Our hedges mark out the edge of our property, enabling us to enjoy privacy and security on our land – however big or small that may be!

During the summer months these wonderful green walls grow wildly and lose their formation and so require trimming at least twice a year to keep them under control. This also maintains the good health of your hedge. Keeping your hedges pruned and trim will also improve the appearance of your garden and home.

An Electric trimmer makes light work for those even with the biggest of gardens and will save you many hours compared to tackling the job with a pair of shears! There are a number of different types of hedge trimmer on the market it’s worth bearing in mind these differences before you make your purchase to ensure you buy the type of trimmer right for you, your garden and your hedge.

Power Source

A hedge trimmer can be powered by either electricity, battery or petrol. Electrical hedge trimmers are lightweight and have an immediate and continual energy source. However this type of trimmer will need to be plugged into your mains supply of electricity. So check that the cord length on your trimmer will stretch from your mains socket to the furthest point of your hedge. You may need a pretty long extension cord. Remember you will not only be trimming the hedge inside of your garden but also on the side which is facing out of your garden. This power source is not ideal if you have a large garden and also can be dangerous (you will be at risk of cutting through the mains power cord.) Circuit breakers are advised!

The battery option is very popular, this type of trimmer has a rechargeable energy source and is extremely clean and efficient to use. It has no power cord so is far less dangerous than the electric trimmer. Do remember though to charge the batteries for up to 7 hours before carrying out any cutting activity. The battery trimmer is less powerful than the petrol version which may in fact suit female or slightly older gardeners as it is easier to handle.

Petrol trimmers are often heavy noisy and smokey but boy do they trim! With no charging necessary simply top this type up with petrol and away you go. This is definitely a version worth considering especially if you have a large hedge to tackle.

Trimmer Blades

A hedge trimmer can cut using either a single or double action.  On single action trimmers the top blade oscillates cutting against the lower stationary blade, where as the double action trimmer has a pair of double sided toothed blades that slide back and forth at a high speed enabling you to sweep across your hedge in both directions. This type of trimmer is far more efficient and effective.
Blade length should play a big part in your purchasing decision. Firstly consider the size of your hedge – if you have large areas of hedgerow choose a trimmer with a larger blade as they will save you a lot of effort in the long run. However, the bigger the blade the more power your trimmer will require. So a heavier motor will be used which will be noisier than on a shorter bladed trimmer. Blade lengths range from 14-30 inches. Blade widths will also vary, this is the space inbetween the teeth on the blade and the maximum thickness a trimmer can cut through. For instance a 20mm blade can cut through a 20mm branch maximum.

Special features on a trimmer

Some manufacturers are using special features on their hedge trimmers to increase ease of use. Some of these worth looking out for are the following:

Double position trimmers – Enables extended reach whilst on the ground by allowing you to adjust the handle into a right angle from the blade so you can successfully cut horizontally across the top of the hedge.
Clipping collector – As you trim any stray cuttings are collected giving your hedge a neater finish.
Automatic cut out – Safety feature
Hand Guard – Safety feature that protects you from the moving blades.

Whichever trimmer you believe to be right for you and your garden do remember that with a rotating blade all hedge trimmers are dangerous items which need responsible use.

Here are my top safety tips:

• Keep all people, children and animals out of the area you are working within.
• Always hold the hedge trimmers correctly using two hands.
• Always switch off and allow the blades to fully stop before attempting to remove any jam.
• Wear protective clothing and safety goggles to protect yourself.
• Do not use an electric trimmer in wet weather
• Electrical trimmers – ensure cord is kept well away from the blade and where you are cutting at all times.

Alternatively for an easy life check out our fantastic range of garden fencing panels that are a wonderful alternative to time consuming hedges!

Happy trimming!

Gardener Jack

Every Autumn I used to find myself fighting the battle of man versus tree.

My Saturday mornings (and most of the afternoon!) used to be spent raking leaves from my driveway, lawn and garden paths, wishing I could be somewhere else enjoying my weekend.

Then I discovered a leaf blower and the rest as they say was history!

If you, like me, need to move a lot of leaves from your garden, a big rake or a large bunch of motivated and willing helpers will come in handy. However, both of these are difficult to come by. A leaf blower is the best solution for eradicating those leaves and requires very little time and effort on your behalf, enabling you plenty more time on the weekend to enjoy those sacred hours outside of work.

What is a Leaf Blower?

A leaf blower is simply a high speed fan surrounded by a cover. A tube which is connected to the fan allows you to focus the air current generated from the fan into whichever direction you want your leaves to move.

Some blowers also come with an attached vacuum and bag for collecting leaves. This type of blower is ideal for removing leaves from your borders or when they are intertwined with your shrubs.

You can also purchase a blower and vacuum with a mulching facility so your leaves can be used as compost.

Before you purchase your leaf blower ask yourself a few essential questions:

• How big is the area the blower will need to cover?
• How much power can you handle and over how long?
• What is my budget?
• How much noise will my family/neighbours put up with on a Sunday morning?

Types of Leaf Blower

Handheld Leaf Blower

This is currently the most popular leaf blower on the market as this type is lightweight, portable and powerful. However do note that you may find this tool does become quite heavy when operating it for long period of time.This is the cheapest option, and can be powered by either gas or electricity.

Back Pack Leaf Blower

This comes with a harness so you can carry the blower on your back and it has an elongated hose which you hold and control the direction of the blown leaves. Back pack blowers are gas powered. This item may be more suitable for you if you have a large area to cover.

Walk Behind Leaf Blowers

This is suitable for those with really large gardens. This gas powered tool is on wheels and is commonly used by commercial gardeners. Walk Behind blowers are the most expensive option and will need to be housed somewhere so check you have plenty of room in your garage beforehand!

One of the main factors to consider when purchasing your leaf blower is the energy source it uses. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of each one.

Electric Leaf Blowers

Electric blowers are slightly less powerful but are lighter, quieter and vibrate less than gas blowers, meaning that if you tire easily this may be a better option for you. Also if you are only looking to clear a small area of leaves an electric blower will be suitable for you. You can purchase either a corded blower or a cordless one with a rechargeable battery. The corded option obviously comes with an endless supply of energy but your mobility will be restricted to the length of the cord. Whilst the blowers running on rechargeable batteries may be able to move freely around your garden, they have been found to be weaker in power than other types of blower.

Gas Leaf Blowers

Both mobility and power is greatly increased with this type of leaf blower meaning that you an cover a larger area in quicker time which is a real bonus if you have a larger garden. Do note that with more power comes a lot of noise and these machines are  a lot heavier.

Once you have considered your options and purchased the blower that is right for you, you’ll never find yourself reaching for your old rake again!!

Good luck and happy gardening!

Jack

Do you love gardening but are beginning to struggle with the upkeep of your garden because of your mobility?

As we get older our appreciation for a freshly pruned tree or a weed free patio grows but unfortunately our ability to complete these tasks pain free begins to diminish.

Fear not – with some thoughtful planning and buying of the right tools you can continue to maintain your garden into your twilight years.

Garden Tools

There are many tools available which can help make those tedious jobs easier which we will shortly look at. The key point with any product is to buy lightweight tools with extendable handles wherever possible, these tools will enable you to weed, prune and carry out general maintenance on your garden a lot easier.

Trowels and Forks

These are gardening essentials. Both are useful for weeding and also for planting and will be available with different sized handles. Look out for tools with large easy grip handles. If you suffer from weak wrists you can purchase arm supports to prevent you dropping the tool.

Jack’s Top Tip – Forks and Trowels will be available in metal or plastic. Plastic tools tend to be thicker and more difficult to push through the soil. Where as stainless steel tools will last longer and will be far easier to use!

Push Pull Weeder

This product looks slightly like a Hoe. It is made from stainless steel and can come with a telescopic handle so you can adjust the length to suit you.

The Push Pull Weeder works by pushing and pulling the serrated cutter through the soil to clear the weeds in your garden. This may sound like hard work but this product is lightweight and requires very little effort on your behalf.

Weeder Hoe

This is similar to the conventional Hoe but has V shaped notches on the back of the tool which allow you to catch and pull out thicker weeds whilst still keeping their roots attached. If your garden is pretty well kept already this tool would suit you, however if you are looking to freshen up a large area which has been taken over by weeds this device would not be suitable as it would take you forever and a day to pull out each weed individually.

Harpoon Style Weed Extractor

A garden harpoon on a long handle which can be adjusted to suit your height. You push the tool vertically into the soil, twist and then manually remove the weed from the soil. If bending to remove the weed will cause you pain or discomfort, use a gripping weedpuller to lift the weed from the soil to save you from bending down.

Jack’s Alert – Do bear in mind that this tool will leave a hole so do not use on your lawn unless you have a bucket of compressed soil on hand!

Gripping Weedpuller

Will remove all weeds from your beds but is not suitable for lawns or on compact ground as potentially will simply trim off the top of the weed and leave the roots behind. This tool can be used either seated or standing.

Patio Weeders

How many of us have ruined our trowels and forks as well as our fingers and even our kitchen knives trying to remove the weeds from in-between our patio slabs. The patio weeder or weed knife simply and efficiently hooks and pulls weeds out from these tricky spots. Do bear in mind that whilst using this tool some bending is involved in order to get the best angle.

Buying one or a combination of these products will help you to remain in control of your garden and maintain its upkeep to a high standard. Don’t forget to also utilise your best asset – the grandkids whose energy limits will be unlimited and their want to earn a few extra quid may be the answer to all of your gardening concerns!

Happy weeding

Gardener Jack

Gone are the days of pushing around a blunt bladed lawn mower manually powered by you or your son (if you were lucky and willing to fork out a fiver).

Today’s mowers are sleek, high powered and move effortlessly around your garden.

Whether you are considering a hover mower, petrol rotary mover, electric rotary motor, cylinder mower, robotic or ride on mower it will pay to research which type is suited to your grass maintenance requirements. The level of physical effort you will have to put in will also vary massively depending on the type you purchase.

Lets start by looking at the more manual types ..

Petrol Rotary Mowers

The greatest advantage of this type of mower is that it has no cable. This is especially important if you have a large garden. Petrol Rotary mowers are renowned for being powerful – any lawn should be a breeze behind this machine!

One major drawback with petrol mowers is the price, they are not the cheapest option. Another factor to bear in mind, especially if the wife likes to relax on a summer’s afternoon in the garden whilst you are mowing the lawn .. is the shear noise of these beasts!!

Electric Mowers

These are far cheaper than petrol rotary mowers and in some cases by more than 50 per cent! Electric mowers are also quieter and lighter than their noisy petrol counterparts.

Does the reduction in noise, weight and price also mean a reduction in mowing quality? The answer to this would be no. In a small to medium sized garden as long as your mower suits your grass type an electrical mower will perfectly suffice.

The major downfall of this product is the electric cable which makes this mower awkward to use if you have a large garden.

Cylinder Mowers

Many lawn experts believe this to be the best type of lawn mower. Cylinder mowers have been used for generations and were used before the invention of electricity or petrol mowers. As the lawn mower is pushed forwards, a horizontally mounted cylinder rotates with a number of blades on its surface. These blades trim the grass to your desired height. These mowers are ideal for getting those perfect stripes into your lawn. Today there are many petrol cylinder mowers on the market.

Robotic Mowers

For those techno geeks out there this product is a must. Robotic mowers simply require one initial set up and then they are ready to mow your lawn with absolutely no man-power required.

You lay a wire around the edges of your lawn which is pegged in and connect this to a base unit. The robotic mower has sensors to recognise the wire and will stay within this area. Fear not about this looking ugly. After 2-3 weeks the wire will become unnoticeable within your grass. The robotic mower can be set to automatically mow your lawn and return to base on scheduled days.

More interestingly the mower is a mulcher! The grass cuttings are cut extremely small and buried into the roots of the lawn where it can decompose and act as a natural fertilizer. This again removes any effort on your behalf of having to empty its contents.

The disadvantage of this product is the price, this is not a cheap option. Also carefully read up on each model as some struggle to cope with large areas.

Ride on mower

This is the ultimate boy’s toy. If you want power, ease, engines, drinks holder and a superbly cut lawn this is for you. However do bear in mind you will require a sizeable garden and budget in order to reap the full benefits of one of these mowers. For older gardeners, the sit on is a fantastic aid in ensuring you can maintain the upkeep of your garden.

As you can see there are mowers out there for all gardens, budgets and personal preferences. Each have their benefits and drawbacks. Make sure you research well as a well thought out purchase will last you a long time!

Happy gardening!!

Gardener Jack