Any do-it-yourself landscapers will require a variety of tools, from basic to high tech, in order to get the job done right. Here are some of the tools that are essential for doing your own landscaping.

Software: Yes, believe it or not, a good landscaping program can be essential when you are designing the layout of your lawn and garden. I use the Master Landscape & Home Design by Punch! Software. I bought this program for my wife back in 2003, and we have used it a lot ever since. The 3D Photo view technology allows us to put in digital pictures of our home and garden and then implement any changes on the screen before we put them into effect in our yard. The Plant Finder allows us to find plants that are the most appropriate to the soil and climate conditions where we live, and it even has a calculator to help us estimate the costs of the plants from different stores. This is about as high tech as I get when it comes to landscaping, though.

Lawn mower: You might not realize it, but mowing the lawn is an essential part of any landscape. A lawn mower is therefore a critical part of doing your landscaping yourself. Buying a lawn mower can be a tricky business- you can get models with everything included but the kitchen sink. The fact is, a second hand lawn mower that works can be just as good as a brand new model straight from the catalogs. If you have a large area to mow, you will probably want to invest in a riding lawn mower to save time and aching muscles.

Weed Whacker: There are points on your lawn that your mower just won’t reach, around fences and right beside patios, around any fruit trees or berry canes. For these, you will need a good weed whacker. The best models come with several attachments, appropriate to chopping down a variety of weeds- especially if you have slacked off and allowed some of the hardier varieties to grow up. These can be death for the average string-and-coil whacker, and you will need some good plastic to stand up to them.

First decide on the size of the hot tub you’re looking for. How big is the space where the hot tub will be put? How many people do you intend to accommodate with your hot tub? Are you looking for an intimate, two person maximum or are you thinking more along the lines of the Roman baths and the more the merrier? Once you have determined the size you’re interested in, next, move on to the price.

There are hot tubs out there for $1000.00 all the way up to $10,000.00 and everything in between! How much money are you thinking of spending? What can you afford? It’s very easy to get lost in what you think you can afford and what you really can so be extra careful. If the hot tub is not something you can pay for without financing it, it’s probably too much; and you will need to look for a lower priced model. Be realistic about the whole process because it would be much worse to have to give the hot tub up once you have had it for a while than never having had it in the first place.

What material should you go with? Tubs today are made from two materials in most cases; wood or fiberglass reinforced plastic. When tubs are made from wood they are usually made from hard woods like, Cedar, Redwood or Teak which are all capable of handling the presence and effects of water well and these are more traditional-looking, if that is what you are looking for. Plastic tubs are lighter, they tend to leak less than their wooden counterparts and more often are able to have more comfortable seating and seating options.

All hot tubs need maintenance, but the hot tubs of today are being made more efficiently than ever and the upkeep is nothing like it was 30 years ago. There are chemicals that will need to be added, shock treatments to keep your water clear, filters that should be washed weekly and replaced every 3-4 months.

The purchase of a hot tub can seem daunting but in the end, the benefits of your purchase will far out weigh any concerns you may have now. Get educated. Know what you’re looking for BEFORE going into a dealership and don’t get talked into something you can’t afford!