At Seattle Sustainable Landscapes (SSL), we’ve tested a lot of battery-powered landscaping tools—and let’s just say, our crews have some opinions. In 2024, we tried commercial gear from Stihl and Milwaukee, hoping to find battery-powered tools that could handle the demands of professional landscape maintenance. While both brands showed promise, the results were underwhelming.
Power, runtime, and battery logistics were major pain points. But we didn’t give up.
Now, we’re gearing up for our most promising trial yet—with Kress, a battery equipment brand that’s gaining serious traction in the commercial landscaping world. And we’re not alone: companies across the U.S., including industry leader K&D Landscaping in the Bay Area, have made the switch to Kress with glowing results.
So, what’s different this time? And why are we optimistic about this trial? Let’s dig in.
🌱 A New Generation of Battery Tools
Kress isn’t just building tools—they’re building systems. Their commercial line is designed from the ground up for professional crews, with key features that directly address the challenges we’ve experienced in past trials:
🔋 Extended Runtime & Fast Charging
Kress claims that their commercial batteries:
- Deliver performance equivalent to gas
- Offer extended runtime suitable for full workdays
- Can recharge in as little as 8 minutes with the right setup
That last point caught our attention. Battery downtime has been one of our biggest pain points—so a system that charges faster than we can drink a cup of coffee? Yes, please.
💪 Built for Professionals
We’ve used battery tools that felt like “homeowner gear with a commercial price tag.”
Kress equipment promises:
- Rugged durability
- Balanced ergonomics for all-day use
- Tool performance that doesn’t drop off as the battery drains
This isn’t “good enough for now” equipment—it’s designed to replace gas.
🛠️ Why We’re Hopeful This Trial Will Be Different
Here’s what sets this trial apart:
- Real-world input from companies already using Kress (shoutout to K&D Landscaping for sharing their insights publicly)
- Structured field testing, including performance logs, crew feedback sessions, and side-by-side comparisons
- Operational focus on battery storage, charging setups, and in-field power rotation
We’ve built this trial not just to test tools, but to evaluate whether Kress can become our system-wide solution.
💬 What Our Crews Are Saying
We’re starting the trial with cautious optimism. Crews are skeptical—understandably so—but open to change if the tools perform. After all, no one likes equipment that slows them down, regardless of how green it is.
That said, we’ve also seen a shift. Crews know clients are asking for cleaner, quieter service. They’re feeling the pressure—and the opportunity—to evolve.
🤝 Why This Matters for Our Clients
If you’re a homeowner who:
- Values quiet mornings
- Is concerned about air quality
- Wants to support companies doing the right thing
…this trial is for you too.
We’re testing Kress because we want to serve you better. If this system lives up to the hype, it could help us:
- Retire gas blowers permanently (well before city mandates)
- Offer battery-only service options
- Build quieter, cleaner, more sustainable maintenance plans
🛠️ What Comes Next
- Our crews are testing Kress tools across a variety of properties this fall
- We’ll collect detailed feedback, compare productivity, and monitor reliability
- If the results are as good as we hope, we’ll begin phasing in Kress equipment across all maintenance crews in 2026
We’ll be transparent throughout the process and share what we learn—because this transition isn’t just about SSL. It’s about the future of landscape maintenance in Seattle and beyond.
Final Thoughts
We’ve tested other tools. We’ve faced our fair share of setbacks. But we believe Kress might be the missing link between our sustainability goals and the day-to-day demands of real landscape work.
If this trial goes well, it could mark a turning point—not just for SSL, but for what clients can expect from landscape maintenance in the Pacific Northwest.
If you want a landscape maintenance team that’s already thinking ahead, let’s talk.