Anonymous wrote:So, we are going from a 1 bedroom to a 3k sq ft house... what are we absolutely going to need for the house? I know that a lot of things are going to come up as we go along, but what are the essential tools/supplies you need to take care of a house?

I'd add a toilet plunger.

If you aren't sure how you are going to decorate, you can start off hanging sheets over the wndows (or tacking them up with push pins) until you figure out how you want to use the space and what you need to put where. You may find that your parents or other relatives may be looking to rehome some things, which will help until you can get what you want. When we got our first house, we had furniture that we recieved from one family and ended up getting rid of it later by giving it to someone in the other family!

Push mowers don't work well once your grass gets too tall.

I would recommend an electric (corded) mower that mulches the grass clippings while it mows so it fertilizes your lawn and you don't have to deal with the clippings. We are very happy with our Black and Decker one, which was under $200.

Anonymous wrote:I have a yard of the same size and we have a no-motor rotor push mower (one of the Fiskars ones). LOVE it. Easy to push, no cord or gas, and works like a charm on our level lot.

I wouldn't recommend it for more than a 1/2 acre or a non-level lot, but for most yards around here, it's ideal. Plus, zero carbon footprint!

P.S. It was about $200 and I got it on Amazon.

I have a yard of the same size and we have a no-motor rotor push mower (one of the Fiskars ones). LOVE it. Easy to push, no cord or gas, and works like a charm on our level lot.

I wouldn't recommend it for more than a 1/2 acre or a non-level lot, but for most yards around here, it's ideal. Plus, zero carbon footprint!

OP, if you get an electric mower, you'll want a sturdy 100-foot cord. And assume that at some point, you will mow right through that cord. It takes awhile to figure out how to wrangle the cord while mowing. (i typically have the slack draped over my shoulder.)

Lots of good suggestions. I would add gardening gloves. Does help with keeping my hands cleaner, but I really use them to prevent blisters when working with hand tools (shovels and the like).

Merrifields only has a 1 year warranty on plants they install. Try Meadows Garden Center (multiple locations), their prices are better. If you're really good with plants, Merrifield has a section of plants on their death bed that are super cheap. We have a neighbor who has gotten lots from that section and has nursed them back to health. Her garden is amazing.

You can see if the seller will convey any of the lawn maintence stuff. Ours did (the seller were moving to a retirement home and didn't need any of it).

For some of the plants, bulbs and perennials, shop "mail order" which now means on-line... My favorites include: Bluestone, Brent & Becky's, old house Gardens, Heirloom Seeds, Greer Gardens, Seeds of Change, etc.

In person, Merrifield Garden Center -- FFX location. A bit pricey but good stock and one year warranty.

Behnke's is a place in MD I went to when we lived in DC

Use Craigslist and Freecycle to stock up on what you need, you will save a lot. Yard sales and estate sales can also be good sources for tools.

In addition to what people have said, I would say loping shears and a shovel, and a hand trowel. You are probably going to want to put in annuals in the summer, and maybe add bulbs in the fall. I would buy at Sears vs. Home Depot, craftsman is better quality. Also pruning shears. You won't need all of this at one time, but I would plan on $700-$1000 in outside stuff. Take off 350 if you already have a lawn mower.

Estate sales often have outside tools, but you need to know the price of one new before buying used. Some of the estate sale prices I have seen the tools are overpriced.

OP here. DH and I love gardening (it's half the reason we bought a house with a yard!), so yes, we'll be doing all that for ourselves. The house we are buying has a very well thought out, low-maintenance landscape right now (compact, easy to maintain shrubs densely planted).

It really depends on if you plan to do your own landscaping or not. Most people in our neighborhood seem to hire people b/c when we're out doing our yard on weekends/evenings, we NEVER see other people doing theirs, which means they must hire people to come during the day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mulch. Never-ending carloads of huge bags of mulch.

Some counties deliver mulch.

I would not trust any county's mulch to not be full of weeds. Its just everybody's yard waste ground up. We get 10 yards delivered from Craven's (FC Cty) that we split with our neighbor.

Anonymous wrote:Mulch. Never-ending carloads of huge bags of mulch.

Some counties deliver mulch.

Mulch. Never-ending carloads of huge bags of mulch.