Is a petrol chainsaw right for me?

A petrol chainsaw is a good choice if you have a lot of logs to cut or heavy pruning to tackle in the garden as it will cut through large logs faster than any other machine and you can use it anywhere without the hassle of a trailing power cable.

It will need regular maintenance including:

• Servicing the engine
• Keeping the fuel tank topped up
• Sharpening the cutting teeth
• Keeping the chain at the correct tension

Petrol chainsaws can also be heavy, so it’s worth testing one out before you buy to check whether it’s one you could use comfortably for a reasonable period of time. Consider how you would use a chainsaw for different jobs: pruning branches would involve making single cuts with rests in-between but chopping logs would be a series of vertical cuts in a continual motion.

Petrol chainsaws are noisy, some more than others, but all are likely to irritate the neighbours if you use them constantly and they give off powerful petrol fumes.

Pros: Powerful, portable, great for chopping logs

Cons: High maintenance, noisy, overpowering emissions, expensive

Which petrol chainsaw should I buy?

Petrol chainsaws come in different sizes and power capacities depending on the sort of work they’re designed to do, from pruning the branches of a shrub to felling large trunks.

There are three categories of use:

• domestic
• heavy
• professional

Most of the petrol chainsaws you’ll find in DIY stores and garden centres are designed for domestic use and have a guide bar of 40cm or less and are the best choice for cutting jobs around the garden. Howeverer, choosing a chainsaw isn’t just about cutting. You want a machine that’s easy to use, manoeuvre and maintain.

How does a petrol chainsaw work?

With a petrol chainsaw the engine drives a metal chain, with lots of cutting ‘teeth’, at high speed around an oblong-shaped guide bar. As the spinning chain makes contact with a log or tree trunk, its teeth are dragged along the surface, cutting the wood. The circular motion of the chain keeps the teeth in contact with the wood, so the saw keeps cutting until it has sliced all the way through or the power is stopped.

Most petrol chainsaws have two-stroke engines, which are similar to those used in mopeds or outboard boat engines. It’s worth bearing in mind that a petrol chainsaw’s engine will require regular servicing to keep it in good working order.

Oil and fuel for petrol chainsaws

Petrol chainsaws need a specific mix of petrol and engine oil. Most petrol chainsaws run on a 50:1 petrol-to-oil ratio, but check the user manual for the exact ratio your chainsaw needs.

Petrol chainsaws also need lubricating oil to ensure the chain runs smoothly and doesn’t snag. Look for a chainsaw with an integrated oil chamber that supplies oil automatically, as this will save you time and hassle. Most petrol chainsaw models come with these as standard, but check before you buy.

If you don’t use a petrol chainsaw regularly you must drain it of fuel and oil between uses.

If you have any questions, require help choosing a petrol chainsaw or your chainsaw needs servicing then please contact Jeremy or Graham on 01403 700743 or email us and we will be happy to help.

When is the best time to stop mowing your lawn?

There is an Old Wives’ Tale about when to stop mowing your lawn in the winter months. The true is grass does not actually stop growing even when it is really cold, it simply slows down. So the question of when you should stop mowing the grass is more a question of the prevailing weather and ground conditions that quite often prevent you getting onto the lawn when you have the ideal opportunity to mow it.

The factors restricting lawn mowing in the winter months can be –

• Ground frost and snow
• Water logging
• Earthworm casts
• Rain
• Reduced daylight hours
• Temperature
• A heavy lawnmower or ride-on-tractor

The lawn’s growth pattern will naturally slow as the soil and air temperatures reduce. If the air temperature is above 5 degrees centigrade the grass will keep growing. Reflective heat from buildings and localised sheltered microclimates will aid growth and where you live in the UK geographically.

As we are now into the winter months the frequency of mowing will reduce from twice a week or more normally once a week only to once every 10 days then down to once a fortnight and finally down to once a month in December and January. The aim is to literally take the ‘top’ off the lawn, so that means no more than 25% of grass growth at one time. This will keep the lawn tidy and help in the removal of leaf litter and debris.  And mowing the lawn if you are able to a few weeks before Christmas keeps the garden looking neat and tidy ahead of the festive season.

If you have any questions regarding what type of lawn mower, ride-on-mower or tractor you should be using then give us a call on 01403 700743.

June is upon us so lawn mowing is a regular job in the garden and it may even be necessary to mow your lawn twice a week. With a well-serviced lawnmower or Ride-on-Tractor the job is so much easier. If rainfall is low then water the lawn thoroughly but not too frequently to encourage deep root growth. If weeds are still prevalent then apply a lawn weed treatment when the soil is moist and if clover exists then rake the lawn before mowing.

Mowing the lawn is probably the most well known of all lawn care jobs but it is still carried out incorrectly by many gardeners. To develop and keep a top quality lawn you need to know when and how often you should mow the lawn and with the right lawnmower for your lawn. Mowing too often or at the wrong times can seriously damage the condition of the lawn.

The aim of mowing the lawn should be to keep the grass somewhere in between ‘not to long’ and ‘not to short’. The height of the grass will depend on what you use it for and the aspect of the garden. If the grass is too short then the roots will not receive adequate nutrients and the ability of the lawn to take up these nutrients and water through the roots will decline which in turn will result in poor growth rates and a loss of vigour. Mowing the lawn helps to stimulate side shoot development in the grass and this leads to the build up a dense lawn that has a strong growth rate.

Always aim to mow the lawn when the grass is dry as the blades of the lawn mower will cut the grass better. If you mow the grass when it is wet then the weight of the mower and your footsteps will leave muddy patches and the lawn surface will become compacted when it dry’s out. The grass will find it hard to re-establish itself on these areas.

Remember you can always contact us if you need any advice or help with servicing, repairing or purchasing a new lawnmower or Ride-on-Tractor to keep your lawn in the best condition this summer.

WG Gardencare Machinery is pleased to announce that we have moved to Slaughterford Farm, Sumners Ponds, Barns Green, West Sussex.

Our new premises have excellent workshop facilities manned by highly trained mechanics and whether you need your lawnmower or ride on tractor servicing or repairing, we will be able to give you a fast and efficient service. We are happy to give advice on any new purchase and have a variety of lawn mowers, ride on mowers and tractors available to buy.

With an on-site licensed cafeteria by a lake offering meals, snacks or afternoon tea, you can enjoy refreshments while you wait for your machine to be assessed or repaired.

If you are unable to come to us then we offer a collection and delivery service to customers throughout West Sussex and Surrey. Contact us now or call us on 07926 168953 or 01403 283814 and we will be happy to help.

Take a bit of time and care to maintain and store your lawn mower or garden tractor properly in the winter, and you will have no problems getting started again in the spring.

How WG Gardencare Machinery Ltd can help.

Although most people can generally care for their Lawnmower or Garden Tractor during the season, many choose the convenience and security of having a professional do the final maintenance service before putting the machine away for the winter. We recommend doing this now, not only to maintain its performance, but also to avoid the spring rush so you are ready to get going when the grass starts to grow in the spring!

At WG Gardencare Machinery Ltd we have excellent workshop facilities and highly trained staff who will take care of all your winter servicing needs. We specialise in servicing and repairing all types of professional and domestic garden machinery including two and four stroke mowers and commercial diesel tractors. Plus we offer a FREE collection and delivery service throughout West Sussex and Surrey.

So contact us today or call 01403 700743 and we will be happy to help.

During August raise the blades on your lawnmower before cutting fine lawns. This will help reduce drought stress.

Mow lightly and frequently so that short grass clippings can remain on the lawn during hot days to act as a moisture-retentive mulch. Excess thatch can be scarified out during autumn maintenance next month. Mulching lawn mowers cut the clippings even finer than normal rotary blades, making the mulch less visible.

If your lawn is on thin soil it may benefit from a high phosphate feed. This will strengthen the roots for winter, rather than encouraging lush top growth that could suffer in the cold and weaken the grass.

Avoid using lawn weedkillers in late summer – they will be more effective in the cooler, damper autumn weather.

Dig over any areas due to be grassed over later in the year. Leave them for a few weeks to allow weeds to re-emerge, and then spray with a weedkiller or hoe off to ensure thorough weed clearance before seeding or laying turf in the autumn.

Summer meadows may need mowing now if they have past their season of interest, especially in areas of the country where autumn comes earlier. In warmer parts of the UK, spring and early summer meadows that have extended their period of interest well into the summer could be cut now if not done already.

Do get in touch by emailing us or calling us on 01403 700743 with any questions about Lawn Mowers, Ride-On Lawn Mowers and Tractors or any aspect of garden machinery, garden tractor or lawnmower sales, repairs or service.

Lawn advice courtesy of The Royal Horticultural Society www.rhs.org.uk