The votes are in! Here are your favorite tools to get the job done.
Everyone in the landscape and lawn care industry — from owner/operators and front-office staff to project managers and rookie crew members — has a favorite tool that helps them get the job done.
Those faves run the gamut from super simple to super complex. Maybe it’s a software package that streamlines sales, marketing and invoicing. Perhaps it’s a particularly versatile piece of compact equipment. It could be a cutting-edge blower or string trimmer. And it could even be something as simple as a trusted shovel or a go-to herbicide, pesticide or fertilizer.
Last year, Landscape Management decided to let its readers have their say on the tools that make their professional lives just a little bit better in a feature we called Pro’s Toolbox. And the response to that feature was so positive that we’re running
it back again this year.
Through an online submission form, phone calls to some true Friends of LM and face-to-face interactions with contractors in the field and at industry trade shows, we once again asked landscape professionals to tell us about their favorite tools and how they help them do things better, faster and more cost-effectively.
So without further ado, here’s the 2025 edition of LM’s Pro’s Toolbox. We hope you’ll see some of your favorites listed here, along with a few new ones that you can add to your personal toolbox.
Milwaukee Tool M18 transfer pump
“I have had a hand in the irrigation industry for years, but no longer does it mean I need to have my hands in the water. After many years of using a utility hand pump, the Milwaukee cordless transfer pump saves on time and energy. No longer do I need to kill my shoulder pumping water or blindly make repairs underwater.”
— Jonathan Oltman
Fisk Lawnscapes, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Staple Wasp
“We bought two Staple Wasps for a 5-acre project with slopes, swales and curved beds. What would normally take us two days was finished in just five hours — no sore backs, no buckets of bent staples. We’ve put 30,000-plus staples through each gun with no issues. Great product, great customer service. Buy one: It pays for itself.”
— Jay Stonebraker
J&J Landscaping, Columbia City, Ind.
iPad Pro
“It might sound funny to nominate something as common as an iPad as a top tool for landscape sales, but honestly, it’s been a total game changer for me. I use it every single day to keep my work life organized and moving fast. With OneNote, I make a separate page for every client. I also use it to access our CRM (Aspire) and Property Intel, which makes quoting and mapping a breeze. There are tons of other apps that could make it even more powerful, but honestly, OneNote alone justifies the purchase.”
— Matt Menard
Sun Valley Landscaping, Omaha, Neb.
Kress Commercial equipment
“In late 2024, K&D Landscaping transitioned to fully battery-powered maintenance operations. The Kress Commercial platform provided the power and reliability needed to make that shift practical. It’s helped reduce downtime, fuel costs and noise while creating a cleaner, quieter work environment.”
— Jon Wendt
K&D Landscaping, Watsonville, Calif.
Greenworks Optimus Z ride-on ZTR mower
“(After demos and test drives) we literally bought one on the spot. At one point, when our mowers were propane, we were spending over $2,000 a month on propane in addition to fuel. Our fuel budget … has gone down probably close to $1,000 since we converted to electric. And even when we used it to its fullest extent, we get eight hours of runtime out of our mower.”
— George Kennedy
Terra-scape, Edgewater, Fla.
Stihl GTA 26 cordless pruner
“Super convenient to use, can get into small spaces that other chainsaws can’t. Feels safer than using a regular chainsaw, as well. Tree limber of my dreams!”
— Halle Lamb
Greenspace Landscaping, Bozeman, Mont.
Vermeer mini skid-steer
“Durable, easy-to-use machines that our teams love. Love the new models and look forward to all
the innovative ways Vermeer helps landscape contractors thrive.”
— Marty Grunder
Grunder Landscaping Co., Dayton, Ohio
Channellock Straight Jaw
“If my utility belt only had two slots, one would be for a Channellock. The Straight Jaw does everything from tightening bolts and nuts to hammering in nails and breaking seized connections. To me, a Channellock is a daily-use multi-tool that lasts a lifetime.”
— Jonathan Oltman
Fisk Lawnscapes, Colorado Springs, Colo.
PBI-Gordon Atrimmec plant growth regulator
“Over the past few years, we’ve steadily increased our use of PGRs on landscape shrubs. This season marked our broadest application yet, spanning multiple branch locations across North Carolina. We have seen some cost savings … but the real value for us has been the reduction in overall in-season labor pressure. Pruning demands have dropped noticeably. This approach has proven a clear win-win — and we plan to continue expanding our use of PGRs moving forward.”
— Jason Smith
Bland Landscaping, Apex, N.C.
Stihl Connect fleet and tool management
“Stihl Smart Connect tags are a powerful way to streamline lawn equipment management by providing real-time access to detailed usage data and maintenance records. This means you can instantly view how long a tool has been in use, when it was last serviced and when the next maintenance is due — all from your smartphone or tablet. This level of visibility not only helps prevent unexpected breakdowns but also allows your mechanic to proactively schedule service.”
— Mike McCarron
Image Works Landscaping, Fairfax Station, Va.
Aspire Software
“Aspire has been the most transformative platform we’ve ever implemented. It unified estimating, scheduling, invoicing and job costing into one system, giving us real-time visibility across every part of the business. Within the first 12 months, we improved our gross profit by 10 points through better tracking, accountability and decision making.”
— Jon Wendt
K&D Landscaping, Watsonville, Calif.
Greenius by Granum
“Training is a critical part of our efforts to improve profitability and retain team members. It’s easy to use, and it’s been a real game changer for us at Grunder Landscaping Co.”
— Marty Grunder
Grunder Landscaping Co., Dayton, Ohio
Nufarm Allstar herbicide
“Allstar was new to the market this past season. Solid control on all listed weeds on the label. We formerly used Q4 spiked
with triclopyr. AllStar includes the triclopyr, is low odor and mixes easily.”
— Ryan Birch
Advanced Turf Pros, South Dennis, Mass.
Werk-Brau bucket, pin grabber
“Honestly, it’s been one of the best investments I’ve made so far. The right attachment lets a small crew do the work of a big crew, and this bucket allows us to crank out the amount of work that an eight-man crew could, just by having the right machinery. We’ve beat on ours pretty hard, and it’s held up great.”
— Heath Renfro
JRI Lawn and Landscape, Bakersville, N.C.
PropertyIntel
“PropertyIntel allows you to measure sites, make maps with clear color coding and build quick, easy-to-read designs that crews and clients can understand and feel confident with. Something I’ve learned is that confused people end up doing nothing, so simplifying maps and designs so anyone can pick them up and read them is crucial. They are adding new functionality all the time, such as AI-assisted map generations and ‘reference maps’ that allow you to pinpoint exact locations for clients and crews.”
— Matt Menard
Sun Valley Landscaping, Omaha, Neb.
RC Mowers AMR-60
“The real result (of using the AMR-60s) — what has taken a team of five crew to complete 17,600 acres per year will next year only require a four-person crew. As we adjust mowing plans and continue to grow and learn, we will see 8 percent of our turf management labor hours recaptured through employment of the AMR-60s.”
— Ken Durbin
Sugar Land (Texas) Regional Airport
