Best garden landscaping equipment for winter

As a landscaping and earthworks specialist, Jared Philp, owner of Vision Outdoor Services in South Australia knows only too well winter brings challenges. Simple jobs like digging a trench can turn into a nightmare. But for most of us, that doesn’t mean work stops – the show must go on.

“I don’t like to do too much heavy machine work in winter because of the mud that you track all over the site and how slippery things get,” Jared says. “But drainage jobs are a great example of something that’s easier in winter because you can see where water is pooling when the ground is wet.”

For this tradie, it’s about picking the right jobs and garden landscaping equipment for the right season. We met Jared onsite to get his insights on keeping you working – and safe – in winter.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves and a mask, for example) when required on the job. Always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.

Check all safety gear

“Things change in winter; the Adelaide clay I deal with becomes as slippery as soap,” Jared says. “For a start, I’d make sure you’ve got good tread on your boots so when you’re standing on the back of a machine you’re not going to slip off. Mine are the Blundstones and they fit well, give good support and the tread is great.” Gloves are also important, he says, with heavy landscaping gloves for dealing with bricks and rocks, and something thinner to give you a better feel when working with pipes and sprinklers. “Nitrile gloves or anything with a thinner material that will still protect your hands from chemicals is ideal,” he says. Make sure you have all the PPE you need and use it, he adds.

What’s the best garden landscaping equipment and gear for winter?

• Boots with good tread
• A pair of thicker gloves for working with masonry materials and a thinner pair for chemical protection
• PPE
• A ladder with good tread plates
• A broom
• Hand tools like a shovel and rake
• Security cameras

Tradie recommendation: Boots and gloves

1. Blundstone Unisex Brown #7508 DuraFit Elastic-Side Safety
2. Craftright Medium Nitrile Glove

Use the right ladder

“Ladders are prone to damage because they get moved around, they get knocked over and a lot of them have fibreglass parts, so you have to check regularly and replace them as needed – especially when you’re working on them in winter,” Jared says. “That’s when tread plates on the rungs can get filled with mud from your boots, making a once-grippy surface as slick as glass. You don’t want that when you’re climbing up, so it’s important to make a risk assessment to ensure your ladder is damage-free, on a flat surface and the treads are clear. And clean it before you put it away because otherwise the mud will be stuck in there and a lot harder to get out.”

Tradie recommendation: Ladder and step stool

1. Citeco 1150mm x 450mm 150kg Industrial Adjustable Height Work Platform
2. Bailey 120kg 4 Step Twin Platform Step Stool

Clean your tools when you clock off

“As well as your ladder, make sure you clean down all of your tools at the end of each shift, even if that means turning an eight-hour day into seven hours on the tools and one to clean up,” Jared says. “If you don’t, it’s a bit of a nightmare in winter because at the end of the day you’ve got machinery that’s caked up with mud. Then you’ve either got to clean it at the client’s house or take it home and clean it at yours, and either way you end up with a mess.” And don’t even think about putting it off, he insists. “It’ll take twice as long once the mud has dried up. Trust me, I know!”

Tradie recommendation: Broom and dustpan set

1. Sabco Bulldozer 350mm Multi Surface Outdoor Broom
2. Sabco Bulldozer XL Dustpan Set With Teeth

Take care of your hand tools

Jared says hand tools take a bit of a beating in the colder months while being left onsite in the weather, soaking up water and more. “Rakes, shovels and the like are often left behind if you know you’ll be back and using them the next day. But that means they’re in the weather and can deteriorate,” he points out. “You don’t want your day stopped by a big splinter in the hand or a broken handle, so the change of seasons is a good time to check to see that everything’s in good order. It’s well worth spending $50 for a replacement shovel handle, for example, instead of losing a day or more.”

Pay attention to security

“It’s always good policy to take as many tools with you as you can at the end of a shift, especially your power tools,” Jared says, adding: “But if I’m doing a week-long project and I use a digger at the start and know I’ll be using it again at the end, I’ll leave it onsite. If I do, I make sure it’s in a locked yard, out of sight, isolated by a kill switch and covered up to prevent rain getting into the important parts. If there is a way of securing it further with padlocks and chains, great! Also look into security cameras, but generally don’t leave anything that’s transportable.”

Tradie recommendation: Security camera

1. Eufy 2K Solar Security Spotlight Camera, I/N: 0297038
2. Orion Smart 4G Rechargeable Security Camera With 5W Solar Panel

After more trade tips and info?

Check out our article on tradies recommending the best workwear in Australia.