Garden maintenance

Power tools take the strain out of garden maintenance, therefore it's essential to choose the right product to guarantee a safe and efficient way to complete the task.

Here is our guide to choosing the right equipment for the job:

Lawnmowers

Choosing your ideal lawnmower depends on the size of your lawn, the type of finish desired, convenience, power source, and of course your budget.

Types of lawnmowers

Cylinder mowers have vertically rotating blades that cut very close for a well-manicured lawn. These mowers are ideal for level lawns where a really fine cut is required. They're not as suitable for uneven lawns.

They come in a variety of cutting widths, with rear rollers for a traditional striped finish and detachable grass clipping collection box. Cylinder mowers are available in electric, petrol-powered or hand-pushed models.

Rotary mowers have horizontally rotating blades that achieve a less fine finish. These mowers are better for coping with larger family lawns with rough grassy patches, weeds, moss and difficult sloping banks.

They come with adjustable cutting height and removable grass clippings box. Rotary mowers come in electric or petrol-driven models, and are either manual push or self-propelled. Self-propelled is worth considering if you have difficulty pushing a mower or have a large area to cover.

Hover mowers have rotating blades and float over the surface, keeping your lawn neat and tidy. They are ideal for speedily mowing small to medium-sized gardens, any uneven surfaces and banks, although they don't achieve such as high-quality cut as other types of mower. They are lightweight enough to be carried or hung in your shed, inexpensive, and very easy to handle even between flowerbeds.

Larger hover mowers will cope better with bigger lawns, some have rear wheels for easy positioning, some with an integrated grass collection box that compacts the grass. All hover mowers are electrical.

Electric vs petrol lawnmowers

Electric mowers:

• Great for small to medium-sized lawns
• Lightweight, manoeuvrable and easy to handle
• Require a power source close-by
• Will have an electric cable trailing behind
• Cleaner and easier to maintain than petrol
• Ideal if you don't have a lot of time
• Should not be used in wet conditions
• Look for a model with integral cable and plug tidy
• Go for one with a safety lock-off switch

Petrol mowers:

• More powerful for quickly mowing larger areas and longer grass
• No close power source or trailing cables to worry about
• Will not overheat when mowing large expanses of grass
• Small petrol mowers are light and easy to handle
• Bigger models have wider cutting blades and bigger collection boxes
• Available in self-propelled models that can be adjusted to your walking speed
• Generally petrol mowers show a better performance though are more expensive
• Will cope with damp grass in wet weather
• Require more upkeep, and petrol needs to be stored safely
• Available with electronic key ignition for the elderly or infirm rather than a recoil starter mechanism

Please note that for safety reasons, petrol lawnmowers should not be transported when full of petrol.

What to consider when buying a lawnmower

• If you want to collect grass clippings, the bigger the grass collection box the fewer times you will need to empty it.
• A wider mower will get the job done quicker.
• A perspex viewing panel in the mower's collection box will let you see when it needs emptying.
• For a striped-effect lawn, choose a mower with a rear roller that flattens mown grass in one direction.

Strimmers

The mechanical alternative to garden shears and scythes, used for edging lawn borders, trimming awkward areas around hedges, fences and trees, and cutting down long grass and tough overgrown foliage.

To help select the right strimmer for your garden, we have listed the main areas to consider.

Cutting width

The larger the diameter of the strimmer head, the more it can cut in one go. For rough cutting large areas of grass or clearing areas overgrown with nettles and brambles, a wide cutting head will provide speed and efficiency. For trimming borders, edges and around shrubs on a fine lawn, a lightweight and manoeuvrable strimmer with smaller cutting head is more suitable, especially in tight spaces. A 180 degree rotating head provides a perfect angle for lawn edges.

Parts replacement

Garden strimmers use nylon cord which spins and cuts through vegetation. The larger heads use thicker cord or a double cord for higher performance in more overgrown areas.

The cord can wear out or occasionally break by hitting a tough object. Many strimmers have an integral cord spool that can feed in more line if necessary. Some models can even replace the broken line automatically if required. The broken cord or empty spool will need replacing when the line runs out.

We carry a full range of replacement nylon cord and many replacement spare parts for our range of strimmers.

Height adjustment

A Possible consideration would be choosing a strimmer with an extendable shaft that allows users to adjust the height, making them easier to handle and control. These strimmers have two handles that slide away from each other so you can adjust the handles height and distance. This makes them more comfortable to use, especially when trimming large areas or using for a lengthy period of time.

Ergonomic handles

If you are going to use the strimmer for extended periods, it's worth considering the weight, and support handles and harness. Choose one with an adjustable second handle and a wrist extension support for extra comfort.

Electric, petrol or battery-powered strimmers

Electric strimmers are cleaner, lightweight and easy to handle. They're ideal for when working in small areas near to a power source but the downside is that the electric cord makes them restrictive and can get in the way. They're also less powerful than petrol strimmers and should not be used in wet weather.

Petrol strimmers are more powerful and run for a long time. They are suited to larger gardens, overgrown and less accessible areas, as they do not need a power source close-by and there is no cord to get in the way. However, petrol strimmers tend to be heavier and bulkier, choose one with good support handles and harness.

Like petrol strimmers, rechargeable battery-powered strimmers are more mobile and can also be used anywhere. Furthermore, they are lightweight, cleaner and less noisy than petrol strimmers. A disadvantage of battery-powered strimmers is that they are less powerful, and have a shorter running time of around 30-40 minutes from 5-7 hours of charging, so you might need an additional battery for a big job, adding to the cost.

Chainsaws

When you need a chainsaw, nothing else will really do. They have the power to tackle tough timber cutting jobs such as chopping down trees and sawing logs.

Which type of chainsaw is right for me?

The types of woodcutting projects you'll be doing and the frequency will determine which chainsaw is right for you. If you want to cut the occasional overhanging tree branch, then you won't require a more expensive professional quality saw.

If you want to regularly chop firewood, or use your saw on a daily basis, a more reliable higher quality saw is a good idea and worth the extra money. The type of wood you cut is also important. Hardwoods will require a more powerful saw than comparable sized softwoods.

Power

There are two types of chainsaws: petrol and electric. Your access to a power source helps determine which type you need, so think about where your woodcutting projects are going to be.

Petrol saws are a must if you're out and about in woods, farms and gardens, as they don't need mains electricity and can be used anywhere. However, they do need regular topping up so you'll need to have a supply of petrol readily available.

Electric saws are great for smaller projects and less experienced users. They're quieter than petrol models, are lightweight, easy to start and require less maintenance. However, they have less power than petrol saws and you have the inconvenience and added safety issue of a trailing cord.

Size

Chainsaws come in many sizes.

Saws are measured by: engine size and bar length.

Engine size (displacement) is the measurement used for the size of a petrol engine measured in cubic centimeters (cc). The higher the number, the more power and the tougher jobs your chainsaw can tackle.

Bar length refers to the active cutting area and the largest size wood the saw will cut in a single pass. When determining the size you need to remember that the saw's actual safe cutting ability is twice the bar length, eg. a saw with a 14" bar can cut through a 28" log.

We provide 14", 16", 18" and 20" bar lengths. Although these are only two inch increments, each larger size brings increased weight and power.

Weight

The weight of a chainsaw is very important. If you need a big displacement saw for one job, move to a smaller saw for lighter duty jobs as you will tire easily and sawing can become dangerous.

Using a chainsaw safely:

• Always read the manufacturer's instructions before use
• Keep all people and animals well away from where you are working
• Hold the chainsaw firmly with two hands
• Position the saw so your body is clear of the line of cut to avoid injury from kickback
• Only accelerate the engine while cutting

Hedge Trimmers

Most hedges require trimming back at least twice a year to keep them under control and promote even growth. A powered hedge trimmer saves hours over using a traditional pair of manual shears. Our range includes electric, battery-operated and petrol trimmers.

Listed are a few tips to help you choose the right hedge trimmer for your garden.

Power: mains, battery or petrol

A hedge trimmer can be powered in 3 ways: mains electricity, rechargeable battery or petrol. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, so decide which is best for you.

Electrical hedge trimmers provide a clean, lighter weight option with the convenience of immediate and continual use. However you may be restricted by cord length - not ideal if the hedge is a long way from your power source and having a cord can be obtrusive and dangerous.

Rechargeable hedge trimmers give you the best of both worlds. They're clean to use and have no cord so they can be used anywhere, without the danger of accidentally cutting the cord. However, they are less powerful than petrol models, and you do need to plan ahead to make sure your batteries have enough charge. 5-7 hours of charging will give you just 30 minutes use. A second battery will give you back up but adds to the cost.

Petrol hedge trimmers can be used anywhere, and there's no cord so they're safer. Just top them up with petrol and away you go, no charging necessary. These models tend to be harder to use as they're heavier, but they can cope with most types of hedge with ease.

Blade length and width

Hedge trimmers cut using either a single-action, where only the top blade oscillates, cutting against a stationary lower blade, or a double-action where a pair of double-sided, toothed blades slide back and forth at a high speed so you can sweep across hedges in both directions. The latter are more efficient.

Blade length

Consider the size of the hedge you will be cutting to get the right length blade. The longer the blade length, the more area it can cover and the quicker it will get the job done. However, longer blades also require more power and larger heavier motors so weigh up blade size versus ease of use.

Blade lengths range from 14 to 30 inches with long blades of 22 to 30 inches providing extended reach for taller or wider hedges.

Blade width

The blade width indicates the space between teeth and the maximum thickness the trimmer can cut through, eg. a 20mm blade width will be able to cut through a maximum 20mm branch. Ensure you have the right size for your hedge.

Weight

As previously mentioned, blade size will determine the hedge trimmer's weight. Make sure it feels comfortable as you will be holding it for long periods of time at awkward angles.

Features

Look for extra features that make for easier use:

Double position trimmers

For extended reach while on the ground, a double position trimmer avoids you having to climb up high by allowing you to adjust the handle into a right angle to the blades for a level cut across the top of the hedge.

Clippings collector

As you trim your hedge, collect those stray cuttings in a clippings collector for a neater finish.

Automatic cut out

An important safety feature, this automatically switches off the hedge trimmer once the trigger is released.

Hand guard

For reassuring safety, a hand guard will protect you from the moving blades and from falling cuttings as you work.

Using a hedge trimmer safely:

• Keep all people and animals away from the area you're working in
• Hold the hedge trimmer correctly using both hands
• Make sure the hedge trimmer is switched off and idle before attempting to remove any jammed cuttings
• Wear protective clothing including heavy-duty footwear and safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying cuttings

Electric hedge trimmers:

• Don't use in wet weather
• Keep the cable well away from where you are cutting
• Check that the socket outlet has working RCD protection
• Read the manufacturer's instructions before use