If your lawn is suffering from unsightly thin areas or bare patches, overseeding is an effective method to restore lush, green grass. While overseeding to plant new grass directly over the existing lawn can be done by hand, this work is tedious and difficult. Renting an overseeding machine can help you accomplish your goal much more quickly and easily for more energy and time to enjoy your results.

What an Overseeding Machine Does
Overseeding distributes grass seed evenly over bare or thin areas of your yard to promote new growth without the need to lay sod. An overseeding machine creates a small cut in your soil, deposits grass seed, and then closes the cut over as you continue. This allows you to complete all three steps in overseeding your lawn at once for the quickest and easiest results.

Steps for Using an Overseeding Machine
Before you rent your overseeding machine, perform a soil test on your lawn. Soil testing will tell you if your lawn is deficient in certain nutrients that could affect the growth of new grass. If you are renting your overseeder, it’s best to practice first in an out-of-the-way area of your yard so you feel comfortable with the machine before you start. If you have a sprinkler system, mark areas around the heads and avoid these, as a slit seeder will damage them. You will need to adjust the slit depth created by the machine based on the type of grass seed you are using. Cover bare areas of your lawn with two passes of the slit seeder using a crisscross pattern so that your second pass is at a 45-degree angle to your first. This will produce a diamond-shaped pattern that will ensure even, lush regrowth.

Are you looking to rent overseeders, aerators, or other lawn care equipment in San Jose? A Tool Shed has the equipment you need to maintain or restore your lawn. Call us at (831) 359-4769 or stop by any one of our six locations across Northern California. You can find more lawn care tips on our blog .

Aeration improves soil drainage in your lawn for better absorption of nutrients. If your lawn seems worn, stagnant, and isn’t growing or looking as it should, aeration could be the solution for improved growth. A Tool Shed offers aerator and other lawn equipment rentals to help you on your way to achieving a greener, more beautiful lawn.

When to Aerate

If you notice that your lawn is dry shortly after a rainfall or that water seems to run right off the top layer of your soil, it could benefit from aeration. If puddles form after watering your lawn, this is another sign that the ground is not absorbing moisture as it should. Worn areas, particularly where there is a high amount of foot traffic, also signal the need for aeration to improve nutrient content and growth in these parts of your lawn. If you park vehicles or construction equipment on your lawn, the soil in these areas can quickly become compacted and will also benefit greatly from aeration.

How to Aerate

Aeration is a two-step process. First, small holes are punched into the dirt, then these holes are excavated to allow air and water to penetrate the soil. The easiest way to aerate your lawn is to rent a core aerator machine. This piece of equipment will punch holes and pull up the contents in small, cylinder-shaped “plugs” as you move it over your lawn. Core aerators are the most effective equipment for the job; other aerators punch holes but do not remove the cores, doing little to improve soil quality. After aerating , you can either rake the cores into your soil or leave them to disintegrate on their own.

At A Tool Shed of San Jose, we can help you find the solution to your lawn care needs. Visit any one of our six locations across Northern California , including Hollister, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz, for lawn and construction equipment rentals. Click on our website or call (831) 359-4769 to contact a staff member today.

Aeration promotes the absorption of essential nutrients and moisture in soil. The type of grass planted in your lawn will determine the best time of year for aeration. If your lawn contains a cool season grass, aerate at the end of the summer in August or September. Warm season grass lawns should be aerated in June and July. A simple test can tell you whether aeration is needed. Remove a small square of your lawn one foot on each side and six inches deep. If the roots of your grass only grow one to two inches into the soil, it’s time to aerate. Clay soils should be aerated more often, as they require more work to maintain the proper consistency. However, if your lawn has recently been planted, wait at least one full year before aerating to reduce stress on your grass.

Are you ready to aerate your lawn? Call A Tool Shed at (831) 359-4769 for lawn care and construction equipment rental in San Jose. We have six convenient locations throughout Northern California. Click on our website for more information about aerating, overseeding, and lawn care.

Some yard or construction jobs require equipment you may not have to get the job done. Renting rather than purchasing equipment allows you to tailor your equipment to your needs without worrying about future storage, maintenance, or repair costs. When you rent construction equipment, you know it is ready for the job at hand and meets operational and emissions standards in your area. Check out this video to see an example of the construction equipment you can rent for your next job at A Tool Shed of San Jose.

A Tool Shed provides construction equipment rentals for homeowners and light contractors at our six locations in San Jose, Campbell, Watsonville, Morgan Hill, Hollister, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz. Call (831) 359-4769 to make your next construction project easy and efficient. Check out our website to learn more about us and the full range of construction equipment we offer!

While you may think of weeds as an eyesore that spoil the otherwise beautiful appearance of your garden, these bothersome plants can actually be harmful to your outdoor space. That’s why professional gardeners and lawn care experts advise homeowners to stay on top of a weed problem using weed mowers, hoes, and other effective equipment available from their San Jose tool rental company. Let’s take a closer look at why it’s so important that you remove weeds from your lawn and garden:

Restore the Health of Your Plants

One of the biggest reasons why you should rent a weed mower from your equipment rental company is to protect the health of your lawn and garden plants. Weeds consume a significant amount of water and nutrients in the soil, which should be solely reserved for your shrubs, flowers, and grass. If you neglect a weed problem, then you can expect to see your greenery slowly deteriorate in both health and appearance.

Prevent the Spread of Foreign Species

Another reason to eliminate weeds from your lawn is to improve your nearby environment and the ecosystem at large. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the state of California is currently dealing with over 100 invasive weed species including Mediterranean sage, itchgrass, various types of mesquite, and African boxthorn. By keeping your lawn free from these weeds, you can reduce their spread.

Eliminate Pests from Your Property

Weeds are the perfect hiding or nesting place for opportunistic pests. In order to prevent your lawn from becoming a safe haven for mosquitoes, mice, birds, and mollusks, address weed growth early on by renting a weed mower from your equipment rental center. Removing them with equipment is far more efficient than using harsh chemicals and is by far the safer alternative.

If you’re ready to win the war against weeds in your lawn and garden, come visit A Tool Shed in San Jose today. Our equipment rental experts can walk you through the basics of using a weed mower so that once you go to work, those weeds won’t stand a chance. Call (831) 359-4769 to learn more about our products and rental services .

For over 60 years, the friendly professionals here at A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals have been assisting clients in the Northern California region with household and commercial renovation projects. We are proud to offer six convenient locations in Southern California, including stores in Campbell, Hollister, and Watsonville. As soon as you set foot in any one of these three locations, you can be sure that you will receive nothing but the highest quality customer service.

As you will see in this video, our Campbell, Hollister, and Watsonville locations are a great place to rent large earthmoving equipment such as excavators and trenches. We also cater to smaller scale projects like hardwood floor installation and moving homes using a dolly.

If you are in need of rental tools or equipment to complete a project, then come visit any A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals location. To learn more about our services, or to find the equipment rental store nearest you, call (831) 359-4769 today!

If you’re looking for a simple yet effective method for keeping your lawn free from weeds this summer, then stop into your nearest San Jose equipment rental store to rent a weed wacker. This basic tool is easy to use and can get the job done quickly. To begin eliminating weeds with your weed wacker, move the tool side to side so that the weeds are cut down to an even level. Be sure to only cut the weeds to two inches at the very least, as cutting down to the ground will disturb the appearance of your lawn and can damage the tool. 

The team here at A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals recommends that you stop using your weed wacker if you begin to feel any strain in your arms. For those using this device from our tool rental company for the first time, the act of actually cutting down those weeds can be physically demanding. To learn more about how our equipment rentals can help you eliminate weeds, call (831) 359-4769. You can also browse our selection of rental equipment by visiting our website. 

From scorching temperatures to drought, there are a number of weather-related factors that can cause your beautiful spring lawn to take on a sad appearance come summertime. Fortunately, there are certain steps that you can take with help from your equipment rental company in order to ensure that your grass stays green the whole season through. Here are some summer lawn care basics from your friends at A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals.

Adjust Your Lawn Mower Blades

Since taller lawns are more tolerant to drought, be sure to adjust the settings on the lawn mower you’ve rented from your San Jose tool rentals store. Warm season grasses should be trimmed to approximately two to three inches while cool season grass should be mowed around three to four inches in the summer.

Keep Fertilizer to a Minimum

Another summer lawn care tip to follow is to go easy on the fertilizer. In fact, some lawn care experts recommend that you refrain from fertilizing your summer lawn about one month prior to summer’s arrival in order to prevent damage to your grass.

Water Grass in Moderation

When and how you water your grass during the summer has a huge effect on whether it will survive until the fall. Before cutting grass in the mornings, water the lawn at least once inch. Doing this once per week in the early morning will keep your lawn from becoming brown during the summer.

Make Lawns Unwelcoming to Insects

If you’re like most San Jose residents, then the arrival of mosquitoes and other insects is one of the least welcome sights during the summer season. You can keep your lawn free from these pests by using grub control and—in the worst case scenarios—insecticide.

You can find all of the equipment rentals you need to maintain your summer lawn here at A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals. We carry motorized sod cutters and a variety of lawn mowers that will assist you with any lawn care tasks. Find out more about our rental equipment by calling (831) 359-4769.

The summer months provide the perfect setting for an outdoor barbecue with friends and family. If you’re getting ready to throw a pool party or a backyard soiree, then be sure to book your grill well in advance with your San Jose equipment rental company in order to ensure availability. Here are some of our best tips on how to get the most out of your barbecue party:

Plan the Menu in Advance

In order to make sure that your food is a big hit amongst party-goers, plan the menu one to two weeks in advance. This will give you plenty of time to determine how large of a grill to rent from your San Jose equipment rental company to accommodate your meats and veggies. Don’t be afraid to ask guests to bring drinks or appetizers to enhance the menu and reduce your costs.

Provide Entertainment and Activities

There are a number of fun outdoor games that you can play with guests at your barbecue party . Some of the most popular these days include croquet, corn hole, and bocce ball. If you have a pool, you can also encourage attendees to play a game of water volleyball or good, old-fashioned Marco Polo while they wait for the grill to heat up. To set the mood, play some upbeat music that’s appropriate for guests of all ages.

Stock Up on Grilling Essentials

From coals to foil, there are some basic grilling essentials that you need to have on hand in order to ensure a successful barbecue. The most important piece of equipment to have prepared and ready to go is the grill itself, which you can acquire from your San Jose tool rental and equipment rental company. Be sure to use clean tools while barbecuing to reduce the risk of spreading any germs.

If you’re lacking the most important component necessary for a barbecue—a barbecue grill—then come visit A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals . We carry a number of grills that are sure to meet your needs. Call (831) 359-4769 or visit any one of our six locations to learn more about the equipment and services we offer.

If you’re getting ready to remove grass and sod from a region of your lawn in order to make way for new shrubbery or construction, then you’re going to want to add a sod cutter to your tool arsenal. As your San Jose equipment rental company representative will share with you, the most effective sod cutter for the job is one that has a motor built in. Here are some of the top reasons why you should rent a motorized sod cutter:

Get the Job Done Quicker

Removing turf from your lawn using a manual sod cutter can be back-breaking work as it requires you to cut through the unwanted sod at the correct angle before lifting out small chunks piece by piece. Each area has to be removed in a uniform manner in order to leave behind the cleanest results. With a motorized cutter, however, you can lower the blade of the machine into the ground and go by row, removing strips of sod in a more time-efficient manner.

Take on Larger Projects

When it comes to taking on a large project, there is no substitute for a motorized sod cutter. Instead of sweating and toiling over several square inches and seeing little progress, you can tackle a large chunk of your lawn or the entire area more easily with a motorized sod cutter.

Enjoy Clean Results

In order to remove the turf and leave behind a clean, patch-free ground below, sodding needs to be carefully executed. The ability to achieve the smooth results that you’re aiming for is much easier with a motorized sod cutter from your San Jose tool rental headquarters. Manual cutters are more prone to leaving behind evidence of former lawns, which are unattractive and not conducive to future planting.

A Tool Shed Equipment Rentals is your top source for top-of-the-line sod cutters. We also offer other gardening equipment rentals including tillers and chippers so that you can renovate your lawn easily and affordably. To learn more about our rental equipment , visit any one of our six stores or call (831) 359-4769.