Congratulations on your new home! Along with the keys, you've just inherited a yard — and if this is your first house, that yard might be the biggest blank canvas you've ever had to work with. The good news: you don't need a garage full of specialty equipment to keep it looking great. A handful of quality basics will cover almost everything a new homeowner needs in the first year.

Here's what to have on hand, and exactly what each tool is for — with direct links to shop each category at Haney Builders Supplies.

The Core 5: Your Landscaping Starter Kit

1. A Round-Point Shovel

Why you need it: Digging is the single most common yard task — planting shrubs, edging garden beds, digging out a tree stump, or prepping a post hole.

Look for: A long-handled shovel with a round point, like the Eagle Long-Handle Round Point Shovel. The pointed blade slices through soil and roots more easily than a flat spade, making it the right first shovel for general-purpose digging. Shop the full range in Garden Tools.

2. A Landscape Rake

Why you need it: Whether you're leveling soil before laying sod, spreading mulch, or clearing leaves and debris, a rake is what turns a rough patch of dirt into a finished-looking lawn or bed.

Look for: A 36" Landscape Rake — wide enough to cover ground quickly, sturdy enough to level gravel or soil, not just leaves. Browse rakes and hand tools in Garden Tools.

3. A Wheelbarrow

Why you need it: You'll be moving more material than you think in year one — bagged soil, mulch, gravel, sod, even concrete mix if you're setting posts or pavers. Carrying it by hand isn't sustainable.

Look for: A 6 cu. ft. poly wheelbarrow — big enough for real loads, but still maneuverable for a single person around tight garden beds and gates. See options in Wheelbarrows & Spreaders.

4. Watering Hoses, Nozzles & Fittings

Why you need it: New plantings, sod, and gardens need consistent watering to establish — especially the first season, before root systems are developed. A hose with a quality nozzle gives you control over pressure and spray pattern for everything from seedlings to washing down a patio.

Look for: A properly sized hose plus a multi-pattern nozzle, and enough fittings and splitters to reach every corner of the yard. Shop the full selection under Lawn & Garden.

5. A Hand-Held Pump Sprayer

Why you need it: From weed control to fertilizer, pest treatment to deck cleaner, a pump sprayer lets you apply liquids evenly without waste or overspray.

Look for: A 48 oz. hand-held pump sprayer (like a Chapin) — small enough for spot treatments around a new home's flower beds, walkways, and fence lines. Find it in Lawn & Garden.

Beyond the Basics: What You'll Reach for Next

Once the core kit is covered, most new homeowners find themselves tackling a few bigger projects in year one or two. Here's what those call for:

• Defining garden beds or a sloped yard — Landscape ties and retaining wall block. If your lot has any slope, a low retaining wall or timber edge keeps soil, mulch, and plants where you put them instead of washing into the lawn or driveway. See Landscape Ties and Retaining Wall Block (including Allan Block and Valley Stone by Basalite).
• Building a patio or walkway — Pavers and patio slabs make a much bigger visual impact than most new homeowners expect, and they're one of the most popular first landscaping projects for a reason: instant curb appeal. Browse Concrete Supplies for pavers, patio slabs, and stone.
• Topping up soil, mulch, or drainage rock — Bulk landscape materials sold by the yard. Buying in bulk instead of by the bag is significantly more cost-effective once you're covering more than a bed or two. See Lawn & Garden for bulk material options.
• Bigger digging or grading jobs — A first-year yard sometimes needs more than hand tools can manage, like aerating a lawn or breaking up hard soil. Talk to the team about power tools and equipment options in-store.

A Simple First-Year Checklist

One Stop, Fully Equipped

You don't need to buy everything at once — most new homeowners build up their tool collection project by project. But starting with the core five above means you'll be ready for almost anything your first year of yard ownership throws at you, from spring planting to fall cleanup.

Visit us in-store or shop online for landscape tools, bulk materials, pavers, and retaining wall block — everything you need to get your new yard off to a strong start, with knowledgeable staff on hand to help you figure out exactly what your space needs.