GARDENING FOR ALL SEASONS

The lawn might have stopped growing at this time of year, but there are still plenty of tasks you can do in the garden. We do have the UK’s largest selection of lawnmowers available, but did you know we also have lots of tools for autumn and winter jobs too?

Wood-burning fireplaces are once again in vogue, and what better way to prepare for the cold winter than by cutting your own firewood?

Our range of chainsaws will make short work of cutting through large tree branches and the Cordless Chainsaw will run for up to 50 minutes on a 90 minute charge.

Autumn is a good time to have a clear out of beds and borders if they have been allowed to grow out of hand for some time. Our Quiet Shredder is great for shredding garden waste up to 40mm in diameter, and comes with a practical plunger for increased throughput on heavier loads. Naturally, we think it’s great but don’t just take our word for it. Kitchen Garden magazine recently recognised it as their Best Buy too!  http://www.kitchengarden.co.uk/-Kitchen-Garden-Best-Buy-and-Top-Picks-45f2ZKC

Likewise, you can prune any trees that have become unruly. To cut branches that are normally out of reach, the Pole Pruner can extend to up to 2.7 metres, so you can tame overgrown trees or collect extra firewood before winter sets in.

Alternatively, the Cobra log splitter is designed exactly for this task. The LS520H, with its 1500w powerful motor and 5.5 tonnes of splitting force, can split logs up to 25cm in diameter in to four with just one stroke. We even has an extensive range of carts and trailers too, to help you transport the logs once cut!

Finally, to give your garden an instant neat and tidy look, clear up fallen autumn leaves from the lawn, driveway or patio. Our Electric and Petrol Blower Vacs collect nuisance leaves in a handy collection bag for easy disposal. 

How to leave stripes on a lawn

Stripes not only look smart, they can also create an illusion of a longer, greener lawn – it’s no wonder that many of us desire the ‘formal’ look for our gardens. The effect is not difficult to attain but does require a little planning and some specific equipment.

What creates the stripes on a lawn?

Stripes are simply created by the two-tone contrasting colours of grass laid flat in one direction and again in the opposite direction. When the grass is bent away from you, it appears lighter in colour as light reflects off the fatter part of the grass plant. Pushed towards you, the grass looks darker.

What equipment do I need?

Firstly, you need to consider which type of lawnmower to use. The mower you choose should have a fixed roller mounted to the body machine that flattens the grass.

Walk-behind mowers – Cylinder or ‘reel’ mowers fitted with a roller can produce an excellent striped finish. These mowers work by using a spinning cylindrical blade at the front of the mower to slice the grass which is then flattened by a trailing roller. Cylinder mowers will produce a high-quality cut but they tend to be expensive and may require regular blade sharpening and maintenance. Hover mowers, which do not make contact with the ground, and mulching rotary mowers will not, by themselves, create the desired effect.

Ride-on mowers – Most ride-on mowers are poor at striping and either require a second pass with a heavy roller or an aftermarket ‘striping kit’ to achieve the effect. However, there are exceptions. Countax garden tractors use collectors with a powered ‘sweeping’ system. These collectors have integrated rollers and will stripe as they cut.

How do I use my mower to achieve stripes?

A little bit of planning goes a long way when it comes to lawn striping. The illustration opposite shows a simple pattern that can be used, even by ride-on mower owners, to stripe the lawn and leave a neat and tidy border. Not only does this system produce uniform stripes, it is also an efficient way to mow a rectangular shaped lawn.

What about obstacles such as trees?

It is possible to continue the stripe through trees and ornaments. On your first pass approaching the obstacle, mow around the object into the path of the uncut grass. On your second pass, stripe over the marks you have just left. This manoeuvre takes some practice, but once mastered, it can give the impression that your lawn stripes go straight through any garden obstacle.