The BobVila.com team tests home and garden gear year-round to pinpoint the tools that truly perform. With our inaugural Lawn & Garden Awards, we’re spotlighting the standout equipment that elevates every outdoor space—from small starter plots to sprawling landscapes.
For more than 5 years, our team has rigorously field-tested lawn and garden tools in real-world conditions. We’ve started hundreds of plants from seed. We sawed through dense brush and mature tree limbs, and mulched everything from damp leaves to woody debris. We’ve turned leaves, grass, and kitchen scraps into more than 100 pounds of compost. We’ve also mowed hundreds of acres to evaluate push, reel, robotic, and riding mowers. And in the past 12 months alone, we’ve tested another 225+ products in our own yards and gardens. After revisiting longtime favorites and vetting innovative new models, only the tools that excel across the board earn a place on our list.
A few tool highlights caught on camera:
- Fiskars 4-Claw Stand-Up Weed Puller
- Ames 15″ Adjustable Thatch Rake
- Simpson 3400 PSI 2.5 GPM Gas Pressure Washer
- Spruce Weed Killer
- Stihl MS 182 C-BE Gas Chainsaw
- Worx 40V Power Share Turbine Cordless Leaf Blower
- Stihl FSA 80 R Battery-Powered String Trimmer
- Ego Power+ 800 Series 21″ Select Cut Mower
- Worx WG430 13-Amp Electric Leaf Mulcher
And that’s just a taste! See our full lists of garden essentials and yard care essentials below.
15 Lawn Tools That Mowed, Mulched, and Edged Their Way to the Top of Our Tests
15 Garden Tools Tough Enough to Haul Bricks, Pull Weeds, and Last for Seasons
