Free Advice

Clearing Up Leaves Part 1: Billy Goat Wheeled Leaf Vacuums

Posted by: James Williamson

With the extremely dry summer that many parts of the UK has experienced so far this year, it will come as no surprise that many trees have begun to drop their leaves already. This is a natural reaction by the trees to conserve their own moisture content; the process of photosynthesis causes moisture loss through the pores of the leaves in the form of evaporation. To conserve water, the trees have absorbed whatever moisture is in their leaves and with no water content, leaves become useless to the tree. This results in an early leaf drop for many species of broad leaved tree, in some cases this can be before the end of August. The gardener and landscaper will of course want to remove these leaves, and, in many cases make some excellent compost into the bargain. 

At LawnMowersDirect.Co.Uk we feel we have the best selection of wheeled garden vacuums available to buy online at the lowest possible prices. When you visit our online shop you may notice we only offer one brand of wheeled lawn vacuum: Billy Goat. There’s a very good reason for this. Billy Goat offers by far the best range of leaf and litter vacuums on the market, providing not only quality and durability but also a machine to suit an individual’s specific application.

When you're buying a wheeled leaf vacuum in the UK you have a number of choices. There are many other styles of wheeled leaf vacuum available at the moment from a variety of different manufacturers, yet none match the performance of the Billy Goat vacuums. After 40 years of manufacturing walk behind leaf vacuums, the family run business based in Kansas City, Missouri certainly knows how to produce top quality leaf clearing machines for all applications.

The most popular and by far the best selling lawn vacuum in the Billy Goat garden vacuum range is the Billy Goat KV600 Leaf & Litter Vacuum that is ideally suited to homeowners with medium to large sized gardens containing a good number of trees and shrubs. This particular machine is better used in gardens that are of a flat nature, as it does not have a drive system. However, the lack of self-drive makes it very manoeuvrable and the big wheels that Billy Goat fit to their lawn and litter vacuums make them very easy to use. If you have an undulating lawn or driveway a self-propelled vacuum will be a definite advantage, in which case the Billy Goat KV600SP Leaf & Litter Vacuum will be an excellent choice. Both machines utilise Briggs and Stratton 6hp engines and feature a large, serrated 5-blade impellor that creates fantastic suction and also helps to reduce the volume of debris collected. Another excellent feature of the Billy Goat leaf sweeper is its adaptability to either hard surface work, such as clearing leaves from a patio, or leaf removal from lawn and turf areas. This is easily achieved with the built in height adjustment function, allowing the operator to alter the suction rate to suit the prevailing conditions.

There are two more very popular leaf sweepers in the Billy Goat Estate Series range of lawn vacuums. Both are very similar to the two previously mentioned models, yet the Billy Goat KV650H Leaf & Litter Vacuum and Billy Goat KV650SPH Leaf & Litter Vacuum are powered by top of the range Honda 6.5hp petrol engines. The functions of either machine are the same as with the KV600 vacuums, the choice depending on whether a Briggs and Stratton or Honda engine is preferred. The Billy Goat KV Estate Series vacuums also have optimised front nozzles to improve suction and allow debris such as hedge clippings to be consumed. The breathable hard bottom mesh turf bag that is fitted as standard to the KV Series is excellent for use in damper conditions, leaf collection on lawns for example. However, if you will regularly be using your Billy Goat leaf collector during the summer months in dusty conditions, it is worth considering the purchase of the optional felt bag that greatly reduces dust blowing into the operators face.

More optional extras available for the excellent KV Series of lawn vacuums include the on board hose kit that will make light work of vacuuming hard to reach places such as flowers beds, between shrubs, under decking and the corners of patios and barbeque areas. If you need to regularly clear hard surfaced areas of leaves, a tennis court or tarmac driveway for example, the caster kit and nozzle wear plate will both be excellent investments. The caster kit will greatly ease manoeuvrability when compared to the standard fixed wheels and the nozzle wear plate will protect the nozzle edges against scuffs and abrasions. You may also be interested in the easily attached leaf shredder screen, capable of reducing the volume of dry leaves by a significant amount, lessening the amount of times you need to stop and empty your Billy Goat vacuum and also prepare the leaves better for composting.

Two further machines in the domestic range of lawn vacuums from Billy Goat are the Billy Goat TKV650SPH Leaf & Litter Vacuum and Billy Goat LB61 Little Billy Lawn Vacuum. The Billy Goat TKV650SPH offers the same performance as the other Billy Goat vacuums mentioned above, yet it has the advantage of a built in 2” chipper chute, meaning that you can pick up and shred fallen branches and twigs that will not fit through the main feeder nozzle. The Little Billy, however, is designed for smaller lawns, gardens and driveways where a full size lawn and litter vacuum is not necessary. It doesn’t lose out on performance though, with a powerful Briggs & Stratton 6hp Quantum series engine and a unique feature that allows the vacuum to collect leaves from gravel without picking up the gravel at the same time.

Autumn is approaching quickly so don’t get caught out by waiting for the leaves to drop. Feel free to call us at LawnMowersDirect.Co.Uk on 01603 458 916 where we can guide you to buying the best leaf sweeper for your particular needs. If a wheeled leaf sweeper is too large for your garden, keep in touch, the next article will feature hand held leaf blowers and vacuums in readiness for the autumn clear up. 

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Getting More For Your Money – The Efco Multimate Combi-Tool

Posted by: James Williamson

We all recognise the importance of getting value for money these days and this is especially important around the house and home, particularly if we are buying products that we will use frequently. Even better than simply getting value for money, a purchase that can serve a multitude of uses is worth significantly more, adding more value when it can save you space and time as well.

 The design and engineering teams at the Emak factory in Italy have come up with a truly excellent product that meets all of the above criteria in a space and money saving package know as the Efco Multimate Combined System. Aimed at gardeners and homeowners with diverse and changing requirements throughout the gardening year, the Efco Multimate has evolved from the increasing demand for a tool that can serve more than one purpose. The system includes attachments of a grass trimmer; a brush cutter, a hedge trimmer, a leaf blower and a long reach pole pruner. These basic yet essential attachments cover the most common tasks that are routine throughout the gardening seasons, allowing the user to easily adapt to his or her changing gardening needs. 

The cornerstone of the Multimate Combi System is the 30cc 2-stroke petrol engine. Manufactured to meet the highest possible Euro 2 emissions regulations, the Multimate Engine Unit includes an innovative 3-spring anti-vibration system to ensure maximum comfort for the operator. A host of user friendly features are packed into this compact and lightweight engine, including a snap fit filter cover for rapid inspections of the foam filter, a built in choke lever and easily visible primer. Most important of all is the patented Rev&Go coupling device, an innovative bayonet fixing that allows for rapid, tool free changing of the various attachments, usually taking no more than five seconds for each implement. 

One of the most widely used garden tools is the brushcutter. Almost essential throughout the growing months, a brushcutter is necessary when the need to clear undergrowth and long grass is at a premium. The Multimate Brushcutter Attachment is supremely easy to attach to the main power unit with a twist of the wrist. Once fitted, it is particularly comfortable to use due to the ergonomic handgrip that can be adjusted to suit the users height or favoured posture. As with most brushcutters, a 4-blade steel disc is also supplied, best employed when cutting through more mature or fibrous vegetation. If a brushcutter is a little more than you require, the Multimate Grasstrimmer Attachment is the tool for you. A bent shaft with a 2.0mm Tap’n Go nylon line will make light work of clearing up around pots and garden ornaments whilst the same comfort in use is available as with the brushcutter, due to the adjustable handgrip attached to the shaft.  

If leaf fall during the autumn or drier summer months causes you a few headaches, especially with blocked drains or obscured pathways, the Efco Multimate Blower Attachment may be the answer to your problems. Attached in the same quick fashion as the brushcutter and grass trimmer implements, the leaf blower will clear driveways and patios of the most stubborn leaves and debris with an impressive air speed of 60m/second. When in use it is extremely comfortable to operate with the majority of the machine’s weight carried by the easily attached comfort harness and, as with other attachments in the Multimate range, the comfort handgrip is fully adjustable to suit the operator’s physique.  

Staying with the leafy theme a little longer, the final two Multimate attachments are designed to assist with the maintenance of hedging and mature trees. The Multimate Hedgetrimmer Attachment is well suited to maintaining a variety of hedging due to the fully articulating blade that is capable of working in 12 different positions, making the cutting of hedges that are curved or awkward in nature a much easier task. Adding to this is the ability to attach the hedge-trimming implement in 2 different positions, at 0° and 90° to the power unit, furthering the versatility of the tool.  

If the lopping of tree limbs is a routine task for you, the final attachment in the Multimate stable will be of great benefit. The Multimate Pruner Atachment will enable the lopping of limbs up to 3 meters from the ground, with a choice of working with the blade either vertically or horizontally, depending on conditions. The 10” blade will accommodate branches up to 12cm in diameter and to make sure that operator comfort is assured, the rubber coated shaft arm gives a sure grip and reduces vibrations.  

Many gardening combi-tool systems are on the market nowadays, some of them excellent products that come at a hefty price, others that are less than reliable at the lower end of the price scale. At LawnMowersDirect, we believe that the Efco Multimate Combi-Tool offers excellent performance characteristics and build quality for the domestic user, but also comes at a very affordable price, providing the great value for money we all like to experience. There’s no need to purchase the entire system, simply pick and choose the attachments that suit your needs and build as you go. If you feel that a wider choice of attachments is called for, more are on the way. Emak plan on introducing a long reach hedge trimmer attachment alongside a lawn edger and, believe it or not, a fully functional mini-tiller that will also accept scarifying tines and a plough!

Keep in touch with us here at LawnMowersDirect to find out more about the new Efco Multimate attachments when they become available and also for other new, high quality garden tools that we feel will benefit our current and new customers alike. Please feel free to call us on 01603 458 916 if you can't find what you are looking for on our website, we'll be happy to help. 

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Essential Summer Maintenance: Don’t Forget To Trim Your Hedges!

Posted by: James Williamson

Due to the late spring this year much plant growth is a little behind its normal growing schedule, in some cases up to two weeks behind that of more recent years. With this being the case it will be easy to overlook jobs that are routinely carried out during the latter part of spring or early summer, with hedge trimming likely to be at the top of the ‘overlooked’ list.

Hedges are finally starting to put a growth spurt on and with it come the normal hindrances of blocked pathways, obscured entrances and exits to driveways and, from an aesthetic point of view, borders that are starting to take on a slightly rustic appearance. At LawnMowersDirect, we thought it would be a good idea to run-through a small selection of hedge cutting equipment and what to look for when buying a hedge trimmer online; not only machines that will keep small hedges under control but also look at hedge cutters with longer blades that are suitable for larger amounts of hedging. Traditional hand shears are not often used for large-scale hedge trimming any longer, although they are still very popular with experienced gardeners looking for a precise finish to their hedging.

The well-established German hand tool manufacturer Wolf Garten produces some excellent quality shears with the Wolf Garten HSB Box Tree Shear being no exception; a first choice for owners of box hedges and topiary enthusiasts, the short, curved, double edged blades with plastic handles are light weight and extremely easy to use. If you do want to trim a larger area of hedging with a good quality hand shear, the heavier and more robust Wolf Garten HSTL Traditional Hedge Shear will be your first choice due to the comfortable wooden grips and shock absorbing buffers located at the hinge.

Powered hedge trimmers are the obvious choice for any large amount of hedge cutting, with a choice of electric, battery and petrol-powered machines available to buy. The advances in battery technology of recent times has led to the cordless hedgetrimmer becoming a genuine alternative to the less flexible mains powered hedge trimmer, with performance statistics comparing favourably between the two styles. If you are shopping on a budget and only have a limited amount of hedge trimming to carry out, the ever-reliable Flymo EasiCut 500CT Cordless Hedge Trimmer is an excellent purchase thanks to its diamond ground, double reciprocating blades and an 18-volt, Ni-Cd battery.

If you are looking for a hedge trimmer at the cutting edge of technology, the lithium-ion hedge trimmers from Bosch will not disappoint. Superbly light weight and ergonomic, the Bosch AHS 48 LI Cordless Hedge Cutter has laser-cut, diamond ground blades with a 15 mm tooth spacing for a super clean cut of medium-weight growth. Slightly larger is the Bosch AHS 52 LI Cordless Hedge Cutter with a 52cm cutting-blade, offering slightly better coverage over larger areas of hedging when compared to the Bosch AHS 48 LI. Both machines have the ‘Bosch Anti-Blocking System’ that prevents the hedge cutter from stalling should particularly tough growth be encountered, ensuring continuous cutting performance, which, when taking into account the running-time of the 18-volt lithium-ion batteries, can be up to one hour without the need for recharging.

Owners of large gardens with particularly mature or established hedging will probably want to purchase a petrol powered hedge trimmer and take advantage of the extra performance offered from the petrol engine and heavier duty blades. Those of you looking for a bargain will appreciate the Chinese made Sanli HSR2660 Hedge Trimmer with 24” double-sided cutting blade and fuel-efficient 26cc 2-stroke engine. If top quality is a primary concern for you, look no further than the superb Efco TG 2600 XP Petrol Hedge Trimmer with 25.4cc low emission engine and professional grade anti-vibration platform. Outstanding features of the Efco TG 2600 XP include the extremely sharp 24” cutting blade with a tooth pitch of 35mm, allowing the cutting of reasonably mature growth and 180° swivel rear handle for easy trimming even when working at an angle. We mustn’t forget the ever-reliable petrol hedge trimmers from Husqvarna, with the Husqvarna 123HD60 Petrol Hedge Trimmer offering excellent performance with Smart Start® technology to get you working more quickly and hardened steel blades to keep down-time to a minimum. 

There’s no doubt that choosing the right hedge trimmer to suit your particular needs is vitally important in terms of balancing performance, weight and durability to your own particular application or personal requirements. Here, at LawnMowersDirect, we are more than happy to advise you as to what the right piece of garden equipment will be for you and your garden. Please feel free to call us on 01603 458 916 where quality advise is only a phone call away.    

 

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Best Selling Lawnmowers So Far: Petrol Mowers Part 2!

Posted by: James Williamson

In our second look at best selling petrol lawnmowers for the early part of this year, it makes perfect sense to look at the type of lawnmower that makes up the bulk of our sales, not only during the early part of the season but year round, every year, the petrol 4 wheel rotary lawnmower.

 It is no surprise that 4 wheel rotary mowers are the most popular type of lawnmower due to them offering great versatility over a variety of garden and grass types. They are particularly easy to use and maintain and the versions without self drive systems, such as the ever-popular Honda Izy HRG415PD, are often very simple machines with very little to go wrong. The HRG415PD is understandably our best selling lawn mower due, in a large part, to the excellent Honda engines and extremely user-friendly layout of the controls. The Honda HRG415 series of lawn mowers doesn’t end with the HRG 415 PD however; the Honda HRG415SD is the self-propelled version of the HRG415PD and offers the same excellent user-friendly controls of its sibling. Either machine is well suited to smaller gardens with the HRG 415 SD a better choice if your lawn has the odd undulation or gentle slope.

 Customers owning properties with a medium size lawn have frequently opted for the Honda HRG465SD; another lawnmower from the Honda Izy range, this time offering an 18” cutting width and again with the excellent Honda petrol engines, which, with their automatic decompression makes them extremely easy to start. At LawnMowersDirect we’ve noticed increased sales of lawnmowers from the Honda HRX 537 range of 4 wheel rotary lawn mowers. These machines are the top of the range lawnmowers in the Honda ‘Core Range’ of garden machinery and offer the very latest technology available on a lawn mower. Models in the range include the HRX 537 HY with hydrostatic drive, the HRX 537 HZ with electric key start and the very high-tech HRX 537 VY with Smart Drive™ lever. These lawnmowers are not cheap but you do get what you pay for and can expect the very best results every time you mow your lawn.

 At this point it is also worth pointing out that lawn care products have been high on our customers’ priority lists with scarifiers and backpack sprayers becoming increasingly popular. The two products go hand-in-hand, as many people will treat their lawns with a moss deterrent before scarifying. The Cooper Pegler sprayers have proven to be ideal for this pre-treatment, which is understandable given the excellent range and quality of product offered by Cooper Pegler. Perhaps most surprising is the increase in the number of electric scarifiers and aerators we have been selling. By far the most popular are the Bosch ALR 900 Electric Lawnraker, which can remove a surprising amount of moss and thatch for such a lightweight and compact machine, and the more aggressive Bosch AVR 1100 which is a bladed aerator, also electric and particularly effective at loosening and oxygenating compacted areas of lawn. It may be a little late to start your lawn treatment activities right now but don’t forget that an autumn ‘cleaning’ of your lawn is as vital as that in spring.

 We hope that the above information will prove to be useful if you are considering buying a new piece of lawn care equipment over the coming weeks. If you need any assistance in choosing the right product, be sure to call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916 where we will be happy to advise. 

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Best Selling Lawnmowers So Far: Petrol Mowers Part 1!

Posted by: James Williamson

In our last entry we looked at the best selling electric lawn mowers from our sales during the spring and early summer of 2010, with a view to giving you an idea of which lawnmowers have been the most popular with our customers so far. This time we’ll run through the petrol lawn mowers that are capable of leaving stripes on your lawn, proving to be at the top of most peoples’ shopping lists during the early part of this year. 

It’s obvious to say that a petrol lawnmower has distinct performance advantages over an electric lawn mower, or even a cordless battery powered lawn mower, in terms of cutting power and size of area that can be covered. For these reasons the online sales of petrol lawnmowers amount to the bulk of garden machinery that we have sold so far this year. There’s no doubt that the British gardener still likes to have a defined, striped effect left on his or her lawn and this can be achieved with two different types of lawnmower; the rear roller rotary such as a Hayter Harrier or a more classical type of cylinder mower, the Suffolk Punch from Qualcast, for example.  

The Hayter Harrier range of lawnmowers is a well established favourite amongst gardeners and landscapers alike, with the Hayter Harrier 41 Autodrive being a very popular machine for those of you with small to medium size gardens that require a self propelled lawnmower, whilst the standard Hayter Harrier 41 is excellent when complete manoeuvrability is needed thanks to the lack of a drive system. Both models have proven to be equally popular once again this spring, proving that quality never goes out of favour. Customers with needs for a slightly larger lawnmower, yet still wanting the striped effect have opted for the Hayter Harrier 48 lawnmower, the bigger brother of the Harrier 41. The Hayter Harrier 48 also has a variable speed facility, making it easier for the operator to navigate around tight spaces in the garden.

 The Honda brand brings with it assured quality and performance and this has not been lost on our customers. Honda has been running several promotions this spring to encourage potential customers to join the brand and these have worked very well for us. The Honda HRX 426 QX is a 17” rear roller rotary mower that is an excellent alternative to the Hayter Harrier 41 and there’s no doubt that the polymer deck used on the HRX 426 QX is a favourite amongst our customers. The slightly larger Honda HRX 476 QX is much the same machine as the HRX426QX, although with a larger 19” cutting deck it is suitable for medium to large size lawns.  

Previously we mentioned how popular the electric Suffolk Punch 12E Cylinder Mower has been this year and this has proven to be the case with the petrol cylinder mowers in the Qualcast Suffolk Punch stable, with both the Suffolk Punch 14SK and Suffolk Punch 17SK selling extremely well. Suiting the gardener with an extra fine lawn due to the very close cut achieved with a cylinder mower, the Qualcast Suffolk Punch lawnmower has been seen in gardens up and down the British Isles since 1954. 

Please do call us at LawnMowersDirect if you need any advice regarding choosing the right lawnmower for your needs, or any other piece of garden machinery for that matter, on 01603 458 916 where our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to advise.  

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Best Selling Lawnmowers So Far!

Posted by: James Williamson

The start to the spring and early summer of 2010 has been unusually dry, and with this the explosive burst of growth that we normally associate with this time of year is yet to arrive. This has led to many people delaying the purchase of a new lawn mower or other item of garden machinery until they feel the time is right to invest in a new machine, or until the grass is simply too long to ignore any longer. With this in mind, we thought it would be a good idea to tell you which lawnmowers have proven to be the most popular with our customers so far, and a few tips as to why this may be the case.

 It will be easiest to break things up a little by putting the mowers into different categories and for the purposes of this entry we will look at our best selling electric lawnmowers, mainly the electric rotary lawn mowers from Bosch but also the electric cylinder lawnmowers from Qualcast, in the form of the Suffolk Punch. We’ve also noticed that a lot of people have shown great interest in the range of cordless lawn mowers from Bosch, highlighting the desire of many of our customers to take both a modern and ‘green’ approach to garden maintenance.

 For a long time the Bosch Rotak 40 Electric Rotary Lawnmower has been a firm favourite amongst corded rotary lawn mower users although it seems to have been beaten into second spot recently by the Bosch Rotak 43 Lawn Mower. It may be that the slightly wider cutting width of the Bosch Rotak 43 over the Rotak 40, for the little extra that you pay, has tipped the balance in favour of the Rotak 43. Homeowners with small gardens are still remaining loyal towards the ever-popular Bosch Rotak 34 Lawn Mower although we have noticed that sales of the excellent Bosch Rotak 34 LI have been overtaking the Bosch Rotak 34 in recent times. This is almost certainly as a result of the improved performance of lithium ion technology batteries lately, allowing the Rotak 34 LI to perform at the same level as the corded Rotak 34, with the convenience of no mains cable trailing behind the lawn mower.

For slightly larger lawns the Bosch Rotak 36 Lawn Mower is still selling well, holding its own amongst other Rotak lawnmowers, although sales of the Bosch Rotak 37 LI are catching up quickly, due to the extra flexibility offered by the battery powered Rotak 37 LI over the mains powered Rotak 36. We’ve also noticed that the Hayter Envoy 36 Electric Lawn Mower is proving to be very popular and is an excellent alternative to the Bosch Rotak electric lawn mowers, providing the same striped effect due to the built in rear roller and with a 17 meter power cable, the Hayter Envoy is particularly suitable for long, thin urban lawns.

 As previously mentioned, Qualcast electric cylinder mowers have been selling exceptionally well this year, with the Suffolk Punch 12e being by far the most popular. It certainly seems that the striped lawn effect is popular at the moment, with the ultra fine cut of cylinder mowers such as the Qualcast Suffolk Punch lawnmowers leaving a very defined stripe, as seen on bowling greens and tennis courts. Please remember though, if you want to use a cylinder mower on your lawn that your lawn surface needs to be in good order with no bumps or rough areas where the cylinder blades can catch and snag. 

There you have it, a quick summary of our best selling electric and cordless lawn mowers so far this year. Hopefully this will give you a slightly better idea of which lawnmower may be most suitable for your  garden, when the grass finally starts to grow, and you feel that buying a new lawn mower isn’t such a bad idea. Remember to call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916 if you need any further assistance in choosing the right machine. 

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LawnMowersDirect: A Guide To Buying a Lawn Mower Online

Posted by: James Williamson

Each year the British public are making an ever-increasing amount of online purchases of a wide range of goods, from groceries to cars, DVDs and so on. Indeed, findings published by The British Population Survey indicates that the UK online shopping population has reached an all time high, with figures from December 2009 showing that 48.7% of us are happy to buy on line.  

This increase in online shopping has certainly been noticed within the garden machinery industry with a notable upsurge in direct sales of lawn mowers and associated garden machinery. Here at LawnMowersDirect we felt it would be a good idea to offer a brief guide to what you can expect when you buy a lawnmower direct from our online shop and a few pointers at what you should look out for before making an online purchase.  At LawnMowersDirect we strive to offer the same service to our online customers as we would to customers visiting our showrooms in either Ipswich or Norwich i.e. finding out what specific needs a customer has and matching them up with the right machine. This is a little bit easier to do when speaking face to face with someone but our trained sales team know what questions to ask you, ensuring that when you buy a lawn mower direct from our website, you are getting the right mower for your needs. When we say that we offer the same service to those of you buying your lawnmowers directly from our online shop, we mean it, not only when advising you over the telephone but also before we dispatch the lawnmower via our couriers. Every petrol mower sold direct from our website receives a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) from fully trained fitters in our workshop, meaning that we remove the lawn mower from its box and:

·        We assemble it

·         We fuel it up

·         We run it up

·         We then drain it of fluids

·         Re-box it once unassembled

·         Put it on a pallet ready for shipping 

This type of approach benefits us as much as it does you, our online customer. By shipping lawn mowers direct to our customers in this way we know that we are supplying them with a lawn mower that will work directly from the box, we’ll even supply the oil that you need to get started. As our customer, you know that you will receive a lawn mower in good working order, ready to go once oil and petrol have been added.  

It is important that you are offered this type of service when buying a lawn mower online, or any other type of garden machinery for that matter, as you need to have confidence in both the quality of goods supplied to you and the company that you are dealing with. If you are feeling the urge to buy your next lawnmower online, try to have the following information to hand: 

·         The size of your lawn or grass area

·         The type of grass to be maintained e.g. rough orchard, formal bowling green

·         The make and model of your previous lawn mower (if applicable)

·         How much you want to spend! 

We hope that this brief guide to buying a lawnmower online is useful but should you need any in depth advice towards your next mower purchase, please feel free to call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916 where our trained sales team will be more than happy to assist.

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Clearing Undergrowth The Easy Way: Brush Cutters And Line Trimmers

Posted by: James Williamson

As spring marches on at a pace, the tell tale signs of the season’s growth become evident with lush undergrowth thickening along roadside verges and hedgerows whilst ponds and ditches suddenly become lost from view. More often than not, in a domestic situation, this vegetation will need to be cleared for aesthetic reasons to keep a garden looking neat and tidy. However, commercial operators and landscapers, including farmers and council workers, are those with the greatest need to clear undergrowth on a regular basis throughout the year. This job can often be achieved with a powerful 4 wheel rotary lawn mower, as long as the vegetation is not too thick, although even the best machines of this type can become overwhelmed by thick, new growth vegetation. Heavy-duty clearance machinery such as flail mowers and scythe mowers are excellent but are often too large or cumbersome to access the mixed and varied areas that undergrowth penetrates. It is in these situations that a brush cutter or line trimmer comes into its own; small, lightweight and infinitely manoeuvrable, these tools are indispensable for any landscape gardener, farmer, council workforce and anyone that owns a property with areas that are inaccessible with a standard lawnmower. 

It will be easiest to briefly explain the difference between a brushcutter and a line trimmer, often referred to as a grass trimmer or strimmer. Conventionally, a brushcutter is a straight-shafted tool with a cutting or mowing head at one end with a power unit such as a petrol engine or electric motor at the other. A line trimmer is a tool with a bent shaft, again with a cutting tool at one end and power unit attached to the opposite end. The benefit of the straight shafted brush cutter is that more power can be transferred from the engine through to the cutting tool, which, very often is a metal blade of varying design as well as the more conventional nylon line fed from a spool. The metal blade is best suited to clearing particularly mature or established vegetation such as bramble, nettles and similarly fibrous growth. The bent shaft of the grass or line trimmer is not capable of transferring the same amount of power as the straight-shafted machine; however, it is more accurate when clearing grass from around obstacles such as plant containers, flowerbeds and ornaments thanks to the curved nature of the shaft. In brief, a line trimmer will only accept a nylon cutting line whereas a brushcutter will generally accept both a nylon cutting head and a metal blade. 

With this information in mind it will be useful to look at a selection of brush cutters and line-trimmers on offer at LawnMowersDirect and match them up with suitable applications, both for the domestic user and professional alike. For occasional users with small gardens the best and cleanest solution may be to use a cordless line trimmer; powered by a battery and electric motor rather than an engine requiring a petrol based fuel mix, cordless trimmers are exceptionally light weight and easy to use. A popular example is the Flymo Contour Cordless Power Plus Line Trimmer that is particularly user friendly with ergonomic controls and a unique wheel located above the cutting head, enabling accurate lawn edging when the shaft is rotated through 90°. Also with rotating cutting heads and unique nylon blades are the Bosch ART 23 Li Cordless Grass Trimmer and Bosch ART 26 Li Cordless Grass Trimmer. Both machines have the advantage of lithium-ion technology within the rechargeable batteries, giving the user fast recharging times and zero drop-off in performance when battery energy levels are low. If you feel that you need the greater power offered from a petrol tool yet find yourself working to a budget, the new range of garden machinery from Chinese manufacturer Sanli will be of interest. They offer both a grass trimmer, the Sanli GT26 2 Stroke Line Trimmer and a brushcutter, the Sanli GTS33 2 Stroke Brushcutter. Either machine will be ideal for use around the home, with ample power offered from Sanli 2-stroke petrol engines; the Sanli GT26 line trimmer is perfect for clearing up around borders and ornaments whilst the Sanli GTS33 brush cutter is well suited to clearing larger areas of undergrowth.

 

Staying with the lighter weight style of grass trimmer for a little longer, an excellent example is offered by Japanese manufacturer Echo in the form of the Echo GT-220ES Petrol Trimmer. An easy starting 21.2cc petrol engine and bump-feed nylon head aid user operation and as always from Echo, the quality is excellent. More high-class machinery is available from Swedish company Husqvarna with their robust, straight-shafted grass trimmer, the Husqvarna 327RJx Petrol Trimmer, capable of dealing with particularly heavy domestic workloads due to its 24.5cc petrol engine. Husqvarna also offer the multi-tasking Husqvarna 128LDx Petrol Trimmer; a combi-trimmer that not only does an excellent job of clearing garden undergrowth but also accepts a range of attachments, from pole saws to mini-cultivators, offering the user many different tools from one core product.  Another excellent example of a bent-shaft line trimmer is the Honda UMS 425 LE Petrol Line Trimmer. Offering the quality that all of us expect from Honda, this line trimmer is equipped with one of Honda’s renowned 4-stroke petrol engines, giving the user extremely easy starts and peace of mind that no fuel mixing errors can occur.

 

Most domestic users will find that a brush cutter with an engine size of around 25cc will be sufficient for the vast majority of domestic applications. The superbly made Efco Stark 2500 S Petrol Brushcutter from Italian manufacturer Emak is a fine example of a modern, clean running machine with a 25.4cc ‘Burn Right’ petrol engine, complying with Euro 2 emissions standards. This brushcutter is available with either the loop style handlebar of the previously mentioned model or the wider grip of the bicycle style handlebars, as fitted to the Efco Stark 2500 T Petrol Brushcutter. The benefit of using the loop style handlebar on a brushcutter or grass trimmer is the extra control gained from the smaller gripping surface of the loop handle and also the ability to work in tighter, more confined areas such as the corners of vegetable gardens or arboretums. The wider stance of the twin-grips of the bicycle style bars, often seen being used by contractors and council workers alongside railway lines and roadside verges, is the extra swinging or scything motion that can be achieved, especially useful when clearing or mowing large areas of grass and undergrowth. Further excellent examples of high-grade domestic brushcutters are the UMK series of machines from Honda. The Honda UMK 425 LE Petrol Brushcutter with loop handle or Honda UMK 425 UE Petrol Brushcutter with twin grips are both very well suited to the home user, featuring extremely light weight Honda GX25 4-stroke petrol engines with a unique lubrication system, allowing the tool to operate through a full 360°. Echo also make the durable Echo SRM-235ESL Petrol Brushcutter, eminently suitable for the enthusiastic gardener who demands a high quality tool that will offer many seasons of service thanks to the small but powerful 21.2cc 2-stroke petrol engine and excellent Echo engineering.

  

Moving on to machines that are better suited to the more demanding user, often needing extra power due to the nature of the vegetation to be cleared, size of property or regularity of use, these tools will normally fit into the bracket occupied by 35cc brush cutters. Once again, Echo manufactures an excellent tool for the job in the form of the Echo SRM-265ESL Petrol Brushcutter or Echo SRM-265ESU Petrol Brushcutter, loop handle or twin-grip machines respectively. Boasting a small engine in this class of machinery at 25.4cc, the performance is that of a larger tool, with easy starting and low vibrations coming as standard features. If a little extra power is needed, the Echo SRM-300ESL Petrol Brushcutter with 28.1cc 2-stroke engine offers a perfect mix of performance, balance and durability for the professional landscaper and gardener. The Rx range of commercial brushcutters from Husqvarna provide the ideal tool whatever the application may be; the Husqvarna 327Rx Petrol Brushcutter at 24.5cc is ideal if a balance of weight and power are necessary whilst the Husqvarna 335Rx Petrol Brushcutter is an excellent choice where the raw power of Husqvarna’s X-Torq engines and low-vibration characteristics prove their worth. Light weight 4-stroke power and performance are to the fore with Honda’s excellent Honda UMK 435 LE Petrol Brushcutter and Honda UMK 435 UE Petrol Brushcutter, both of which are well suited to both the commercial and domestic environment due to their easy starting engines and comfortable harnesses providing excellent user comfort and control during extended periods of use. Rounding off LawnMowersDirect’s current range of intensive use brushcutters is the superb Efco DS 3800 T Petrol Brushcutter; excellent vibration damping properties in combination with an engine decompressor and incredibly low emissions from ‘Burn Right’ technology provide a definitively modern outdoor power tool.

  

If your need is for a truly powerful clearance tool, capable of intensive use day after day, a high-end brush cutter is a must. Normally having an engine capacity of 45cc and more, these professional models are designed for the toughest tasks. Models to watch out for are the hi-tech and extremely durable Husqvarna 345Rx Petrol Brushcutter, which, with a Low Vib + anti-vibration system, Smart Start petrol engine and high offset post holding the twin-grip handlebars, make this machine the first choice for many professional gardeners. Again, from Italian manufacturer Emak we have a state-of-the-art brushcutter in the Efco DS 4200 T Petrol Brushcutter that boasts a professional grade anti-vibration system, ergonomic twin-grip handlebars and magnesium engine housing to keep weight to a minimum. For tasks that require the ultimate in operator balance and flexibility, a backpack brushcutter is the answer. Several manufacturers offer this type of machine but the Honda UMR 425 Petrol Brushcutter is a fine example. A 25cc Honda 4-stroke GX25 petrol engine, flexible drive shaft and rubberised loop handle ensure comfort, durability and ease of use in all conditions.

Here at LawnMowersDirect we feel that we have a line trimmer or brush cutter to suit your needs, however slight or demanding those needs may be. If you feel that a little advice in choosing the right machine will help you come to the right choice for your application, please feel free to call us on 01603 458 916 where a member of our trained sales team will be happy to assist. 

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Lawnmowers, lawnmowers, lawnmowers…Part 5: Rough N’ Ready!

Posted by: James Williamson

The latter weeks of April, depending on weather conditions, are more often than not the time when the year’s new growth starts to push on with a vengeance. Longer daylight hours bringing with them the warming sun, mixed with ample rainfall from the seasonal spring showers is just what grasses and other low lying vegetation needs to stimulate growth; verges, ditch banks, field margins and other less well attended areas soon become overwhelmed with the verdant progress of the season. For grounds maintenance professionals, the cutting down and removing of long, thick grass and associated vegetation is often a most time consuming job and having adequate equipment to be able to complete these tasks in good time is essential. The demanding home user, lucky enough to own an orchard or paddock type area where rough grass growth needs to be managed regularly will also appreciate machinery that is capable of making domestic property maintenance easier. These rough grass areas are the perfect domain for the type of machine collectively know as a field and brush mower; designed for heavy duty use on rough ground containing overgrown areas of grass and scrub, these field and brush mowers will make relatively light work of what can seem, at times, an almost never-ending task.

 

The most common design of field and brush mower is the rough grass mower, also known as the rotary brushcutter; this style of machine is more of a heavy-duty three-wheeled lawnmower with a side-discharge aperture. The Honda UM 516 Self Propelled Grass Manager is such a machine, ideally suited to light duty commercial work or, better still, for the domestic user with areas of garden that periodically fall into neglect. Four cutting heights with a toughened frame and 20” cutting deck will ensure this machine will offer reliable service for many years. Slightly larger and designed for commercial use, the Honda UM 536 EBE Self Propelled Grass Manager is equipped with the renowned Honda GXV 163cc OHV Petrol Engine that is capable of hours of non-stop usage. Built with shaft-driven transmission and two operating speeds, the Honda UMB536EB will satisfy the most demanding of professional operators. Offering a slightly different design but extremely effective on the roughest, muddiest terrain, the Efco DR 52 VBR6 Wheeled Brush Cutter  is capable of dealing with undergrowth and light scrub due to a reinforced heavy duty 21” blade cutting blade. Two forward speeds and one reverse gear make manoeuvrability much easier in tough conditions and pneumatic chevron tyres ensure a firm grip. If large areas of rough grass and parkland need to be cleared in quick time the Honda UM 616 EBE Self Propelled Grass Manager is a top choice. A 24” side discharge cutting deck and hydrostatic transmission guarantee the job is finished quickly with minimal fuss, which is made easier in combination with the four cutting heights and Roto-stop blade brake. 

   

Another style of machine to consider is the flail mower. Particularly aggressive and powerful due to the multiple, swinging blade cutting mechanism, flail mowers are normally only used by commercial operators and ground management teams that need to clear overgrown areas such as along verges and the banks of ditches. The high strength and cutting power of these machines allows them to operate in areas where rotary field and brush machines would struggle. An excellent example is the Efco DR 65 HR 8.5 Flail Mower that has a host of features to make it not only effective at clearing undergrowth but also comfortable to use; height and width adjustment of the handlebars, ergonomic control levers and reinforced bearings and shields are only a few of the exceptional qualities of this machine. Don’t expect to achieve a neat finish with one of these powerful mowers however, the nature of their design means that scrub, undergrowth, stubble and twigs will all be processed and left in a rough mulch along whichever path you have taken.

 

Some readers of this blog may have the need for more than one type of grass management machine. Land containing areas of both meadowland and rough scrub for example may mean that a landowner will have to employ different cutting methods to keep these areas in good condition; or perhaps a commercial operator will have contracts covering a wide range of conditions from parkland to roadside maintenance. Rather than buying a separate machine for all applications, a better option may be to purchase a power unit such as a two-wheeled tractor that is capable of running several different grass and scrub management attachments. The Bertolini 403 and Bertolini 411 two wheeled tractor units are both capable of powering a range of attachments; the Bertolini 403 for example will accept the 115cm Bertolini Scythe Cutter Bar, excellent for clearing meadows and areas of long grass. If your needs are slightly more far reaching, the powerful Bertolini 411 will accept the 62cm Bertolini Mulching Mower, the 65cm Bertolini Roller Flail Mower and also the 115cm Bertolini Scythe Cutter Bar, all of which will give the operator a complete grass care system run off one power unit.

 

At this point we mustn’t forget the humble wheeled trimmer. A type of heavy weight grass trimmer or line trimmer, wheeled trimmers are ideal for smaller areas of rough grass and orchard requiring regular maintenance where a larger machine will be too cumbersome to manoeuvre. The excellent Hayter Powertrim is a fine example, with an easy start Briggs and Stratton Series 650 Petrol Engine and foldable handlebars, the Hayter Powertim can be used on site or transported to areas such as allotments with ease.

 

Be sure to keep up to date with us at LawnMowersDirect throughout the summer months as we add new and exciting garden care products to our expanding range of gardening equipment. And don’t hesitate to contact our trained sales team on 01603 458 916 if you have any queries regarding your gardening needs.

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Introducing the Bertolini Rotary Cultivator and 2-Wheel Tractor Range

Posted by: James Williamson

Sometimes the best things in life are those well-kept secrets, popping up now and then as they infrequently do, putting a smile on your face for any number of reasons. For owners of smallholdings and market gardens, commercial landscapers and professional gardeners, one of those self-same secrets has just arrived into the UK; the new range of landscaping and horticultural machinery from Bertolini. Italian born and bred, as the name would suggest, the Bertolini brand has a loyal following on the continent where owners of vineyards and olive groves trust the reliability of the heavy duty cultivators and scythe mowers to keep their businesses profitable. In this blog we take a brief look at the Bertolini machinery on offer in the UK and highlight the fantastic potential that the this range of equipment has to offer. 

First of all we’ll have a look at the Bertolini 403 Rotary Cultivator, an excellent heavy-duty cultivator with a 60cm rotary tiller unit, designed for the user that needs a machine capable of truly hard work when the need arises, from owners of small market gardens through to allotment societies needing a machine that can maintain a number of small plots. The latter application is particularly suitable for the Bertolini 403 due to its compact size and ease of manoeuvrability, with the excellent 5.5hp Honda Petrol Engine providing tremendous reliability and ease of use. Equipped with 2 forward speeds and 2 reverse gears, adjustable handlebars and particularly aggressive chevron tyres, the Bertolini 403 guarantees comfort in use. Of particular interest to homeowners with mixed plots that may include a large vegetable garden but also an area of rough pasture or meadow is the 115cm Bertolini Scythe Cutter Bar; easily attached to the Bertolini 403 2-Wheel Tractor Unit, areas out of cultivation can be prepared before digging or neglected pastures rejuvenated by being freshly mown.

The larger sibling to the Bertolini 403 Rotary Cultivator, the Bertolini 411/9H Rotary Cultivator opens up a vast array of landscaping and property maintenance opportunities to the professional and commercial operator. The 2-Wheel Tractor Unit receives its power from the 9hp Honda GX 270 Petrol Engine, renowned throughout the gardening industry for their outstanding performance, and, with a seven speed transmission that includes 4 forward speeds and 3 reverse, can be hooked up to a variety of attachments to meet the specific needs of individual operators. The standard set-up comprises the 2-Wheel Tractor Unit and 70cm Rotary Tiller Unit, yet, with the Quickfit coupling device, the Bertolini 411/9H can be used as a sickle bar mower in conjunction with the 115cm Bertolini Scythe Cutter Bar, useful when clearing areas of neglected pasture; if the pasture or meadow is particularly overgrown and scrub has established itself, the Bertolini 65cm Roller Flail Mower will clear and shred the toughest of growth. If your need is to simply keep a pasture or large area of grass in good order without the need of grass collection, the 62cm Bertolini Mulching Mower will shred lengthy grass into a rough mulch that will decompose in a short space of time. Should the need arise to remove snow from areas such as driveways and paths, believe it or not but the Bertolini 411/9H will also accept a 100cm rotating brush, the Bertolini Front Brush, complete with a built in hopper, suitable for collecting leaves and similar debris.

  

If your horticultural needs are such that extreme power and torque are necessary, the Bertolini 411 is also available with a 10hp Lombardini Diesel Engine. Capable of dealing with the heaviest of workloads and performing in the toughest conditions without fault, these machines are suitable for use in differing terrain where a standard 4-wheel tractor cannot gain access. Two versions of the diesel engine tractor cultivator are available; the Bertolini 411/10 Diesel Engine Rotary Cultivator is equipped with a standard recoil start whilst the Bertolini 411/10E Diesel Engine Rotary Cultivator has an electronic key start. Both machines will accept the full range of attachments highlighted above, providing an impressive tool for those needing a versatile machine capable of year round use.

 

Here at LawnMowersDirect we’re very excited at being one of the few retailers in the UK able to sell the full range of Bertolini ground care equipment and feel that the range has enormous potential for the UK’s landscape gardeners, property owners and horticulture professionals. If you feel that your home or business can benefit from a machine in the Bertolini stable we will be happy to advise you further. Don’t hesitate to call us on 01603 458916 where a trained sales advisor will be happy to help.

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Lawnmowers, lawnmowers, lawnmowers…Part 4: Stripes!

Posted by: James Williamson

The manicured lawns of Wimbledon or Lords Cricket Ground are famous the world over for their perfect stripes and fine appearance, often regarded as the way that a classic English lawn should be. The ground staffs at these arenas are well equipped to produce such fine turf, although the primary piece of equipment used to leave the unmistakable stripes is a petrol cylinder mower. It isn’t only the famous sports stadiums of the world that rely on cylinder lawn mowers to leave a fine finish; groundsmen at cricket clubs, golf clubs and croquet and bowls tournaments up and down the country will all make use of cylinder lawnmowers throughout the summer months to keep the playing surfaces in tip-top condition.

   

Cylinder lawnmowers are relatively simple machines in construction whereby an horizontally mounted cylinder of blades rotate on an axle, the cutting surface of these blades working against a fixed bottom blade, producing a scissor like cutting action that not only produces a fine finish to your lawn, but also reduces the chances of disease and fungal infection due to the extremely clean cut achieved. On full size cylinder mowers a heavy rear-roller will leave the final touch that all cylinder mowers users crave, a defined stripe. The size and style of cylinder mowers varies greatly, from professional machines that are extremely heavy and robust to lightweight electric mowers that are designed for the smallest of urban gardens. Still available today are hand propelled cylinder mowers; not only are these the original style of lawn mower, invented in 1827 by Edwin Budding in Thrupp, Gloucestershire, they are the most environmentally friendly way to cut your grass. Excellent examples of this style of lawnmower are the Qualcast Panther 30 Hand Propelled Cylinder Mower and the slightly larger Qualcast Panther 380 Hand Propelled Cylinder Mower. Both of these machines offer a razor sharp cut and can even provide the operator with a brisk workout due to their hand-propelled design.

   

For the purposes of this blog we will concentrate on domestic cylinder lawnmowers aimed at homeowners wishing to achieve a luxury finish to their garden lawn, which, incidentally, must have an even surface to allow the scissor action of the cutting mechanism to work properly. As already mentioned, electric cylinder lawn mowers are ideal for small urban gardens where noise and pollutants can be particularly unwelcome. The smallest lawns will benefit from the Qualcast Elan 32 Electric Cylinder Lawnmower; a 32cm cutting width in combination with a rear mounted, 31-litre grass collector will make navigating tight spaces in town gardens a breeze. More traditional in design with a front mounted grass collector and heavy, power-driven rear-roller, the Qualcast Suffolk Punch 12E Electric Cylinder Mower is an excellent introduction into the world of cylinder mowers. A single-dial height of cut adjustment simplifies operation and 22.5 meters of electric cable allows you to maintain medium sized lawns without extensions. From the same stable as the Suffolk Punch 12E come the Atco Windsor 12S Electric Cylinder Mower and Atco Windsor 14S Electric Cylinder Mower. Both machines benefit from a stainless steel front roller and variable speed control, making manoeuvrability around borders and garden ornaments a less difficult task.

  

 A very useful feature applicable to all full size cylinder mowers from Qualcast and Atco is the interchangeable QX™ Cassette System, allowing the operator to turn their cylinder mower into a powered lawn rake by installing an optional QX™ Lawn Scarifier Cassette. This excellent feature also allows for the easy removal of the cutting blade cassette for regrinding purposes without the need to take the entire machine to a workshop. Two of the eight machines in the range to benefit from this system are the Qualcast Suffolk Punch 14SK Petrol Cylinder Mower and the Qualcast Suffolk Punch 17SK Petrol Cylinder Mower. With respective cutting widths of 35cm and 43cm, both models are powered by excellent Kawasaki ‘Easy Start’ 3hp petrol engines and have a 3-way drive system, giving the operator the choice of disengaging the blades whilst keeping the engine running, mowing without drive or mowing with the drive system engaged.

 

Atco offer three petrol powered machines of different cutting widths, the Atco Balmoral 14SK Petrol Cylinder Lawnmower at 35cm, the Atco Balmoral 17SK Petrol Cylinder Lawnmower has a 43cm cutting width with the largest model in the range, the Atco Balmoral 20SK Petrol Cylinder Lawnmower offering a cutting width of 51cm. All three machines benefit from the QX™ Quick Exchange System; capable of accepting the QX™ Lawn Scarifier Cassette, these cylinder mowers will also accept the QX™ 10 Blade Cutting Cassette, enabling the finest of finishes to be achieved.

If you do feel it is time to add a striped effect to your lawn a few considerations are worth bearing in mind:

 

·         Try not to remove more than the top third of growing grass, even if the grass is long. Removing too much grass at once can unduly weaken it.

·         Frequent low mowing discourages weeds and produces a tight sward; therefore try to mow at least twice a week during peak growing periods.

·         During periods of drought when growth is slow, leave the grass collector in the shed and allow the clippings to return to the lawn. This will help to retain moisture and add a little natural fertiliser.

·         When buying a cylinder mower, pay special attention to the width of the machine and the natural topography of your lawn. A machine that is too wide will catch and snag on small curvatures in the lawn surface and scalp the turf. A narrow cutting width is better if your lawn is typically undulating.

   

In our next and final ‘Lawnmowers’ blog we will look at grass cutting machines that are best suited at dealing with overgrown and rough areas of grass and pasture. Often referred to as grass managers or field mowers, they come in a variety of styles, all with slightly different applications.

Remember to call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916 if you need any advice regarding your lawn care needs, we’ll be happy to help.

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Lawnmowers, lawnmowers, lawnmowers…Part 3: To mulch or not to mulch?

Posted by: James Williamson

Mulching, recycling, bio clipping… These will be familiar words to those of you that regularly consult gardening magazines or on-line forums relating to lawn care. However, if you don’t keep up to date with the latest gardening trends they may not mean much at all. In effect, with regards to grass cutting, they all mean the same thing; simply a means to return valuable nutrients back to your lawn using specialised lawn mowers. Recycling is a relatively new phenomenon in the UK, gaining popularity over the last 3 – 4 years due to a combination of environmental concerns and the desire for a simpler way to mow garden lawns. When practised properly, mulching can be hugely beneficial to your lawn. However, as is the case nowadays, a lot of conflicting advice relating to best mulching practice and type of lawnmower needed is muddying the waters as to how to achieve the best mulching results for your garden. In the following paragraphs we’ll take a look at some mulching myths and facts and also which lawnmowers you can expect to do the best job.

It will be easiest to briefly explain what mulching or recycling is and how it will bring benefits to you and your garden. Mulching lawn mowers help to maintain a healthy and green lawn by re-circulating and re-cutting the grass clippings under the mowing deck, producing fine mulch. This mulch is forcibly returned to the lawn where it rapidly decomposes, putting precious nutrients back into the soil. This helps save on chemical forms of fertilizer and so provides an environmental benefit to your garden. As a result you have no clippings to dispose of, which, happily means no more weekly trips to the tip or having piles of rotting grass in your garden. This, of course, has less of an impact on the environment (lessening road miles, black bag usage, less carbon released into the atmosphere from rotting vegetation etc.) and leaves you with a verdant and healthy lawn.

With the climate in the UK being particularly damp for much of the growing season and not necessarily ideal for mulching, many manufacturers are now producing lawnmowers that offer 3 in 1 versatility; these are standard rear-discharge lawn mowers supplied with a mulch plug or similar means of blocking the rear discharge chute, thus holding the grass clippings under the mowing deck. It needs to be pointed out, however, that this is a compromised design due to virtually all rear discharge lawnmowers cutting the grass clipping only once before disposal. Many of these lawnmowers are very fine machines though, such as the ‘Versamow’ series of lawnmowers from Honda, comprising the Honda HRX 537 HY Self-Propelled Lawnmower with hydrostatic drive, the Honda HRX 537 HZ Self-Propelled Lawnmower with hydrostatic drive and key starting and the Honda HRX 537 VY Self-Propelled Lawnmower with variable speed. These lawn mowers are in fact 4 in 1 machines with a lever located behind the engine, enabling the user to alter the rate at which the grass clippings are both recycled and collected concurrently. Amongst the manufacturers that take the mulch plug option are Hayter and Husqvarna. Both companies produce a large range of ‘3 in 1’ lawn mowers with Hayter offering the new Hayter R53S Recycling Lawnmower and Hayter R53A Recycling Lawnmower, built with steel and aluminium decks respectively; also equipped with 'Sens-a-speed' variable speed transmission, the lawn mower automatically adjusts to your walking pace through sensors mounted in the handlebars. More durable is the Hayter Ranger 3 in 1 Autodrive Lawnmower. Built with a die-cast aluminium deck and the option of using a side-discharge chute should the mowing conditions become heavy, a mulch plug is also supplied as standard.

Swedish manufacturer Husqvarna produce some excellent ‘3 in 1’ lawnmowers, referred to as ‘TrioClip’ lawnmowers. The Husqvarna R 150 SV Lawnmower is a very sturdy machine with a solid aluminium deck and double ball bearing mounted wheels and variable speed transmission. The Husqvarna R 152SVH Lawnmower benefits from being fitted with the excellent Honda GCV160 OHC petrol engine and offers a more cost effective steel deck with side-discharge chute, also with variable speed transmission. However, to benefit from best mulching results it is absolutely necessary to purchase a ‘true’ mulching lawn mower with a dedicated mulching deck. Specifically designed mulching mowers will recycle grass much better than conventional collecting mowers that are later converted to mulching mode using a mulch-plug. The reason for this is in the cutting deck design. The deck on dedicated recycling lawn mowers is aerodynamically designed on the underside to make the air, and the grass cuttings suspended in the air, travel in two directions.  At the same time as the air and grass clippings move in a rotary direction around the inside of the deck, they also travel in a vortex which allows the grass to pass through the cutting cycle multiple times.  Ultimately both the air and mulched grass particles are forced from the cutting deck with a positive downward pressure, whereby the mulched particles of grass are forced into the base of the turf. It is in the base of the turf where the particles are broken down by micro-organisms and turned into valuable nutrients for your lawn. In addition to specially designed cutting decks, mulching mowers also feature a specially designed blade, often with twin edges, further enhancing the under-deck dynamics and chopping performance.

More and more manufacturers are producing stand-alone mulching machines, many of which are equipped with a side-discharge chute just in case the mowing conditions are a bit too lush and heavy for quality mulching. These machines can often double-up as rough ground mowers, ideal for orchards and less than tidy verges. One such machine is the new Honda HRS536 SDE Mulching Lawnmower, which, with a lightweight, aerodynamically designed steel mulching deck and side-discharge option makes it ideal for homeowners with mixed grounds where collection of the grass clippings would be less than ideal. Not necessarily a true mulching lawnmower but more of an all terrain grass cutter is the Hayter Hayterette that has been going strong, almost unchanged, for 50 years. Four swinging blades, specifically designed to deal with rough grass, will leave a rough mulch on less formal areas and at the same time protect the engine crankshaft from damage. For truly professional quality mulching results look no further than the Husqvarna M 53S Pro Mulching Lawnmower and the Husqvarna M 48 Pro Mulching Lawnmower; ‘BioClip’ mulching technology ensures that the cutting results are at their optimum, even in damp conditions that can cause chopped clippings to stick to the underside of the cutting deck. Both machines are equipped with robust, cast aluminium mulching decks, vibration dampened handlebars and double ball bearing mounted wheels. The Husqvarna M 53S Pro benefits from the addition of a self-drive mechanism.

 

Whichever machine or mulching method you chose, the general rule of thumb is for mulching to take 30% less time than conventional lawn mowing with grass collection, due to the lack of stops to empty the grass collector. If you follow the steps below, you should be on your way to a lush green lawn this summer:

• ·         Follow the ‘one-third’ rule.  Never cut more than the top third of the grass, even if the grass is 6 inches long. The best mulching decks can’t cope with a grass clipping overload!

• ·         Leave grass about half an inch longer than you would normally if you were discharging or collecting the clippings. This helps retain moisture and suppress weed growth.

• ·         Keep your mower blades sharp. Mulching will dull blades faster than other methods of mowing. Also, keep the underside of the mowing deck clean with a nylon brush. This is essential as it maintains the vital ingredient for successful mulching; airflow.

• ·         Water the lawn after mulching, not before. Soaking the lawn after mulching makes clippings settle better and speeds up decomposition. Also, wet grass sticks to your lawnmower, lessening the quality of mulching.          

• ·         Reduce fertiliser usage.  Research suggests that 121lbs of nitrogen; 112lbs of potash and 38lbs of phosphate are available from ½ acre of mulched lawn clippings in one year.

If you have any queries or doubts about any aspect of lawn care, please don’t hesitate to call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916. Until our next blog, enjoy your garden and happy mulching.        

 

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Lawnmowers, lawnmowers, lawnmowers…Part 2

Posted by: James Williamson

In our last entry we looked at the merits of buying a rotary rear roller lawn mower with the intention of demystifying a style of machine that can cause a little confusion for some potential buyers. This time around we’ll examine a selection of the vast range of 4 wheel rotary lawnmowers available today and hopefully guide you to making the right choice for your particular lawn care needs.

A 4-wheel rotary lawn mower is a more flexible machine than a rear-roller rotary mower or cylinder lawnmower; having those four wheels can open up a greater range of grass-care applications. The flexibility offered from using a 4-wheeled lawnmower means that a variety of grass conditions can be maintained with one machine. Orchards, verges, underneath hedgerows and other less formal areas can be mown with the same machine that will also leave a pleasing finish on more manicured lawns. The size of your garden, the grass conditions and the style in which you wish to mow your grass will dictate which lawnmower you ultimately choose to buy.

Small urban and town gardens may well benefit from a compact, quiet lawnmower such as the Bosch Rotak 320 Electric Rotary Lawnmower, which, with its 1000 watt electric motor and 28 litre grass catcher is ideal if you need to keep the noise down for the neighbours. Slightly larger and more powerful is the Hayter Spirit 41 Four Wheeled Petrol Lawnmower. Designed for small lawns and gardens where value for money is a priority, it offers excellent performance with a 3-year warranty to match. At this point it is worth thinking about whether a push or self-propelled lawnmower is best for your garden, or, more importantly, your own physical abilities. Push lawnmowers require physical effort to move along and are normally available in 16” or 18” cutting widths. If your grass is rough and undulating, spread over a large area or you are no longer in peak physical condition, you may prefer a self-propelled lawn mower that drives itself. Sometimes less is more; a push machine is lighter, it will keep you in shape and is more manoeuvrable than a self-propelled mower that provides effortless grass cutting over long mowing sessions. 

The Honda Izy range of 4-wheel rotary mowers has an attractive modern look that will appeal to all, comprising five machines in total. The 16” Honda Izy HRG415PD Petrol Lawnmower is an excellent, easy starting lawnmower with Honda’s renowned build quality, also available in a self-propelled version, the Honda Izy HRG415SD Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower. Both machines provide exceptional performance with specially designed cutter decks that offer superior grass collection capabilities and easy to empty, 50 litre mesh grass bags. Hertfordshire based Hayter offer two excellent 18” lawn mowers, one push, the Hayter Motif 48 Push Lawnmower and the self-propelled Hayter Motif 48 Autodrive Lawn Mower; each model is supplied with a Honda GCV 135 petrol engine and benefits from single lever height of cut adjustment providing eight cutting heights between 25mm – 55mm. Another excellent feature is the lifetime crankshaft warranty, made possible due to Hayter’s unique cutter blade friction disc. A smaller 16” push version is also available, the Hayter Motif 41 Push Lawnmower. As a rule of thumb, a 16” push lawnmower is ideal for flat lawns of a compact nature whereas 18” push lawnmowers are good for lawns no more than ½ tennis court in size. Once the going gets tough or the lawn area increases, opt for an 18” self-propelled mower instead.

 

Staying with 18” lawn mowers for a moment longer, Honda offer two machines from the excellent Izy range that will suit the needs of the vast majority of homeowners. The Honda Izy HRG465PD Petrol Lawnmower is an 18” push lawn mower with a high quality steel mowing deck, 55 litre mesh grass collector and 6 cutting heights, all fitted as standard; its self propelled twin, the Honda Izy HRG465SD Petrol Lawnmower offers the same specification with the addition of self-drive. Also from Honda and coming with a 17” polystrong cutting deck is the Honda HRX426SX Petrol Lawnmower. From Honda’s top of the range domestic series of machines, the HRX426SX provides an excellent mowing experience with one-touch folding handlebars, Roto-Stop blade-break technology and a large 60-litre mesh grass bag for extra convenience. Also from the Honda HRX range of lawnmowers are the Honda HRX476SX Petrol Lawnmower and Honda HRX476HX Petrol Lawnmower. Both machines have a 19” polymer cutting deck, Roto-Stop blade break technology for super-safe emptying of the 73-litre grass collector and central height of cut adjustment. The HRX476HX has the added advantage of hydrostatic drive, allowing you to adjust your mowing pace without slowing the engine down, thereby achieving an excellent, consistent finish to your lawn. If you prefer a more traditionally built lawn mower, Hayter produce the robust Hayter Ranger 48 Lawnmower. Manufactured with a 19" aluminium cutting deck and powered by a Briggs and Stratton Series 650 petrol engine, autodrive is standard on this machine. Well-sized lawns and mixed areas of grass, up to a tennis court in size, can be easily maintained.

 

The biggest gardens need the largest 4-wheel rotary lawnmowers, usually measuring 21” in width. At the lower end of the price range, although not lacking in quality by any means, are the steel deck lawnmowers from Hayter and Honda. The Hayter Motif 53 Autodrive Lawn Mower and Honda HRG536SD IZY Petrol Lawnmower offer very similar performance levels; both are supplied with superb Honda GCV 160 petrol engines. The Hayter Motif 53 has the advantage of single point height of cut adjustment and a friction disc that gives a full lifetime guarantee from engine crankshaft damage. Plus sides for the Honda Izy 53 include a slightly larger grass collector at 61 litres and lower cutting height of 20mm compared to the 25mm of the Hayter machine.

 

Robust, hard-wearing lawn mowers that are designed for commercial and professional operators are often a good choice for homeowners that have a varied garden landscape that includes very mixed areas of grass including large orchards, small meadows, arboretums and gentle banking. Capable of enormous amounts of work, professional 4 wheel rotary lawn mowers are often expensive but can prove to be a worthwhile, long-term investment; commercial grade engines far outlast their domestic counterparts and heavy duty deck materials are capable of taking much abuse. The Hayter Ranger 53 Pro Autodrive Variable Speed Lawnmower is a very reasonably priced commercial grade lawnmower with several heavy duty features including a Briggs and Stratton Series 825 OHV petrol engine, front bumper bar, handlebar support struts and lifetime crankshaft guarantee. More expensive in the Hayter range is the aptly named Hayter Heavy Duty 21” Autodrive Lawnmower. A specially designed, heavy-duty, 6mm aluminium deck and extra large discharge chute promotes exceptional airflow and maximum suction of grass clippings whilst the cool running Kawasaki FJ180V petrol engine provides unbeatable performance. Hydrostatic shaft-drive, heavy duty alloy deck, heavy gauge handlebar tubing with support brackets and a front bumper bar are a few of the features that make the Honda HRH536HX Petrol Lawnmower the only choice for many professional landscapers; equipped with a Honda GXV 163cc OHV petrol engine and Roto-Stop blade break technology, it is tried and tested over many years of hard commercial use.

 

By choosing the appropriate machine for your gardening needs you can be sure that mowing your grass will become less of a chore and nothing will please you more than looking back at a neat and tidy finish to your lawn. If you are at all unsure of which lawnmower is best for you, please be sure to call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916 for plenty of free advice. Next time we’ll be looking at the subject of mulching and whether a dedicated mulching mower is better than a hybrid alternative…

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Lawnmowers, lawnmowers, lawnmowers…Part 1

Posted by: James Williamson

At first, we may think that buying a new lawnmower is an easy task; jumping into the car and popping down to the garden centre may be your first choice or you may prefer to browse and purchase on-line. However, it soon becomes apparent that the choice of machinery on offer nowadays is quite overwhelming and may leave you wondering which way to turn: rear-roller, four-wheel rotary, cylinder mower, electric or petrol, to mulch or not to mulch and so on…Over the next few weeks we’ll attempt to shed some light on which lawn mower will best suit your needs with regards to your budget, the grass conditions at your property and your overall gardening aspirations. 

Many people like the idea of having a formal, striped finish to their lawn or grass area, keen to replicate the look of a top quality tennis court or bowling green; this being the case, we will start our series of advice notes by looking at rear roller rotary lawnmowers. The ultra short grass finishes we see at top sporting events is achieved with petrol cylinder mowers that literally shave the grass with a scissor-like action. These machines will be covered in a later blog as they are generally not suitable for most lawn types, requiring a very even top surface to the grass, which is where a rear-roller rotary mower comes into its element. The cutting blade on rotary lawnmowers is usually a rotating metal bar, horizontal to the grass surface that chops the growing grass to a desired height. It is this cutting style that makes a rotary lawn mower suitable for less than perfect lawns.  

If your lawn or area of grass has a reasonably even top surface a rear roller rotary machine will be fine. The surface needs to be even to prevent the rear-roller wobbling from side to side so endeavour to check for tree roots or drain covers that may be hidden away; gentle undulations and slopes will not cause a problem. Generally speaking, the smaller the lawn, the smaller the lawnmower needed to maintain it, remembering that tight corners and awkward landscaping will call for extra manoeuvrability. A flat, even lawn of no more than a tennis court in size is the ideal territory for a small 16” petrol rear-roller machine such as the entry level Hayter Spirit 41 Push Rear Roller Mower, aimed at first time buyers or for those on a tight budget. A tough ABS polymer external cover and under deck in combination with an aluminium chassis keeps both the weight and price down. If quality is paramount the more expensive but also more durable 16” Hayter Harrier 41 Push Lawnmower will be your first choice; a powerful Briggs and Stratton Series 650 engine guarantees reliable performance and a full aluminium deck provides corrosion resistant longevity. The excellent 17” Honda HRX 426 QX Self-Propelled Roller Lawnmower has the added benefit of a single speed drive system, useful if your garden contains the odd undulation or gentle slope. Supplied as standard with Honda’s industry leading 7 year domestic use warranty and the Honda 160cc OHC Easy Start petrol engine, ease of use and peace of mind are never far away.  

Continuing the theme of small rear-roller rotary mowers with self-drive systems, Hayter also offer the economically priced Hayter Spirit 41 Autodrive Petrol Rear Roller Mower and the Hayter Harrier 41 Autodrive Variable Speed Lawnmower that allows the operator to adjust their groundspeed between 1.5 mph to 3 mph to suit mowing conditions or a particular part of their garden. The highest specification machine in the Harrier 41 stable is the Hayter Harrier 41 Autodrive Electric Start Variable Speed Lawnmower. The key start mechanism works in the same way as that fitted to your car with a small battery mounted onto the mower deck providing an electrical charge, particularly useful if you have a shoulder problem or are perhaps a more mature gardener.  If you’re keen not to use petrol machinery due to the noise or emissions produced, those of you with particularly small grass areas may prefer the 14” Hayter Envoy 36 Electric Push Lawnmower or the slightly larger Hayter Spirit 41 Electric Push Lawnmower, both equipped with top quality induction motors offering quiet yet reliable performance.  

At this point we must stress one great advantage that rear-roller lawnmowers have over standard 4-wheel rotary machines and that is their ability to mow right up to the edges of flowerbeds and borders. The front wheels are inset from the outer deck and rear roller, allowing the roller to support the lawnmower when the front wheels are in line with the border edge, however large the machine may be. If you own a medium to large sized garden, maybe up to a tennis court in size, a lawn mower with a 19” cutting width will be a fine choice. Honda produces the fantastic Honda HRX 476 QX Roller Rotary Mower; features to benefit any garden are the extremely durable polymer cutting deck and Roto-stop blade break that lets the operator empty the grass collector without the need to stop the engine. The Hayter Harrier 48 BBC Autodrive Variable Speed Lawnmower also has the blade-break-clutch system as standard, which, alongside the variable speed gearing makes it very easy to transport this lawnmower from different areas of your garden and not have to stop and start the engine. Also in the award-winning Hayter Harrier 48 range are the standard Hayter Harrier 48 Autodrive Variable Speed Lawnmower and the effortlessly easy to start Hayter Harrier 48 Autodrive Electric Start Variable Speed Lawnmower, both supplied with Briggs and Stratton Series 650 petrol engines.

For the commercial user or owner of particularly large areas of grass where a formal finish is desired, both Hayter and Honda offer up some impressive machinery. Powered by the extremely fuel efficient and emission friendly Briggs and Stratton Series 825 petrol engines, the Hayter Harrier 48 Pro and complete Hayter Harrier 56 stable of rear roller lawnmowers come as standard with a full one year commercial warranty, offering professional gardeners and landscapers complete peace of mind with their purchase. The Hayter Harrier 48 Pro also has the benefit of support struts on the handlebars and a front bumper guard. The Hayter Harrier 56 Autodrive Variable Speed Lawnmower, Hayter Harrier 56 Autodrive Electric Start Variable Speed Lawnmower and Hayter Harrier 56 BBC Autodrive Lawnmower also have the advantage of a 3-year domestic use warranty. As with all mowers in the Harrier range, excluding those with the blade break clutch facility, these machines have a lifetime guarantee against the engine crankshaft bending thanks to the unique Hayter Friction Disc.

A guide to large rear-roller lawn mowers wouldn’t be complete without including the near bomb-proof Honda HRH 536 QX Roller Rotary Mower, fully shaft-driven and complete with 1-year commercial warranty and heavy duty gearbox, it has proven itself in the harshest environments for years. Also from Honda and slightly less heavy duty is the Honda HRD 536 QX Rear Roller Rotary Lawnmower, supplied with the unsurpassed Honda 163cc OHV four-stroke petrol engine and 7 year domestic use warranty.

Hopefully our first lawnmower guide of 2010 will give you a little more confidence in making the right choice when looking at rear-roller lawnmowers. Our next entry will look at 4-wheel rotary lawn mowers in more detail. In the meantime please call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916 if you have any queries regarding your lawn care needs, we’ll be delighted to help.

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The Advantages Of Bosch Lawnmowers

Posted by: James Williamson

Robert Bosch GmbH was founded in Stuttgart,1886, with the view to creating a workshop for ‘precision mechanics and electrical engineering’. Today the very same company is doing just that, manufacturing products ranging from power tools to washing machines and lawnmowers. All products carrying the Bosch name are made to a high standard, offering both longevity of service and value for money. The Bosch range of gardening products has steadily grown over recent years and now includes some leading products in their field, especially the Rotak stable of electric rear-roller rotary lawn mowers.

The classic and probably most popular machine from this range is the Bosch Rotak 40 Electric Rotary Mower. The ideal machine for the average suburban garden, the Bosch Rotak 40 offers excellent cutting power from the 1700 watt Bosch Powerdrive motor that produces exceptional torque due to clever reduction gearing. Slightly larger is the Bosch Rotak 43 Electric Rotary Mower with a 43cm cutting width; fitted with the same high torque motor as the Rotak 40, it will easily cope with your lawn on returning from your summer holidays! Both machines have 50-litre collection boxes as standard and the ability to mow right up to the edges of fences and flowerbeds thanks to the in-set front wheels and unique grass combs attached to the side of the mowing deck.  

Smaller and slightly lighter than the above-mentioned models are the Bosch Rotak 36 Electric Rotary Mower and Bosch Rotak 34 Electric Rotary Mower; 40% lighter than similarly designed machines with a weight of only 10.5kg and conveniently placed carry handles, these are ideal lawnmowers for homeowners with small, terraced lawns or gardens with lots of obstacles in situ. A variety of grass conditions can be maintained and finishes achieved with the centrally controlled height of cut adjustment, providing 10 increments covering heights between 20mm – 70mm; the added benefit of the rear-roller, standard on all full size Rotak lawn mowers, leaves a neatly defined stripe on your lawn. We mustn’t end the review of the Bosch electric rotary mowers without mentioning the Bosch Rotak 320 Electric Rotary Mower, which, uniquely in the Bosch Rotak range is a 4-wheel rotary lawnmower. Equipped with a 1000-watt motor and 32cm blade it is ideal for the smallest of lawn areas where routine maintenance takes priority over style.  

Over recent times the engineers at Bosch head quarters have taken the cordless, battery-powered lawnmower to new heights of design and performance. The cordless rear roller rotary lawnmower range from Bosch now comprises three models, the Bosch Rotak 34 LI Cordless Lawn Mower, the Bosch Rotak 37 LI Cordless Lawn Mower and the Bosch Rotak 43 LI Cordless Lawn Mower. All machines in the Rotak cordless lawn mower range produce the same mowing performance as the equivalent corded machine, yet without the annoying and often dangerous trailing electrical cable. Lithium-Ion battery technology is the outstanding feature of these lawn mowers; the Rotak 43 LI is supplied with two 36-volt batteries, capable of cutting 150m³ to 300m³ per battery with no self-discharge or memory effect. Another great advantage of the Li-Ion batteries are the recharge times; fully charged from empty in only one hour and up to 80% in only 30 minutes! Adding to these already impressive features is the ‘Efficient Energy Management’ system that can increase the running time by 10% - 20%, depending on the lawn and mowing conditions. Last, and probably most important of all, the Bosch Rotak Lithium-Ion lawn mowers use very small amounts of energy in comparison to petrol lawnmowers, causing ten times less CO₂ emissions.       

If you’re on the lookout for a new lawn mower this season and feel like making an environmentally sound investment you need look no further than the range of Rotak lawnmowers from Bosch. They are designed and engineered to service the modern gardener with performance, energy efficiency and durability guaranteed. Please feel free to call us at LawnMowersDirect on tel. 01603 458 916 should you wish to discuss any aspect of the Bosch lawn mower range. One of our trained sales staff will be happy to advise you.

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Which Rotavator, Tiller or Cultivator?

Posted by: James Williamson

When the days start to become noticeably longer and the first signs of spring are only a few weeks away, it is the wise vegetable grower and allotment gardener that turns their mind to the task of soil preparation for the coming season. Needless to say this usually involves a lot of hard work, some of which can be avoided with the use of specific types of garden machinery. Help is at hand in the form of tillers, cultivators and rotavators (all earth turning devices that perform a similar task). In this post we’ll endeavour to shed some light on which machine may suit your needs best. 

The size of your garden or vegetable plot will determine what size and style of machine you need to complete the job; it is also worth considering how often you will use the machine so you can better match the engine size according to intended usage. If you have a smaller-sized vegetable patch or even flower beds and border areas that need attention, a small-sized cultivator, often referred to as a mini tiller, will suffice. These compact tillers are usually very lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, a prime example being the best selling Honda FG110 Tiller with a dry weight of only 13kg. This petrol-powered mini-tiller is equipped with a worm gear transmission that provides extra torque and performance under demanding conditions. Another small-sized petrol tiller well worth considering is the Honda FG201 Tiller with a slightly larger working width and larger engine, making it suitable for more regular use or on small areas where the soil is considered to be slightly heavy. Benefits to make use of with both of these machines are the conveniently placed carry-handles that, in combination with the fold-down handlebars, make these mini garden tillers excellent to transport in a car boot; especially useful for allotment workers. Another excellent compact tiller in this category is the Husqvarna T300RS equipped with a Robin-Subaru engine and worm gear transmission for reliability. Also available for all of these mini tillers are the comprehensive range of lawn-care accessories from the relative manufacturer, turning your petrol powered mini garden tiller into a complete lawn–care tool.  

Allotment societies and gardeners lucky enough to have larger-sized vegetable gardens and plots will benefit from bigger, more powerful mid-tine rotavators that are capable of working in varying conditions and soil types. The Husqvarna T50RS Cultivator is an excellent example, offering powerful performance with the inclusion of a reverse gear to aid manoeuvrability and crop protection discs for inter-row work. Slightly smaller is the Honda F220 Tiller; with a weight of 29kg and tilling width of 545mm it offers terrific all-round performance. Keen vegetable growers will appreciate the extra power and performance of the Honda FG315 Tiller equipped with a powerful 135cc OHC petrol engine; the 800mm working width of this machine will tackle large vegetable patches with ease. For those of you searching for a super-powerful garden cultivator or tiller that’s destined for some seriously hard work the Honda FE500 Tiller fits the bill. Plots with varying conditions and soil types won’t slow this tiller down and an extra feature of this machine is the 31 ° handlebar swing-mechanism (left or right) so you can avoid walking on your freshly turned soil! 

Now we move onto cultivating equipment designed for contractors and professional gardeners or those maintaining market gardens; in other words, people requiring large-sized professional rotavators and rear-tine tillers. Machinery in this category is capable of dealing with heavy, compacted soils and breaking-up virgin ground when necessary. The new Husqvarna TR 430 is a heavy-duty cultivator replacing the classic Husqvarna CRT 51 that has provided stirling service over many seasons. Equipped with rear-mounted, counter-rotating tines and large wheels with deeply grooved chevron tyres, it is suitable for a variety of tasks where power and durability are paramount. Horticultural tasks demanding a truly adaptable, robust top-end cultivator will suit the Honda F510 Tiller perfectly. A wide working width of 660mm can be extended to 940mm with special extension tines whilst a further range of optional accessories, including a cultivation unit provide the professional gardener with the ultimate heavy-duty rotavator. Supplied with transportation wheels as standard, adjustable, y-shaped loop handlebars and 3 forward and one reverse gear, this heavy-duty tiller could possibly be at the top of every professional horticulturalist’s wish list!  

Whatever your cultivating needs or tasks may be over the coming weeks please feel free to call us at LawnMowersDirect on 01603 458 916 where our fully trained and qualified sales team will be happy to advise you on your forthcoming purchase. Whether it’s an allotment cultivator/tiller that you’re after where versatility and compact storage is important or a rotavator where power and manoeuvrability are key features, we’ll be happy to advise.    

Be sure to check back soon for more product features and articles over the coming gardening year… 

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Which Lawnmower?

Posted by: David Chisholm

Advice on choosing a lawnmower

When choosing a lawnmower for your garden there are a number of points to consider:-

• The size of your lawn
• The quality of the finished cut you are looking for
• The ease of use of the mower

Rotary Lawnmowers
Rotary lawnmowers use a rotating blade to cut the grass and are designed for medium to large lawns. They can cope with both rough and smooth lawns, but will not give the higher quality of cut that a cylinder mower will give you. When fitted with a roller they will give you that classic striped effect to your lawn.

Cylinder Lawnmowers
Cylinder lawnmowers use a cylinder of blades and a scissor like cutting action to give the finest of cuts to your lawn. As the lawn mower goes forward a horizontally mounted cylinder rotates with a series of cutting blades on its surface trimming the grass to the desired height.

Hover Lawnmowers
Hover Lawnmowers float of a layer of air generated by a rotating blade. The blade will chop the grass, helping to pulp and compact the grass cuttings into mulch. They are ideal for sloping areas. As they have no wheels you will find they are easier to manoeuvre. The disadvantage to a hover is that they will not give you as a higher quality of cut as a cylinder mower.

Size of your lawn
Very Small Lawn - We would recommend a push cylinder mower.
Smaller Lawns (up to 300 sq metres) - We generally recommend that you get a mower with a cutting width of 12 to 17 inches. Electric and battery mowers are more suitable for smaller gardens.
Medium Lawns (300 - 600 sq metres) - We generally recommend that you get a mower with a cutting width of 17 to 19 inches.
Larger Lawns (600 sq metres plus) - We recommend that you get a mower with a cutting width of 20 to 22 inches.
Orchards - We recommend our Rough Cutter Range.

Fine and Informal lawns
The use of four wheeled mowers would be the advice we would give if you were not looking for such a finer cut to your lawn.

Striped Finish, Borders, Flower Beds & Edges
If you are looking for that traditional stripped finish or need to cut close to edges and borders then you need a cylinder or rear roller rotary mower.

Ease of Use
A push mower will help keep you fit as you are physically pushing the mower along, whereas a self-propelled mower does the work for you

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