12 Lesser-Known Milwaukee Tools That'll Upgrade Your Gardening Routine

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Milwaukee is among the leading brands for those who tend to put their power tools through their paces. Its tools are commonly coveted among tradespeople — however, there are also plenty of high-end Milwaukee tools that are worth the investment for homeowners. Not only that, but its ever-growing range includes a long lineup of gardening tools that can tackle most, if not all, of your yard maintenance needs.

To prove the point, we spent some time browsing Home Depot to see which Milwaukee gardening tools are currently available. There are power tools designed to cover pruning and cutting just about anything around your yard, from delicate flowers to blown-down trees. There are specialized solutions for those who need maximum power and reliability from their garden gear, plus a few must-have gardening tools for beginners that are sure to help make maintenance easier. Whether you're a long-time supporter of Team Red or are wondering whether a move to Milwaukee could upgrade your gardening routine, chances are you'll find something below to tempt your inner tool enthusiast.

Choosing the right pruning tool ultimately boils down to height and branch diameter. Milwaukee's M18 Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Telescoping Pole Pruning Shears feature a motor-operated pruning tool on the end. This reduces fatigue on hands during long jobs, and is also useful for those who have arthritis. In fact, per Milwaukee, it reduces peak muscle activation up to 80%. As for branch diameter, it can handle branches up to 1¾ inches thick, and the pole extends to 10 feet, which should reduce the need to climb a ladder.

Of course, its ability to upgrade your gardening routine depends entirely on your need for extra reach and powered assistance. But if you're short on time, have sore hands, or simply have lots of pruning to take care of, many users to-date seem convinced that it's worth the $499 investment. "This is an awesome pruning tool for the DIY landscaping owner!" said one. "The pruner has plenty of power and cuts through small branches with zero effort." Adding to this, another buyer said that it's "Super easy to use and will save you time." They explained, "This pruner has to be one of the most useful things in my lawn collection."

Instead of spending on a battery-operated tool, some cutting tasks can be handled with a pair of long-handled loppers. These enable you to exert leverage and make cutting easier without overly straining your hands. As an example, Milwaukee's 32-inch Bypass Loppers feature a strong, durable build, plus long handles for maximum leverage and minimum effort. The blades have a low-friction coating, which helps to prevent sticking and seizing, and as for what you can cut with them, they can manage branches up to two-inches in diameter.

They currently retail for $99.98, so pretty much $400 less than the battery pruner featured previously. Yet they're rated 4.7 stars, which would suggest that they handle themselves well around the yard. As one user explained in their feedback, "These are amazing!! The high leverage makes cutting branches with almost no effort." Another 5-star reviewer, who praised the tool's simple, durable, and lightweight build, explained, "This is the lightest pair of loppers I've ever wielded. Cut through limbs up to about 2½ inches thick and it was clean and easy...Couldn't ask for more."

Another product from Milwaukee's line of hand-tools is this 10-inch High Carbon Steel Blade Pruning Saw. Again, it's ideal for gardeners who don't mind putting their back into their pruning. Not only that, but at $34.98, it's also potentially attractive to anyone who'd prefer to avoid the expense of new power tools. Despite its manual nature, it's designed to make fast, clean cuts, with ultra-sharp teeth and a durable carbon steel blade. It's also designed for safe shed storage, with a folding blade that won't catch unsuspecting fingers as they ferret through your tool bag.

When you're using it, you can choose from two blade positions for both regular and undercuts. There's also a lanyard hole, which is useful should you find yourself pruning at the top of a ladder. One buyer, who described it as a "Must-have gardening tool!" explained, "We have lots of trees and are always landscaping, pruning, etc. This Milwaukee 10-inch High Carbon Steel Blade is convenient for me to carry around. It's sharp and just the right size for me to use." To quote another happy Home Depot shopper, "This product is very handy for doing yard work. I carry it with me whenever I am using a string trimmer, to be able to prune any large weeds."

Designed with a similar concept in mind to the brand's telescoping pruning shears, Milwaukee's M12 Brushless Pruner Shears Kit is better suited to work at ground level. It's a motor-assisted hand-tool designed to eliminate hand strain on large pruning jobs or for those with arthritic hands. The specs suggest that you could cut up to 1,000 ½-inch branches per charge. It's actually capable of cutting branches up to 1 ¼-inches thick, although doing so will inevitably reduce the battery runtime. Either way, it's fitted with a brushless motor, which helps to improve longevity compared to similar products with brushed motors.

The only thing to bear in mind is that it is pricey — certainly when compared to standard pruning shears. It currently fetches $249 at Home Depot, which does at least buy the requisite battery and charger. You also get a handy wrist strap, plus a blade guard for storage. Diving into the reviews, what stands out are the consistent votes of confidence from users who praise its quality and ease of use. Some users explained that it solved the problem of pruning with arthritis, while others simply said that it's a joy to use. As one buyer put it, "This is one of those toys, I mean tools, that you find yourself taking out of the box to take care of one thing, and before you realize it you've gone around the entire yard looking for more stuff to cut." They added that it's both efficient and easy to use, and said, "I love the control of the tool and the lack of fatigue while using it."

Nowadays, those who prefer electric lawn mowers versus gas alternatives have plenty of brands to choose from. Milwaukee is just one of them, throwing its hat into the ring with its M18 21-inch Dual Battery Walk-Behind Self-Propelled Mower. It's powered by a brushless engine and, per the name, two M18 batteries. It's priced at $1,849 at Home Depot, which is more expensive than other similar-spec mowers from brands like Ryobi. However, it comes with four batteries, a rapid dual-bay charger, and a six-bay charger. It also includes a grass bag, mulch plug, and rear/side discharge chute, so you can manage your clippings however you see fit. As for who it's for, Milwaukee claims that it's made to meet the needs of landscape maintenance professionals. Whoever's using it, the handles fold for easier storage, front and side LEDs help when the light is low, and a high lift mode ups the blade speed for better air flow and lift.

Some users have cited issues with battery runtimes, although that's fairly common with battery mowers. To avoid issues, it's best to match the mower to your yard. Milwaukee says that this one can handle up to half an acre, provided that you use the recommended batteries, remove no more than an inch of grass, and run it at 3 mph. Exceed those suggestions, and unfortunately, runtimes will take a dip. However, if you stick to them, then you might just be pleased you made the investment. "Best lawnmower I have ever owned," said one buyer, who bought it to help manage their quarter-acre lot. They added that "the power and speed of this mower actually reduced my cutting time by 10 minutes."

Milwaukee's M18 16-inch QUIK-LOK String Trimmer Kit is more versatile than its name might suggest. It includes a string trimmer head, which delivers more power than a 31cc gas trimmer. The cutting swathe can also be adjusted between 14 or 16 inches, which means you can choose to prioritize either power or runtime. What makes it versatile, though, is that while it's listed as a "string trimmer" kit, it also includes separate pole-saw and hedge trimmer attachments. These are part of the 13-strong range of Milwaukee's QUIK-LOK attachments, all of which connect to the brand's QUIK-LOK pole.

This versatility alone may make the $779 price tag feel "worth it" if you have a regular need for such tools. And it's worth knowing that the price also buys a battery and charger, plus a three-foot extension pole. Not only that, but a 4.7-star rating at Home Depot suggests that most buyers think Milwaukee's string trimmer is worth buying. "I'm very impressed with this Milwaukee string trimmer," said one. They explained that it feels well-balanced and comfortable during longer sessions, and added, "I also appreciate the QUIK-LOK compatibility, which adds incredible versatility. The build quality is outstanding, and the long runtime makes it a dependable tool for both homeowners and professionals."

Another member of Milwaukee's M18 gardening line is its 24-inch Battery Powered Hedge Trimmer. Now, it doesn't share the same versatility as the brand's QUIK-LOK system, which can be paired with a hedge trimmer attachment. However, for chunkier branches, this tool's 1¼-inch cutting capacity beats the 1-inch capacity that's specified for the QUIK-LOK alternative. It also has a 24-inch blade (4 inches larger than the QUIK-LOK), plus a rotating handle, which improves comfort and control during use. There's also a clippings sweep attachment to clear your cuttings as you go.

As for price, it'll currently set you back $279, and unfortunately, that doesn't buy a battery. However, that shouldn't be a problem if you already have M18 tools. If you don't, user feedback suggests that it may still be worth considering. "Beast of a hedge trimmer," said one buyer, who explained that it outperforms any other trimmer they've owned. Others described it as very easy to use and said it makes light work of large bushes, including one who explained, "I can't get over how powerful it is!"

Scaling things down by two thirds versus the previous tool, Milwaukee's M12 8-inch Hedge Trimmer Kit is a useful size for smaller shrubs and bushes. It can cut through branches up to half an inch thick, and would likely be very handy in more ornamental gardens. The tool features a durable brushless motor, and its total weight of 3.6 pounds makes it easy to use one-handed. As for price, you can expect to part ways with $249, which might seem steep for such a small tool. However, that also equips you with a battery and charger, which is good if you don't already have Milwaukee M12 tools.

Of course, smaller tools like this risk coming across as "gimmicky." After all, there's nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned pair of shears, and as they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, if time is not on your side, you're pruning in tight spaces, or you need something to relieve the strain of trimming on your hands, then it may well hold an edge over traditional tools. One user, who also owns the above M18 24-inch trimmer, explained, "I needed something to get in tighter spots and frankly something not nearly as heavy. This mini handheld hedge helps me get into those areas where a large trimmer cannot reach."

Listed among Milwaukee's highest-rated yard cleanup tools, its M18 120 MPH 450 CFM Handheld Leaf Blower has several advantages over larger tools. Firstly, at $149, it's among the cheaper blowers in Milwaukee's M18 line-up. Its lightweight design (4.4 pounds) helps to reduce user fatigue, and yet, despite its size, it puts out decent air volume and good speeds thanks to a durable brushless motor. It features a throttle lock to reduce grip fatigue, and for optimal control, it's fitted with a variable speed trigger.

Back to those ratings, it's currently marked 4.7 stars overall. As for why, one user described it as "An absolute beast," before explaining it's not just useful for clearing leaves, but also for clearing snow off their vehicles. To quote another happy shopper, "This tool has blowing power very similar to the gas unit I had but it is so so so much easier to use." They admitted that it's not the quietest tool in their garage, but said that, overall, "it does a fantastic job."

Scaled-down pruners and telescoping loppers certainly have their place in certain gardens, but if you need to trim large branches — or cut a fallen tree to pieces — a chainsaw may be more suitable. This 16-inch Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Chainsaw from Milwaukee is, per the specs, built for pro-level landscaper performance and durability. The 16-inch bar and chain handle larger jobs, while the motor delivers power equivalent to a 40cc gas saw.

One thing to note is that the usual $329 price tag only buys the tool, so you will need to invest further in batteries if you don't already own them. However, you may well save in the long-term on things like maintenance costs and fuel, which tend to dip into the pockets of those who favor gas-powered tools. As far as performance goes, most users agree that it earns its place among Home Depot's top-rated gardening tools. "Very strong and sturdy for my needs," said one reviewer, who said that it's great for lighter jobs and smaller trees. It also earned 5 stars from a firefighter, who used it on a wooded trail to assist in the rescue of an injured cyclist. They said, "Our Milwaukee chainsaw proved itself in exactly the kind of situation where equipment either earns your trust or loses it."

Among Milwaukee's smaller but no-less useful tools is its M18 8-inch Hatchet Pruning Chainsaw. It's designed for utility on smaller branches and for cutting in the more awkward corners of your yard. And yet, its brushless motor and 25cc gas equivalent power mean that it's capable of cutting through hardwoods. It has a translucent oil reservoir to easily monitor levels, a full-house chain to deliver clean cuts, plus a variable speed trigger to help ensure control on important cuts.

It does cost $279, which is worth knowing if your need for such a tool is only likely to be occasional. However, if you can see yourself putting it to good use, user feedback to-date suggests that it'll reward your investment with reliable operation. It's rated 4.8 stars overall (that's after more than 1,110 reviews), with one user describing it as "Well-built and easy to use." They added, "Just slapped on the battery and added chain oil; and we were off to cut through large sections of a fallen tree. There was plenty of power to cut anything that fell under the 8-inch bar and no issues with battery capacity."

Our final stop on this tour of Milwaukee gardening gear takes a wild departure from the battery-powered saws and string trimmers that you may, by now, have come to expect. In fact, it's arguably the most simple tool in this guide. It's a pair of 1-inch Cut Capacity Bypass Pruners — Milwaukee's answer to good old-fashioned hand-pruning. They feature durable carbon steel blades with low-friction coating, which enable clean cuts while helping to prevent sticking. The tool can be locked at half-capacity to reduce fatigue while speeding up cuts on thinner stems and branches. Those blades are also designed for resharpening, so when they eventually lose their edge, you shouldn't need to buy another pair.

Now, as hand tools go, their $49.98 price tag puts them at the pricey end of Home Depot's hand pruner lineup. However, a pair of pruners is among the most essential gardening tools you can have in your bag, and by investing in a quality pair, you could save in the long run versus replacing cheaper tools. Of course, price doesn't always mean quality, but in this caseone user said, "Milwaukee pruners are worth the investment!" They explained that the tool cuts through branches with minimal effort, and that they came in handy when pruning their fruit trees after an explosive season of growth. As another buyer explained, "These are the best pruning shears I've ever used."