So you want a perfectly manicured lawn with clean edges, sharp hedges, colorful flowerbeds and maybe a few topiaries and water features thrown in? Anyone can have a beautiful lush landscape with a little artistic vision, a lot of work, and the right lawn garden tools.

While the major step of designing your landscape and deciding on the correct foliage and blooms for your area is incredibly important, it is also a very individualized and localized process that only you and your local nursery can accomplish. Sure, I could give you the general lists of the plants and trees that grow well in your area and I can suggest what colors and textures look great together. Ultimately it comes down to your personal tastes and the availability of plants and trees in your area. That is not the focus of this article.

The focus of this article is to adequately assess whether or not you have access to the proper lawn and garden tools and equipment that will properly perform the maintenance required of your masterpiece. Once you have access to all the proper equipment, keeping the neighbors green with envy is child's play.

A quick look in the requisite garden shed should yield the following items at a bare minimum:

• Traditional garden or soil rake which is mostly used in the soil

• Leaf rake or the fan shaped rake used mostly for cleaning up leaves and debris

• Long handle hoe used to break up the dirt and remove weeds

• Spade or round tipped shovel used to dig holes and trenches

• Pruning shears used to prune shrubs, trees and flowers

• Hedge clippers to trim hedges and shrubbery into the desired shapes

• Hand tool set which includes a trowel, weeder, and cultivator

• Wheelbarrow which is used to haul just about anything and save your back

• Lawn mower of which there are many types but I prefer one that mulches and has a bag so you have more choices

• Seeder which is not essential but is a time saver for over seeding the lawn or applying fertilizer over large areas

• Assortment of garden hoses and sprinklers with which to ensure proper watering

Once you have your arsenal of lawn and garden tools you are ready to trim, rake and mow your way to a landscape that not only turns heads but adds to the value of your home and the neighborhood in general. And most importantly, remember to have fun while you are landscaping your garden!