprayer
  • On the expensive side

Flexi Hose with 8 Function Nozzle


To end our list of the best garden hoses in 2021, we have the Flexi 100 ft. expandable hose that is a bit more expensive than other expandable hoses but feels slightly more durable as it has four latex layers.

It can expand up to 100 ft. without any kinks or knots. We love that the brass coupling is easy to attach and has an easy to open or close water lever.

You’ll find an eight-pattern spray nozzle included in the kit, which is handy but is plastic and can break or crack if dropped on concrete.

All in all, it’s a very lightweight and long hose perfect to water large backyards or greenhouses. The only weakness of the hose is that it doesn’t withstand temperatures below 41F or above 113F. It is one of the best expandable garden hoses in terms of quality but might not suit people living in colder regions.

Key features:

  • Length: 100 ft.
  • Diameter: ¾ inch
  • Material: 4 layer latex
  • Very lightweight
  • Brass coupling
  • Eight pattern spray nozzle

Weaknesses:

  • Isn’t weatherproof
  • Expensive compared to other expandable hoses

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect different metal fittings?

No, it’s best for the hose coupling metal to match your faucet metal. Never buy aluminum couplings if you have a brass or steel faucet. Different metals can have corrosive effects on each other, so it is best to match materials. A harder metal fitting might crack the weaker metal if you use too much force when tightening, or it will be tough to unscrew.

Can I leave my hose outside in winter?

In general, you shouldn’t leave your hose outside in winter because when the water freezes, it expands and might crack or split your hose. If you do leave your garden hose outside or in a shed where it’s really cold, make sure to drain all the water out first and never leave a hose attached to your spigot in freezing temperatures.

Some heavy-duty hoses made from stainless steel or rugged rubber aren’t afraid of cold temperatures as they can withstand expansion from freezing water, but cheaper and softer materials don’t hold that well. Before leaving your hose in freezing weather, make sure to check the instructions to see if it can withstand cold temperatures.

In general, freezing water is very powerful and causes much damage every winter. Leaving water inside of any container, including a garden hose over winter is simply asking for trouble.

Check out our list of best hose reels.

29 Invasive Plants You Do Not Want in Your Garden

invasives at the train

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in the growth of invasive plant species in the U.S. due to international trade and travel. This is already becoming a major ecological problem because these plants can quickly take over large areas and crowd out native plants.

Many experts believe that these invasives were primarily planted in landscapes and gardens but can escape. This being said, homeowners must be educated about all these plant species, which can cause potential harm on a larger scale.

In this article, I have listed 28 invasive plants that you should skip buying if you are starting your garden. This is essential if you want to beautify your yard without posing a threat to our environment. I have also included some valuable tips on getting rid of them if they get out of hand.

What are Invasive Plants?

As opposed to native plants, invasive plant species are considered aliens or not indigenous in a particular area where they are seen to be growing. They are labeled as such because they tend to spread like wildfire, and they can cause harm to both our environment and economy.

Since these plants are usually pretty at first glance, most people purchase them to include in their landscapes. While this is not strictly prohibited, one should always consult a landscape professional before growing these alongside native plants because they may cause monoculture in the long run.

If you are interested to know why these invasive plants are indeed so invasive, the answers are both easy and complicated. There are no diseases or insects that plague these plants in their new homes as compared to where they originated, so they have free rein.

Another factor that helps these invasives grow faster than other plant species are underground root networks like rhizomes. By definition, rhizomes are stems that grow underground in a horizontal manner. They produce new roots from their nodes, so they aid these unwanted species’ production.

Impacts of Invasive Plants

To fully understand why you should avoid planting invasives at all costs, let me share their impact from a small scale to a larger scale. Here’s how they affect your landscape, the economy, and the environment:

Landscaping Impacts

  • Invasives cause extra work for gardeners.
  • They tend to displace plants that are more difficult to grow.
  • They lessen one’s enjoyment of seeing a landscape.
  • They may cause trouble with the neighbor, especially if they also invade their area.

Environmental Impacts

  • Invasives do not provide strong root structures to bind the soil, so erosion is possible during constant flooding.
  • Invasive plants are one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss since they displace native plants.
  • They outcompete plants that serve as food and cover for some wildlife animals.
  • They reduce the growth of trees because they can prevent the sunlight from reaching the seedlings.
  • They weigh down trees, so they become easier to blow down.
  • They create fuel for unexpected wildfire.

Economic Impacts

  • Invasives decrease land’s value.
  • It hinders agricultural and fishing productivity.
  • The cost for controlling their growth is not exactly cheap.
  • Livestock can be forced into sub-optimal and marginal lands.

Social Impacts

  • The options for livelihood can be narrowed since lands that should be used for productivity are dominated by invasives.
  • The use of land for recreational purposes is limited.
  • Some invasives pose a risk to human health.

29 Worst Invasive Plant Species in the United States

When we visit plant nurseries, we are often drawn to the aesthetically appealing ones. We excitedly bring them home and include them in our gardens, not knowing that they can cause problems in our whole landscape.

Some invasive plant species in this list are exactly like that. They look really desirable and pretty on the outside, but their true nature becomes apparent after a while.

Several plants in this list are considered native in one region and extremely invasive in another. Do not be confused, and do further scientific research on each plant if you want to know more about them.

1. Purple Loosestrife

Scientific name: Lythrum salicaria

Purple Loosestrife is an invasive plant species that originated in Europe and temperate Asia. They were first introduced in the U.S. in the early 1800s to serve as medicinal and ornamental plants.

Since it arrived in North America, Purple Loosestrife has seriously invaded roadsides, wetlands, and disturbed areas. To give you a picture of how uncontrollable they are, each plant can grow up to 30 flowering stems that can release 2.7 million seeds into the earth each year.

In an effort to eradicate them, both the American and Canadian governments released two European beetle species, which are natural enemies of Purple Loosestrife, in the year 1992.

2. Japanese Honeysuckle

Scientific name: Lonicera japonica

Japanese Honeysuckle traces its origin to Eastern Asia, specifically Japan, China, and Korea. They were brought to North America in the late 1800s to help with soil erosion and wildlife cover.

Unfortunately, this species is now considered invasive because it can adapt to different environmental conditions, and they compete with whatever plant there is in the area by producing toxic chemicals. They are very aggressive that they are commonly found in roadsides, forest edges, fields, and floodplains.

Since birds usually eat their fruit, they spread fast and form dense patches.

3. Japanese Barberry

Scientific name: Berberis thunbergii

This invasive shrub from Japan was introduced in the U.S. as an ornamental plant in the 1800s, is now very detrimental to many forest lands found in the Northeast. 

It dramatically impacts agriculture due to being hosts of black stem rush, a disease that can cause significant damage to grains. It can also shade out all the native species in a forest, even the undisturbed ones.

This plant is densely thorned and is commonly spread by birds. If not prevented from growing, they have the ability to invade native lands, lessen wildlife habitat, and restrict different forms of recreational activities.

4. Norway Maple

Scientific name: Acer platanoides

Similar to the invasives formerly discussed, Norway Maple is able to spread quickly. This is a native plant in Europe that was introduced in the United States in the year 1756.

Since this tree is very much adaptable, it is planted everywhere to provide shade. However, as time progresses, this has proven to be a dominant species since it tends to displace native trees, especially in the Northeast and Northwest.

This tree’s common victims are the native maples and some wildflower species.

5. English Ivy

Scientific name: Hedera helix

English Ivy is an evergreen groundcover brought to the U.S. in the early 1700s by European colonists. It can crowd out weeds in a landscape, and it also looks extremely pretty, so most homeowners fall for their charm.

Many aren’t aware that English Ivy can also be quite destructive since they can completely cover and topple trees, and they can supplant native plant species in a forest. They are so vigorous that they are already considered seriously problematic in the Pacific Northwest.

6. Kudzu

Scientific name: Pueraria Montana

The Kudzu vine belongs to the pea family, but if you expect them to be a normal type of crop, you’ll be disappointed.

This invasive species was introduced by Japan to the U.S. in 1876 at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Initially, it is known to be an ornamental plant and a forage crop. 

The Soil Conservation Service even planted a million acres of Kudzu from the 1930s to 1940s to eradicate soil erosion. Eventually, they realized that this plant grows one foot a day. This means that they can easily kill trees by toppling and girdling them.

7. Chinese Wisteria

Scientific name: Wisteria Sinensis

Wisteria Sinensis, or Chinese Wisteria, is another flowering plant from the pea family. It has been growing in the U.S. since 1916 and is widely known to be an ornamental plant.

There are currently 19 states in the United States that find this plant invasive. Its woody vines can quickly be established, whether in full or partial shade.

There is evidence that it can climb shrubs, trees, and even manmade structures. Their vines twine around their hosts, which causes destruction in just a matter of time.

8. Butterfly Bush

Scientific name: Buddleia davidii

Butterfly Brush is an attention-grabbing plant commonly found in home landscapes. However, no matter how helpful this shrub may look for butterflies and other types of pollinators, we cannot run from the fact that it is very invasive.

This species usually escapes cultivation and wreaks havoc among natural areas. It is time-consuming to remove them, and in some cases, it is impossible to pull them out.

Several states have already banned this plant’s propagation, and they really should since this can rapidly invade riverbanks, open fields, and reforested areas.

9. Black Locust

Scientific name: Robinia pseudoacacia

This tree which is a native of Pennsylvania is causing problems in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine. They were once purposefully planted in the Midwest, Texas, and West Coast in the hopes that they can control erosion and fix the soil’s nitrogen level.

Right now, this invasive species spread rapidly through stump sprouting and root suckering. It forms dense colonies which shade most forest openings and prairies, which lead to the death of native vegetation.

This tree’s bark, seeds, stem, and leaves are very much poisonous to horses.

10. American Bittersweet

Scientific name: Celastrus scandens

This type of climbing vine tightly twines itself on its support, whether it is a shrub, a tree, or a masonry structure. Do not mistake this as the Ornamental Bittersweet because they are far from being the same.

The American Bittersweet produces an autumn fruit that many people find attractive because of its yellow-orange color. However, this crimson-berry like fruit should not be consumed by humans because it’s highly toxic.

Aside from bearing a toxic fruit, American Bittersweet can grow out of control on abandoned buildings and roadsides. They are capable of taking over an entire landscape in just a matter of months.

11. Japanese Knotweed

Scientific name: Polygonum cuspidatum

This invasive plant species, a member of the buckwheat family, was first popularized in the U.S. in the late 1800s. It was then used as an ornamental and erosion control plant.

The funny thing is, during the 1930s, this plant is even sold in various catalogs, even though many people know that it is problematic to include it in a landscape. 

It can grow up to 15 feet tall, and its stems resemble that of bamboo. You’ll often see this invasive in old farmsteads and homes, low-lying areas, and near streams and rivers.

12. Common Buckthorn

Scientific name: Rhamnus cathartica

This can be called a small tree or a large shrub since it only grows up to six meters. Its leaves are egg-shaped, and they’re dull green in color, so it’s pretty easy to identify.

It was said that this invasive species was introduced to North America from Europe in the 1800s as a windbreak and ornamental plant. But in the 1900s, it was discovered that it forms thick hedges, preventing native plant and herbaceous species regeneration.

Viable seeds can remain in the soil and sprout for up to six years, so they are tough to eradicate.  There are concerns that the Buckthorn is changing the fuel characteristics of forests, increasing the likelihood of forest fires.

13. Dame’s Rocket

Scientific name: Hesperis matronalis

Dame’s rocket used to be a garden favorite, but it is now considered a lethal plant that can rapidly invade private and surrounding landscapes.

How does this plant disperse uncontrollably? They have seed-bearing pods that can pepper seeds to many wildlife, which they then carry across different places.

Because this plant grows extensively, it can infiltrate waterways, tree lines, farm fence rows, and wetland margins. This invasive plant also colonizes most natural areas like savanna, prairie, and streams.

14. Burning Bush

Scientific name: Euonymus alatus

This shrub native in Asia has long been popular in the United States as an ornamental plant. The flame-red foliage and the red berries it produces during the fall are stunning; that’s why many homeowners include this in their landscape.

Despite its beautiful appearance, Burning Bush can effortlessly displace native species in any area because they grow rapidly and can reach a height of 20 feet.

Another issue about this plant is that the berries they produce often drop and reseeds. Eradicating them is hard since birds also carry these seeds to other areas.

15. Giant Hogweed

Scientific name: Heracleum mantegazzianum

Giant Hogweed is a perennial which belongs to the carrot family. This is originally an ornamental plant from Southwest Asia, but it is now naturalizing in some parts of North America.

According to most reports, this invasive species commonly grows along ditches, streams, and roadsides. It also invades other areas like old fields and woodlands.

What’s more alarming about this plant is that they often cause soil, rocks, and other stream banks’ materials to fall in the water. This threatens species living in the streams, so many states have already banned them from being planted.

16. Bamboo

Scientific name: Bambusa vulgaris

If you want some sort of privacy plant that can shield your property from your nosy neighbors, you may have thought of raising bamboos.

Unfortunately, this is not recommended since this giant grass is one of the most invasive plants in the U.S. Yes, its slender form and the shade it provides seem suitable for urban areas. But trust me, when they start growing roots in your property, they are incredibly uncontrollable.

They can grow up to 20 feet and form clumps in just a matter of months. If you have them spreading on your property, you may want to call a professional to get them under control as the roots are very aggressive and far-spreading.

17. Winter Creeper

Scientific name: Euonymus fortunei

Winter Creeper is an evergreen perennial from Japan, China, and Korea. It was initially introduced in the U.S. as an ornamental plant, but it is now causing significant land damages in various states.

This vine is reported to invade forest margins and openings. It can grow across the ground, killing herbaceous plants and climbing trees by clinging to their bark.

Like all other Euonymus plants, Winter Creeper is also poisonous when eaten in large amounts. However, since they are not that toxic to birds, they eat this plant’s berries and scatter their seeds to various places.

18. Sacred Bamboo

Scientific name: Nandina domestica

This plant species, also called heavenly bamboo, is not really that “heavenly.” It used to be an ornamental plant in most landscapes, but after a few years of being brought to the U.S., this small shrub has managed to escape and invade forest interiors as well as their edges.

Historically speaking, this plant came from Asia and reached North America during the early 1800s. It is seen invading forests located in the Southeast U.S. due to its ability to be shade tolerant.

19. Chinese Privet

Scientific name: Ligustrum sinense

Chinese Privet is a type of semi-evergreen shrub which was introduced to the U.S. in 1852. It is a native of Europe and Asia, and it grows up to 20 feet tall.

Because there are many privet species that currently exist, distinguishing them from the others can be difficult. It can create dense thickets which can invade riparian sites, fields, fencerows, forest understories, and roadsides.

Aside from this, they can shade native plants and reduce tree growth.

20. Autumn Olive

Scientific name: Elaeagnus umbellata

Autumn Olive is a woody plant brought to the United States in the 1800s. This used to be viewed solely as an ornamental species, but it was later used to provide cover and food for wildlife and prevent soil erosion.

Currently, this plant brings major hassle instead of strengthening erosion control. It grows uncontrollably in grasslands, meadows, roadsides, and forest edges, where it quickly displaces the native plants.

The Autumn Olive’s roots allow this plant even in unfavorable soils. When this plant grows, it can produce 200,000 seeds from a single plant yearly. Unfortunately, cutting or burning Autumn Olive’s only propagates them more.

21. Bradford Pear

Scientific name: Pyrus calleryana

An article published by the Washington Post headlined, “Scientists thought they had created the perfect tree. But it became a nightmare” the existence of Bradford Pear as an invasive plant was discussed in detail.

Initially, the U.S. Agriculture Department scientists label this plant as a rootstock for the common pear. However, in the late 1990s, its invasive tendencies progressed’ Right now, it is already tagged as a weed in 19 states.

Birds disperse the seeds of this tree. They can easily invade open spaces like woodlands, pasture, and grasslands by forming dense thickets. Its flowers also produce a foul smell which can be compared to that of a rotting fish.

22. Common Periwinkle

Scientific name: Vinca minor

Common Periwinkle, a vine-like plant that can also trail groundcover, traces its origin from Europe. It is introduced in North America as an ornamental species during the 1700s, but it managed to escape cultivation and invade most natural areas in some parts of the Eastern U.S.

Since this plant likes shady areas, forests and old homesites are often their target. Periwinkles form extensive and dense mats, which quickly displace woody plants and native herbaceous species on the forest floor.

The only good thing about this invasive is that it can be pulled by hand, raked up, or dug up. However, it is not suggested to mow areas with Periwinkles because it doesn’t help eradicate them.

23. Princess Tree

Scientific name: Paulownia tomentosa

This invasive plant species also goes by the names Foxglove Tree, Royal Paulownia, and Empress Tree. It was originally from Central and Western China, but the Dutch East India Company then brought it to Europe and America in the 1830s.

As per historical records, the Princess Tree was initially used for timber, ornamental, and medicinal uses. It is also highly-priced back then because it can be used for carving.

Currently, this tree is invading stream banks, forests, and rocky habitats in the Eastern part of the United States. It can sprout prolifically, and it can survive cutting, fire, and even bulldozing. What’s more, it can adapt to a wide variety of environmental conditions like drought and the existence of acid or infertile soil.

24. Sweet Autumn Clematis

Scientific name: Clematis terniflora

Do not be deceived by the good looks of this plant because this can quickly overwhelm your landscape. 

Sweet Autumn Clematis or Sweet Autumn Virginsbower came from the Buttercup family. It is a native plant of Japan and China, but it reached U.S. lands as an ornamental vine being sold in nursery trade. The flowers it produces are white, and its leaves are usually compound three leaflets.

Today, Sweet Autumn Clematis is invading the Eastern United States, particularly forest edges, streams, and roads. It grows a dense form blanket that blocks the sunlight for other vegetation.

Curious as to what exact states consider this plant invasive? They are Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Delaware, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

25. Weeping Lovegrass

Scientific name: Eragrostis curvula

Weeping Lovegrass is a type of perennial bunchgrass that rapidly grows, especially during the warm season. Its leaves are droopy, and the tips are almost reaching the ground, so they are called “weeping.”

Historically speaking, Weeping Lovegrass is a native plant of Southern Africa, but it was brought to the U.S. soil and has since established its roots in many areas.

Often, you’ll see this invasive grow in forest communities, chaparral, woodland, and roadsides. It is especially keen on growing on burned sites as well.

26. Japanese Spirea/Japanese Meadowsweet

Scientific name: Spiraea japonica

Japanese Spirea targets various habitats in the Eastern United States, including forests, fields, stream banks, and other disturbed areas. This is an invasive shrub that can grow up to six feet or 1.8 meters tall.

During the late spring, Japanese Spirea produces attractive clustered pink flowers at its branches’ tips. Although this is something that might convince you to purchase this plant from nurseries, I suggest that you skip doing so because it can displace other plants in your landscape.

You should also know that it spreads rapidly in natural areas because it quickly escapes our landscapes. Surely, you don’t want to cause damage in your community.

27. Ajuga

Scientific name: Ajuga reptans

The Ajuga plant, which is also called Bugleweed or Carpet Bugle, is a wide spreader. It is quite long-lasting as it can tolerate a wide variety of soil conditions.

If you are planning to add this to your landscape, think again. It can be hard to control this plant species because it spreads through stolons and rhizomes. This is highly problematic, primarily for small perennials and annuals.

Another thing to note about this plant is that it can spread by long runners. It can easily escape boundaries and invade your neighbor’s lawns and flowerbeds.

28. Lantana

Scientific name: Lantana camara

This plant which is still being sold in most nurseries in the United States, poses a major ecological threat by forming dense thickets. It is not recorded when this perennial shrub reached the U.S., but one thing is for sure, this is causing headaches to countless homeowners.

According to Texas Invasive Species, this plant has oval leaves which can be yellow-green to green in the shade. It produces tubular flowers, which can vary in coloration.

Like other invasives, this plant species can dominate plantations, orchards, and forest communities. It is also considered a significant pest in Florida since it reduces crop vigor and productivity.

Aside from all these, Lantana’s leaves and unripe fruit are poisonous to children and livestock.

29. Garlic Mustard

Scientific name: Alliaria Petiolata

This invader looks innocent enough with its pretty little white flowers on tall green stems, but don’t let it fool you.  Once it invades your yard, it is very difficult to eradicate.

Garlic mustard is considered a class A noxious weed.  It typically stands about 2-3 feet tall with scalloped, kidney-shaped leaves.

It spreads by seeds and is a self-pollinator. This means that one plant can end up overtaking an entire area, and a stand of these plants can produce 62,000 seeds per square meter.  It also produces chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. 

It can rapidly displace native species in forests and along riverbanks and has filled many unsuspecting back yards before the homeowners even realized it was happening.

It originally came over from Europe as a food plant.

3 Tips on How to Get Rid of Invasive Plants

Removing invasive plants in your landscape is not something you should put off since this would have significant impacts on the environment and economy once they are able to escape your yard. This being said, here are some tips to successfully rid your yard of these unwelcome plant species:

Tip #1: Research

Before you do anything on the shrubs, vines, or trees that are growing uncontrollably in your garden, make sure that it is indeed an invasive species. You might be removing an endangered plant, for all you know.

Tip #2: Remove invasives using the appropriate method

Here are some of the methods you can utilize in removing invasive plant species in your landscape:

  • Pulling and Digging: If the invasive plant is still present in a limited number, you can pull and dig them out in the traditional manner. However, you have to ensure that you remove the plant’s root system because this is the leading cause of its propagation. It can be a daunting task, but sometimes brute for is the only way to go.
  • Biological Method: This uses insect predators or plant diseases to target certain plant species. 
  • Cutting or Mowing: By cutting or mowing, you interrupt the plant’s photosynthesis process since the leafy materials are removed. If you have invasives in an area that can be moved, this is often the easiest method.
  • Suffocation Method: You can put a UV-stabilized plastic sheet over the area affected by the invasives and leave it for two years. Yes, you read it right, two years! When you remove the plastic, the plant underneath will surely be dead after that span of time.
  • Chemical Method: Using herbicides is one of the most effective methods in removing invasive plants in your garden. However, you first have to consult your state’s rules regarding herbicide use.
  • Organic Method: This method is all about experimenting with natural ways to kill invasives. Some standard techniques use vinegar as a herbicide alternative and watering plants with boiling water. 

Tip #3: Replace

Getting rid of the invasive plant in your landscape doesn’t end in removing it through the various methods I discussed in my previous tip.

You should also replace the holes the plant left so it can no longer establish its roots in your soil. To find suitable replacements, you can check out various articles on the web, or you can seek the help of expert gardeners.

It would be better to find a native plant to replace the invasive you removed because this is relatively easy to grow. However, if you want something similar in appearance to the invasive, there are tons of options to choose from. You have to invest time researching and visiting plant nurseries.

Final Thoughts

If you’re feeling unsure about beautifying your garden because of all these invasive plants you have to be cautious of, hear me out. The very reason why I wrote this article is to guide you in identifying them.

Now that you know all the 29 invasive plant species in the United States, you wouldn’t unknowingly buy them from plant nurseries. You’ll be more careful in choosing the plants or trees to include in your garden, which significantly contributes to our ecological balance.

It is possible to upgrade your landscape without causing harm to our environment. That is if you will tick off the invasives in your list. There are so many alternatives available, and you can easily access a list of them through a bit of web research.

Wetland Filtration

Any area that is wet either due to a rainstorm or industrial/sewage discharge would not be considered a wetland. A Natural wetland is unique in that plants grow in it, animals live here, processes take place within that flooded water, and an ecosystem thrives. Wetland filtration, whether natural or manmade is a powerful water treatment solution.

Wetland Classification

  • Bog: or a bogland is characterized with the deposition of Peat (partially decayed organic matter or vegetation, covers large areas in the form of peatlands, mires, or moors) and Mosses (also called Bryophytes, are the small, usually one cell thick, flower-less plants, developed in the form of mats in damp shady places)
  • Fens: are pH neutral/alkaline, mineral-rich wetlands fed by either surface or groundwater. A fen is different from other wetlands because of its unique water chemistry, which maintains a stable water table year-round. Carnivorous plants (e.g., Butterworts “Pinguicula” use granular, sticky substances to entrap, lure the insects), Sedges, Brown Mosses are the dominant vegetation of Fen.
  • Swamps: are forested wetlands that are constantly flooded with nearby streaming water bodies and are dominated by water-loving trees, shrubs, bushes, herbaceous plants. The vegetation is so dense that when the water (maybe groundwater, precipitation, or tides) flows down through the roots, all the pollutants, nutrients (mainly P and N, either buried in the saturated soils or accumulated at the bottom of the swamp), and sediments are naturally filtered out.
  • Marsh: forms a transition between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems as present at the edges of lakes or streams. Marshes are dominated by herbaceous vegetation (grasses, reeds, or rushes) and not woody plants. Papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), Cattail, Sawgrasses (Cladium spp.), and sedges are dominant among vegetation well-adapted for marshy wetlands.

Wetlands are an essential part of any ecosystem that offers habitats for many migrating birds, mammals (both small (minks, reptiles) and large (moose, etc.).), plants, and insects.

Wetlands are typically teeming with wildlife due to their diverse ecosystem and the fact that humans don’t usually frequent wetlands.

The Wetlands are the areas flooded with water, either permanently or temporarily that support aquatic plants and animal growth. Wetlands are beneficial for the area where they are present because they are involved in water purification, removal of nutrients from contaminated water, and water storage.

How do Natural Wetlands Work?

The water that enters any NW may be surface runoff from residential homes and lawns(fertilizers, pet waste, sewer, and septic), commercial hard surfaces (industrial waste, road salt, petroleum), agricultural land (livestock waste, chemical pesticides, and fertilizers) or direct sources such as streams, rainfall, and tides. All of which may contain large quantities of nutrients, suspended solids, chemicals, and pathogens.

Through the dense vegetation of NW, water moves slowly, settling down the sediments and suspended solids while the plants and microorganisms absorb nutrients. Gases like CO2 and other harmful gases are stored in sinks in wetlands. This is a wonderfully natural purification process that occurs in NW without us investing any energy and cost. We just need to stay out of their way.

Benefits and Uses of Natural Wetland Filtration

Flood Control and Water Storage

The continuous rains and snow-melting processes are the causes of floods. The wetlands (either Natural or Constructed) near the water-heads of rivers or streams play an important role in slowing down that water’s runoff and helping control damaging floods. The Natural Wetlands store back the water in its spongy sedimentation layers and release it during the drought periods. In this way, life in the wetlands survives during water scarcity periods due to stored water.

Heavy Metal’s Traps

The NaturalWetlands came into being through flooded water, rainwater, or runoff water. This water contains many nutrients (excessive Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Phosphorus, and heavy metals). These nutrients get stored in the sediments or plant’s bodies and remain stored until plants die, are harvested by the animals, or microbial processes convert these elements into a gaseous form released into the atmosphere. If these natural nutrient absorbents would not be present, no one could be able to protect his/her land from that soil desolating water.

Water Purification

The animal and plant population in the wetlands helps absorb, utilize and decompose the water contaminants. Water-loving animals such as Oysters filter more than 200 Liters of water every day, searching for food. Water Hyacinths, Reed-grass, duckweed, and Cattail plants remove Iron, Copper, Mercury, and pathogens from the water and store them in their body or convert them into less toxic forms.

Check out our article on Phytoremediation.

A Balanced Ecosystem

They help bring a balance to the environment. The Natural Wetlands Control flood water by acting as a sponge to store excessive, un-wanted water and use it later during shortage periods. Loss of wetlands means the loss of many wetland animals and plant species and natural water filters, which causes an imbalance in the atmospheric conditions, flood peaks, and soil erosion.

Natural Predators

Wetlands not only filter nutrients from water but also reduce the mosquito population. It contains many insects, amphibians, and birds that act as natural predators for the mosquitos.

Biodiversity Nurturing

Aquatic plants and grasses of wetlands are part of large mammals’ diet, for example, cows, goats, deer, moose, etc. The birds dive into the shallow shorelines and capture small insects, which helps maintain a balance in the population of insects in the wetlands. Wetlands are the breeding grounds of many birds (Ducks, Geese, Cranes, Herons, Shorebirds, and Blackbirds, etc.); they are also excellent midday resting and hiding places for countless other creatures, both large and small.

Constructed Wetland Filtration System

We have constructed wetlands to act as Biofilters similar to that of Natural Wetlands to treat rainwater, groundwater, greywater, municipal water, and reclamation of mining-affected soils. Biological and Mechanical filters, Plants, and Sand/Gravel are collectively used in the backyards of houses and many industries to clean the water again and again, just like a natural wetland.

The big difference between a natural and a constructed wetland filtration system is that the NW are provided to us by nature and will not be found in cities or town centers, while CW can be created in small areas of the garden, back yard, landscapes, city lots, rooftops, commercial sites or just about anywhere. While the role of both is the same, i.e., the wastewater treatment and pollution control, we have the ability to greatly increase our water clarifying ability through the use of CW.

How Constructed Wetlands Work to Clean the Wastewater

A constructed wetland is a human-designed shallow wetland of varying sizes with different kinds of layering (sand, gravel, rocks) and wetland plant species growing in it. Wastewater flows from one end of CW or is pumped into the bottom, passes through the sub-surface/surface, and finally pours out at the other end, having been cleaned.

The system typically keeps the water just above the plant roots. The aquatic plant masses, especially the Reed-grass species, act as active reaction regions (with the help of microorganisms, complex physiochemical and biological reactions) and absorb N, P, pathogens, and other contaminants from the water.

Another advantage of constructed wetlands is that they allow for the settling out of sediment and sludge, which would otherwise end up in our pond and streams.

Components of Constructed Wetlands

There are many different styles and types of constructed wetlands. Different types have different applications, but many contain the same components.

  • A Geomembrane lining (synthetic polymer, very low permeability)
  • Concrete or clay lining (to protect the surrounding water table)
  • The substrate (gravel, rock, stone, sand) depending upon availability.
  • Water flow

Types of Constructed Wetlands

Surface Flow

As the name implies, the surface flow system is installed in the ground so that the water flows across the wetland’s surface. Surface flow wetlands are used to treat wastewater by settling down the particles, removing/destroying the pathogens, extracting nutrients using plants and other organisms living on the plants.

The UV irradiation kills pathogens, and sedimentation occurs as the wastewater flows slowly through the wetland. The below water soil layer is anaerobic while the plants’ roots provide oxygen, which allows the overall initiation of complex chemical and biological reactions to remove the nutrients.

Specifications of Surface Flow Wetland Filtration System:

  • A surface-flow system always has a Horizontal flow of water across the plant’s roots and never vertical.
  • It requires a large area for proper installment and functioning. These systems are also named “Waste Stabilization Ponds” because they work the same way as waste stabilization lagoons.
  • The treated water can be used for irrigation purposes or returned to the surface water.
  • The system is less efficient in the winter because of the decreased intensity of sunlight and temperature, both of which are important in the treatment processes.
  • The system is best suited for Tropical and Subtropical climates because of the constant availability of bright sunlight and high temperature but does provide value in almost any climate.
  • Due to the open water availability, the surface system may be used by aquatic animals.
  • The plants encouraged to grow in a surface flow filtration system are Pickerel-weed (Pontederia cordata), Common Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Broad-leaf Cattail (Typha latifolia), and Common Reed (Phragmites australis).

Subsurface Flow

The subsurface flow filtration system is installed similarly to the surface flow, but the water flows through the plants’ substrate and roots rather than across the surface.

Specifications of a subsurface flow system:

  • It is a more efficient system as the flow of water through the substrate and plant roots allows for more efficient water treatment than water flowing across the surface.
  • A subsurface flow may be horizontal or vertical. The vertical flow constructed wetland is the type most often used for treating pond water on backyard ponds and commercial and industrial retention ponds.
  • If used for wastewater treatment specifically, the subsurface system does the secondary wastewater treatment, i.e., the water has already passed through the primary treatment processes like a compost filter and settling area. After that, the working of the subsurface flow system starts.
  • The system does filtration, adsorption, and biodegradation. After passing through all the processing compartments, the treated wastewater will be safe enough for surface discharge or irrigation.
  • The plants encouraged to grow in a subsurface filtration system are:
    • Reed-grasses (the grasses build up reed-beds (considerable litter layer) that is helpful in pollutant removal from greywater)
    • Bul-Rush or Cattail (Scirpoides holoschoenus)
    • Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)
    • Musa spp.
    • Sedges (belongs to Carex, species-rich genus, similar to grasses).

Types of Filters in Constructed Wetlands:

Constructed wetland filters work as a natural filter to purify sewage, industrial, and runoff wastewater and cleaner water filtration such as pond or lake filtration. The system receives water and pushes it upward. The water passes through stones, gravel, and plant roots. These screens act as filters to remove nutrients, pollutants, etc. this is the most economical and ecologically beneficial method for the primary treatment of wastewater in small communities. There is no use of chemicals to clean the water; instead, the beneficial bacteria on the rocks, plant roots (Rhizofilteration: removal of contaminants from the water through a mass of roots) are the sources for pond water filtration.

Vertical up-flow constructed wetland filter:

Up-flow wetland filters are available in different shapes and sizes for small and medium to large scale pond installations. The working science behind all the up-flow filters is that the water is pumped into the bottom of the filter and then flows upward through certain filter media (will be different for different filters but mostly sand and gravel) to remove suspended solids. Then proceeds through the plant roots for further filtration through a combination of biological processes that remove the nutrients and pollutants. The water then flows back into the pond through a waterfall or stream, which provides more aeration and oxygenation of the water.

It is also suitable for the filtration of highly polluted water if designed for a longer percolation duration to increase the wastewater processing time.

Components:

  • A sedimentation tank (used for the settling of large solids to prevent clogging the filter)
  • A layered filter package (acts as a biochemical reactor).
    • Large to medium-sized stones at the bottom
    • Above it is a layer of smaller gravel
    • A layer of sand on top of the rock (in some applications)
    • Planted in the top layer are varieties of aquatic plants (microorganisms are present at the root of the plant, absorbing the nutrients from the water to grow).

Water from the sedimentation tank is pumped into the distribution tank. Then water moves through the reed plant’s roots to the bottom of the filter package. The bacteria present at the roots absorb the water’s nutrients, making it clean and clear.

This water cleaning system is available to install at a small scale for a garden, lawn, pond water treatment and large-scale sewage wastewater treatment, industrial water treatment, etc.

Horizontal flow constructed wetland filter:

It is the ideal filtration system for home gardening as it filters light to moderately polluted water. Almost 30 years ago, no one could think that they might need a filtration system to clean even their house water! Water pollution has been increased in the last few decades while the plants have stayed the same.

There are many varieties of wonderful plants that can help us to clean our water.

Components:

  • Water reservoir for settling (if filtering water with high levels of suspended solids)
  • Gravel and sand-filled basin
  • Reed grass or any other wetland species, e.g., Indian Lotus, Eel-grasses, Seagrasses, etc.

There is no need to pump the water as it flows with the force of gravity. The water from the tank flows towards the filters (gravel, sand, plant roots) horizontally. Significant removal of pathogens by aerobic decomposition, reduction of nutrient concentrations, reduced BOD of wastewater are the functional characteristics of a subsurface horizontal wetland filtration system.

Flow field filtration system:

The flow field is the preferable system that cleans large quantities of water compared with the above-described systems. A shallow trench (30-80 cm depth) is constructed, the water flows through this swale, the swamp vegetation planted in that trench cleans the running water through a number of chemical (either change the water nutrients concentrations to make them suitable for the soil) and biological processes (bacteria absorbs both the oxygen, Nitrogen and heavy metals from the wastewater).

The whole filtration system converts the unsuitable water into standard usable water. Again, the system can be installed for small and large-scale wastewater treatment and is often used to treat parking lot runoff.

The Benefits of constructed wetland’s filtration system

Nitrogen removal:

Nitrogen, in the form of Ammonia, Organic Nitrogen, Nitrate, Nitrite, and ammonium, is the chief element present in wastewater. Why is it important to remove Nitrogen when it is essential for plant growth? The answer is that not all the forms and excessive concentrations of Nitrogen are good for aquatic plants, animals, and soil. So it is important to either alter or remove excessive N before discharging the water.

  • Nitrification: Ammonia in the water is converted into Ammonium ions,
  • The Bacterium Nitrosomonas sp. aerobically convert Ammonium ion into Nitrite,
  • Nitrobacter sp. Changes the Nitrite into Nitrate,
  • Denitrification: Nitrate is then reduced (anaerobically) into harmless Nitrogen gas and released into the atmosphere.

Phosphorus removal:

Increased use of chemicals in the form of dyes, fertilizers, pesticides, LEDs, and safety matches, has also increased the P-pollution in water. Otherwise, P is in short supply under natural undisturbed conditions. It is not easy to remove P from water as it does not have an atmospheric component like Nitrogen.

The aquatic plants grown in wetlands absorb the P from water (it is an essential factor in any plant’s growth and development). The living biomass is then removed once their growth cycles are completed (have absorbed the maximum P they could) and replaced by new plants for the efficient removal of P. This is done for heavily contaminated water treatment. When treating pond water, simply removing the plants’ foliage and not allowing them to decompose back into the water will remove much of the phosphorous.

Pathogen removal:

Constructed wetland filters remove pathogens present in water. The sub-surface wetland removes the pathogens (Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, and Helminths) more efficiently than surface wetlands.

A sub-surface flow wetland removes:

  • 90-99.9% Bacteria
  • 90-99% Viruses
  • 90-99% Protozoa
  • 99% Helminths

A surface flow wetland efficiently removes:

  • 90-99% Bacteria
  • 90-92% Viruses
  • 90% Protozoa
  • 90-99%% Helminths

Source: Maiga, Y., von Sperling, M., Mihelcic, J. 2017. Constructed Wetlands. In: J.B. Rose and B. Jiménez-Cisneros, (eds) Global Water Pathogens Project. (C. Haas, J.R. Mihelcic and M.E. Verbyla) (eds) Part 4 Management Of Risk from Excreta and Wastewater) Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, UNESCO. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license.

Flood water retention:

When used for flood water retention, the wetland filters are installed in a retention area to allow for water accumulation, settling, and soaking back into the groundwater. They receive the water during surface runoff, storms, or floods. CW’s thick vegetation slows down the speed of flowing water, hence controlling the drastic effects of sudden, un-planned water deluge. Nowadays, CW’s are being established around industries and cities to protect the high-priced commodities from flood damages and clean the wastewater discharged by the industries.

An example of this is NIMR WATER TREATMENT PLANT, in Oman (consisted of 780hc of wetlands and large ponds) to clean the wastewater (115,000m3/day) discharged by the nearby oil industries.

Research-Based Accepted Facts About CW:

Construction of wetland filtration system for a small community:

In 2009, an experiment was conducted at the village of Ileydagi, Turkey, situated near Lake Egirdir, to check out the rate of removal of contaminants from the constructed wetland system. The system was further assisted with BSF (Buried Sand Filtration system) and BSSF-CW (Buried Sub-surface Flow Constructed Wetlands). After fourteen months of observation, it was concluded that the system removes:

  • 97% of BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand)
  • 85% of total Nitrogen
  • 69% of TP (total Phosphorus)

Whenever you go for an environment-friendly system to protect the soil, water, and air from further pollution, you have to engage the local people. Water pollution, lowering groundwater levels, and water shortage are the burning issues of every city, town, and country. We must all spread the word to make our friends and neighbors understand the wetlands’ benefits.

Sub-Surface Constructed Wetland for Single House Wastewater Treatment:

In Eastern Norway, subsurface, constructed wetland systems were separately installed in single houses to clean the sewage wastewater.

The system contains the following filters:

  • A septic tank: collecting and passing the wastewater to the bio-filter.
  • Aerobic Bio-filter: to remove organic waste and also for denitrification
  • Upflow saturated filter: remove P, microorganisms, and polishing the sewage water.
  • Upflow filter media: contains the finest sand at the top, coarsest in the middle, and gravel at the bottom (kept in fixed positions)

The system was installed for five years without any maintenance necessities. After three years of successful operation, the average values/day measured were:

  • N: 30%
  • P: 99.4%
  • SS: 70.8%
  • BOD: 97.8%
  • Zero Escherichia Coli/Coliphages

The treated water was tested to be beneficial for irrigation, soil, and the ecosystem as the excessive nutrients, organic matter, and pathogens have been removed.

Conclusion

As humans destroy more and more of the natural environment on this earth, we must be aware that the reduction of plant material covering this earth is not without consequences. Through the application of constructed wetland filters and re-constructing damaged or once filled wetlands, we can begin to turn the tide the other way. By coupling the efforts of wetland creation, permaculture, and the aggressive planting of trees and plants on every bare surface possible, we have a chance to save this earth and bring the earth’s natural ecosystem back into balance.

When it comes down to it, it’s not about hard-to-understand scientific principles or complex, hard-to-implement procedures; it’s really all about plants. We need more. Wouldn’t a healthy earth with a naturally balanced ecosystem be a lovely gift to leave your grandchildren?

References:

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Li, J., Han, X., Brandt, B. W., Zhou, Q., Ciric, L., & Campos, L. C. (2019). Physico-chemical and biological aspects of a serially connected lab-scale constructed wetland-stabilization tank-GAC slow sand filtration system during removal of selected PPCPs. Chemical Engineering Journal, 369, 1109-1118.

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Belmont, M. A., Cantellano, E., Thompson, S., Williamson, M., Sánchez, A., & Metcalfe, C. D. (2004). Treatment of domestic wastewater in a pilot-scale natural treatment system in central Mexico. Ecological Engineering, 23(4-5), 299-311.

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Sudarsan, J. S., Roy, R. L., Baskar, G., Deeptha, V. T., & Nithiyanantham, S. (2015). Domestic wastewater treatment performance using constructed wetland. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 1(2), 89-96.

Farahbakhshazad, N., Morrison, G. M., & Salati Filho, E. (2000). Nutrient removal in a vertical upflow wetland in Piracicaba, Brazil. Ambio, 74-77.

Chang, N. B., Xuan, Z., Daranpob, A., & Wanielista, M. (2011). A subsurface upflow wetland system for removal of nutrients and pathogens in on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems. Environmental Engineering Science, 28(1), 11-24.

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Stefanakis, A. I., Bardiau, M., Trajano, D., Couceiro, F., Williams, J. B., & Taylor, H. (2019). Presence of bacteria and bacteriophages in full-scale trickling filters and an aerated constructed wetland. Science of the Total Environment, 659, 1135-1145.