Outdoor and Yard Essentials for a New House
Hoses, yard tools and the seasonal gear for outside the house. 28 items.
Day one
For the first night
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Check whether the city or HOA supplies bins and when pickup is, because sellers often take bins from private haulers.
First week
The first normal week of living there
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Measure from the spigot to the far corner of the yard first, since a hose that's too short won't reach the garden or the car.
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You're now responsible for your driveway and often the public sidewalk, which some towns require cleared within hours of snowfall.
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Rock salt can damage new concrete and hurt pets' paws, so choose a pet- and concrete-safe product for steps and walkways.
First month
Once you’re settled
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Unless an HOA or lawn service handles it, grass needs cutting about weekly in the growing season, and a battery mower suits most suburban lots.
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Leaves left on the lawn smother the grass and clog gutters and storm drains.
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Disconnect hoses and cover outdoor faucets before the first freeze so the pipe inside the wall doesn't burst.
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Pre-cut panels or shutters need to be ready before hurricane season, because plywood sells out once a storm is named.
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Many homes lost to wildfire are ignited by embers blown into attic and crawl-space vents, which fine metal mesh blocks.
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Large, high-contrast numbers visible from the street help ambulances and delivery drivers find you at night.
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Roof water should land at least 4 to 6 feet from the foundation, and short downspouts are a common cause of wet basements.
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Many towns collect leaves and clippings only in paper bags, on set days.
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For planting, edging beds and moving dirt or mulch.
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Trims the edges along fences, beds and walkways that a mower can't reach.
Owners say: One battery for the whole yard (EGO or Ryobi), or one gas motor with swappable trimmer, edger and pole-saw heads (Echo, Stihl, Husqvarna). (Reddit)
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They light dark driveways, side yards and back doors, and solar models need no wiring.
Later
Upgrades and nice-to-haves
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Gutters need cleaning at least twice a year, and a scoop plus a hose wand does it from a ladder.
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Shrubs grown against the house hold moisture on the siding and give insects a bridge inside.
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Speeds up fall cleanup and clears grass clippings off the driveway after mowing.
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A timer can water at dawn, when less evaporates, and keeps a sprinkler from running all night if someone forgets it.
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Cleans siding, decks and driveways, but use the lowest setting that works so you don't gouge wood or strip paint.
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Check HOA rules and keep it at least 10 feet from the house and away from overhangs.
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Measure the patio or deck first and leave room to walk around the table once chairs are pulled out.
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Cover the driveway and back door, and pick a brand that shares an app with your video doorbell.
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Worth it for long driveways or regions with frequent heavy snow, where shoveling by hand takes hours.
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Pulling snow off the lower edge of the roof prevents ice dams that push water under the shingles.
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The top answer in a buy-it-for-life thread says to spend real money on a hose and a way to store it. Cheap hoses kink and leak, and putting them away neatly is a constant pain. A simple bracket on the wall works.
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Owners with gas mowers and trimmers add stabilizer so old gas doesn't gum up the engine over winter and the tools still start in spring.
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Owners with yards name it among the first things they had to buy, for mulch, soil, debris and hauling heavy items.
