What you need for a landscaping workday
A landscaping workday needs more than plants and hand tools. Plan for enough equipment for several people to work at once, plus gloves, eye protection, shelter, drinking water and a clear waste setup. The list below covers the practical items to buy, collect or bring before volunteers arrive. Check tool quantities against your volunteer assignments, and arrange plant materials and waste collection early rather than waiting until the week of the workday.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tentsqty 2
- Foldable tablesqty 6
- Folding chairsqty 40
- Tableclothsqty 6
- Waste binsqty 6
Tools
- Shovelsqty 8
- Scoopsqty 6
- Rakesqty 8
- Hoesqty 6
- Hand shovelsqty 8
- Pruning shearsqty 6
- Loppersqty 3
- Wheelbarrowsqty 4
- Broom handlesqty 4
- Street broomsqty 4
- Work bucketsqty 8
- Measuring tapesqty 3
- Guy ropesqty 4
- Wooden stakesqty 30
- Work glovesqty 40
Safety
- Safety gogglesqty 20
- Hearing protectionqty 10
- First aid kit
- Safety vestsqty 8
- Flashlightsqty 6
Equipment
- Coolersqty 3
- Kettlesqty 2
- Extension cordsqty 3
- Power stripsqty 3
Lighting
- LED string lightsqty 4
- Battery lanternsqty 4
Tableware
- Reusable platesqty 45
- Reusable bowlsqty 45
- Reusable cupsqty 60
- Cutlery setsqty 45
- Serving spoonsqty 6
Kitchen
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 6
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Water jugsqty 4
- Ice packsqty 12
Cleaning
- Washing-up tubsqty 3
- Dishclothsqty 8
- Spongesqty 6
- Hand soap dispensersqty 3
Catering
- Groceries
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White rolls - 50 pieces
- Vegetarian vegetable burgers - 45 pieces
- Chicken burgers - 35 pieces
- Vegan burgers - 10 pieces
- Cold cuts - 2 kilogram
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Herb butter - 500 grams
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Tomatoes - 4 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 3 kilograms
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Bell peppers - 2 kilograms
- Carrots - 3 kilogram
- Potato salad - 5 kilograms
- Pasta salad - 5 kilograms
- Lentil salad - 3 kilogram
- Apples - 5 kilograms
- Bananas - 4 kilogram
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Peanut mix - 2 kilograms
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Barbecue sauce - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Paprika powder - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Coffee - 4 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Lemonade - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 12 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 3 bottles
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Bread bags - 2 packs
Tips
- Plan one usable pair of work gloves and one safety vest per volunteer, plus at least 10% extra for replacements or late arrivals. Keep safety goggles available wherever digging, cutting or sweeping may throw up debris.
- Provide one wheelbarrow for roughly every 4–6 active workers if soil, compost or plant material must be moved. Fewer carts can create waiting time, especially when the work area is spread across several zones.
- Prepare drinking water and coolers before the start time, not during registration. For a half-day workday, allow at least 1.5–2 litres of water per person and keep the drinks in a shaded, accessible area.
- Check extension cords, power strips and kettles together before setup if hot drinks are planned. Use weather-safe connections and keep cables away from walkways, wet ground and tool storage.
- Put the first aid kit, waste bins and emergency contact details at the reception or food area. Add flashlights and LED string lights if volunteers may still be packing up after daylight fades.
Frequently asked questions
- How many tools do I need for a landscaping workday?
- Match the core tools to the number of active work zones rather than buying one of everything per person. For a group of 20, aim to equip 4–5 zones and provide shared items such as wheelbarrows, loppers and measuring tapes at a central tool point.
- How much water should I buy for a landscaping workday?
- Allow 1.5–2 litres of drinking water per person for a half-day session, and more in hot weather. For 20 volunteers, that means at least 30–40 litres, stored in coolers or another shaded drink station.
- When should I order plants and landscaping materials?
- Order plant material at least 1–2 weeks before the workday, depending on supplier availability and the planting schedule. Confirm the quantities and delivery or collection time several days before volunteers arrive.
- What safety equipment is needed for a volunteer landscaping day?
- Provide work gloves and safety vests for every volunteer, with at least 10% spare. Keep safety goggles, hearing protection, a first aid kit and clearly marked work zones ready before tools are laid out.
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