Late summer is a great time to tackle outdoor projects around your home or property. The hottest part of summer is winding down, but there is still plenty of time to get work done before colder weather arrives in Southwest Ohio.
Whether you’re cleaning up the yard, improving drainage, preparing your lawn for fall, or finally taking care of a project you’ve been putting off, having the right equipment can make a big difference.
Instead of buying equipment you may only use once or twice, renting lets you get the right tool for the job without the cost and storage that come with ownership.
Here are seven projects worth tackling before fall, and some of the rental equipment that can help you get them done.
1. Remove Stumps and Clean Up the Yard
That stump you’ve been mowing around all summer isn’t going anywhere on its own.
Late summer is a good opportunity to remove unwanted stumps, clean up overgrown areas, and get your property ready for fall. A stump grinder can turn a difficult manual job into a much more manageable weekend project.
Use our MS 250 Stihl chainsaw to cut the stump down as low to ground as possible to allow the grinding process to take place
The Toro STX-26 Stump grinder makes quick work of that stump you’ve been looking at since the spring. Now its time to tackle it’s removal before the fall temperatures arrive. This will give you a chance to get top soil and grass seed down in it’s place before the seeding season. When the spring arrives, you won’t even be able to tell there was ever a tree there at all!
Equipment to consider: Stump grinder, chainsaw, brush chipper, skid steer.
2. Fix Drainage Problems Before Fall Rain
If you’ve noticed standing water, washed-out areas, or water collecting near your home after summer storms, now is a good time to address the problem.
Depending on the project, installing drainage pipe or improving runoff may require digging narrow trenches across the property. A trencher or mini excavator can save hours of digging compared with doing the job by hand.
French drains, sump lines, and drainage grates need maintenance. Shingle Debris, small sticks, leaves, and more end up in your drainage systems. Routinely cleaning your downspout lines with a 100ft drain snake can keep you from experiencing basement flooding during heavy rain events.
Over the years, lines can settle and seperate, allowing tree roots to penetrate the line, contributing to the break in the pipe. You can use a sewer inspection camera with a locator to find the exact spot that requires repair, helping you keep lawn damage to a minimum.
This is a great time of year to check the functionality of your primary and back up sump pumps. Simply take a 5 gal bucket and fill the sump crock to ensure that the primary pump clears the pit. Unplug your primary sump pump, and fill the crock again with the 5 gal bucket. After confirming proper operation, remember to PLUG BOTH PUMPS BACK IN!
Taking care of drainage problems before fall and winter weather arrives can also help prevent bigger headaches later.
Equipment to consider: Trencher, mini excavator, skid steer, drain snake, sewer inspection camera
3. Prepare Your Lawn for Fall Seeding
Late summer and early fall are important times for lawn maintenance in Southwest Ohio.
Compacted soil can make it difficult for water, nutrients, and grass seed to reach where they’re needed. Aerating the lawn can help loosen the soil and create better conditions for fall growth.
If you’re planning to overseed or repair thin areas of your lawn, getting the prep work done at the right time can make a noticeable difference next spring.
If you have mulched the grass trimmings over the summer, your lawn has a thick layer of thatch that could be depriving the roots of much needed water and nutrients. Using a thatcher on the lawn is the first step in fall maintenance. Rake up and bag the thatch or use a yard vacuum to remove it from the lawn.
The best weed control is a thick full lawn. The next step in the fall maintenance checklist is slice seeding, aerating, and overseeding. After the seed is down, remember to water consistantly for the first few weeks until the new grass sprouts can establish their root system and begin to mature.
Equipment to consider: Lawn aerator, overseeder, lawn vacuum, thatcher, broad spreader
4. Deep Clean Driveways, Patios, and Sidewalks
Months of dirt, algae, grime, and outdoor traffic can leave concrete looking rough by the end of summer.
A pressure washer can help restore driveways, sidewalks, patios, decks, and other outdoor surfaces. For larger flat concrete areas, pairing a pressure washer with a rotary surface cleaner can make the job faster while helping create a more even finish.
It’s also a great project to finish before leaves start falling and temperatures drop.
Check out our in depth blog on pressure washing!
Equipment to consider: Pressure washer and rotary surface cleaner.
5. Tackle Landscaping/Hardscaping Projects
Thinking about adding a landscape bed, moving soil, spreading mulch, removing shrubs, or reshaping part of the yard?
The right compact equipment can take a project from exhausting to manageable.
A mini skid steer is especially useful around residential properties because it can handle materials and attachments while working in areas where larger equipment may be difficult to maneuver. We offer a wide range of attachments including: augers, trenchers, forks, tillers, grapple buckets, and smooth or tooth buckets.
For bigger digging or material-moving jobs, a skid steer or mini excavator may be the better choice.
Plate, or roller compactors help to finish those paver patios and patheways.
Equipment to consider: Mini skid steer, skid steer, mini excavator, compactors
6. Finish Outdoor Painting Projects
Exterior painting gets a lot less appealing once temperatures start dropping.
If you’ve been planning to repaint a fence, shed, garage, or other outdoor surface, late summer gives you another opportunity to get it finished.
An airless paint sprayer can cover large surfaces much faster than a brush or roller and can be especially useful for fences, siding, and other larger projects.
As always, follow the paint manufacturer’s recommendations for temperature, surface preparation, and application.
We carry a towable and a drivable 45′ boom lift to help reach the higher projects around your property.
OSHA recommends completion of MEWP training prior to the use of ariel lifts, and proper PPE and fall protection equipment are mandatory.
Equipment to consider: Airless paint sprayer, pressure washer, ladders, lifts.
7. Take Care of the Project You’ve Been Avoiding
You know the one.
Maybe it’s moving a pile of dirt that’s been sitting in the yard for two months. Maybe it’s digging out an old landscape bed, removing a stump, cleaning the driveway, or finally fixing that drainage problem.
A lot of projects become much easier when you stop trying to do them with whatever happens to be sitting in the garage.
You don’t need to own every tool or piece of equipment. You just need the right one when you need it.
Not Sure What Equipment You Need? Ask Us.
Every project is a little different. If you know what you want to accomplish but aren’t sure which machine or tool is the best fit, One Stop Rental can help you figure it out.
Tell us about your project, what you’re working with, and what you’re trying to get done. Our team can help point you toward the right rental equipment for the job.
With locations serving the West Chester, Liberty Township, Fairfield, Cincinnati, and surrounding Southwest Ohio areas, we’re here to help you get the project off your list before fall arrives.
Make it happen with One Stop Rental.