Choosing the right tools for maintaining your garden well will be influenced by the size and type of garden you have. Most gardens benefit from regular visits to keep them trimmed, mown, pruned and clean. The following tools will help you maintain your garden in good health and looking well cared-for!
Leaf-sweeper/leaf-blower: a boon for tree-loving gardeners who suffer every fall from drifts of dead leaves. Blast them across the grass into one tidy heap and they’re ready for disposal.
Chainsaws: for work on trees that need lopping, heavy pruning or felling. A gas-powered chainsaw is the best option. Take the proper safety precautions – if you need to use a chainsaw, you will never regret getting proper training in how to handle and maintain it. Sharpening your chainsaw is also an important part of chainsaw maintenance, and makes a big difference to how easily the chainsaw will cut. Chainsaws are very useful but can be very dangerous – make sure you follow a proper chainsaw maintenance program.
Power washer: takes the backache out of cleaning decking, tiles, flags etc. The powerful water-jet scours hard surfaces clean without the need for solid abrasion or chemicals.
Grass trimmer: for ‘blitzing’ patches of long grass, weeds etc and keeping grass short around trees or in corners where a mower can’t go. Remember to wear safety glasses as the nylon cutting cord sometimes flings twigs, grit etc fast and high. Different Models may have a single grip or ‘bicycle’ handles for a more secure hold.
Brushcutter: sturdier than a grass trimmer, using a rotating metal cutting disk instead of a nylon cord. Suitable for thicker undergrowth, thistles, thorn-bushes etc. Look for a model which can also fit a nylon cord head and you have two tools in one
Hedge trimmer: available in corded, battery and gas models and particularly useful for high/long hedges where you want a smooth, even-cut surface without having to spend hours with the shears.
Lawnmowers: the original garden maintenance machine, first invented in 1827 to mow very large areas. Now available in all shapes and sizes from tiny, lightweight hover-mowers through to ride-on mowers for larger gardens, and powered either by gas or electricity.