Looking After Your Chainsaw

If you’re looking to get some use out of your chainsaw, maybe to chop some firewood or clear some unwanted branches, then you’ll want to make sure it’s up to scratch before doing so. Maintaining your chainsaw is always important, but especially after a long, unused, period it is essential to perform a few checks.

Firstly, you will need to check the oil level for the bar and chain. It is essential that the levels are optimum as without lubrication you could cause a lot of damage to your saw.  A majority of chainsaws are self-oiling so only the levels need to be topped up.

It is also important to keep the chain on your chainsaw sharp. This not only makes use of the chainsaw more efficient and effective but it also much safer for the user and will prevent kick-backs and imprecise cutting.

A metal file can easily be used to sharpen blades, and regular sharpening will make this less time-consuming in the long run. File at a right angle to the chainsaw rollers, ensuring that the chainsaw is secured in place.

You may also need to replace the air filter on your saw.  Usually, chainsaw air filters need to be replaced after every 10 hours of use, and will ensure that it is less prone to overheating and is more efficient. This is also the case with the fuel filter, which should be replaced every 20 hours, as the filter can become clogged and perform poorly.

If your chainsaw won’t start, it could be to do with the spark plug. Make sure that fuel is reaching the spark plug, and that the plug lead is making contact. Also, remember to clear any debris out of your chainsaw after every use.

Hopefully this quick and easy to follow guide will make sure that you're looking after your chainsaw properly. For more gardening tips, chainsaws, and chainsaw spares visit World of Mowers in store or online today.

How To Look After Your Trees

You've already raked and mowed your lawn, fed and watered the flowers and used a leaf blower to clear the leaves. You think your garden is all ready to relax in over summer, but then disaster strikes: your tree collapses after a fungus has rotted away the roots.

Taking care of your garden trees all year round is essential to maintaining them, and keeping them healthy and green. In this handy guide, we give you important tips to keep your trees happy as well as how to deal with problems you may encounter along the way.

Starting with a new tree

Before planting, ensure you dig a hole twice as deep as the roots of the tree, place the tree in making sure that the soil level is even from the base of the tree to the ground. Then, wet the hole with a soil wetter and a seaweed tonic. This will give the tree the best chance at survival. Keep the tree in place with some stakes, taking care to avoid the roots.

Looking after your tree

Fertilise your tree every year with a slow releasing fertiliser, aerating the soil around the tree to allow water into the roots. In addition, remove and climbers that are growing up the tree, as these can prove to be harmful.

A quality chainsaw can also come in handy, as they can be used to trim branches which have broken off, or for removing crossing branches whilst the tree is still young. In both cases, leave a few centimetres of stump for the tree to regrow.

Exposed Roots 

Exposed roots are an easy target for insects and fungi. The best solution is to remove grass from around the roots and plug the gaps with compost, layering mulch on the top to keep them protected.

Insects 

Insects and pests can leave a tree weak by removing nutrients from the tree over time. It is not always obvious that your tree is infected, but keep an eye out for a soot-like substance around nearby furniture or anything near it, which is the waste produced by the insects.  The best solution is to use a systemic spray which travels though the sap of the tree to remove the problem.

Hopefully this quick and easy guide will ensure your trees remain healthy for years to come. For more gardening tips, lawn mowers, and other gardening tools visit World of Mowers in store or online today.

Prepare for Spring

When it comes to buying gardening equipment, many people think it should only be a summer pursuit but there are actually things to do in the garden all year round and you should be taking advantage of the time of year to keep your garden in check.

In the winter while the main vegetation has died back, it’s the time to get a chainsaw and trim back any overhanging trees and bushes. Tackling these kinds of jobs in the summer can make the job a lot bigger than it needs to me with all the new summer regrowth. A crisp winter afternoon with a stihl petrol chainsaw or a lightweight Bosch electric chainsaw can trim your garden back to state that is ready for the summer regrowth.

Along with a chainsaw it might be worth getting a shredder to dispose of garden debris our collection of lightweight garden shredders are portable and designed to be quiet, so you can make sure the garden is tidy without disturbing the neighbours. The garden shredders including hoppers to capture the debris, the shredder helps minimise garden waste by compacting the waste down and the lightweight shredders are easily manoeuvrable around the garden.

Finally for any garden waste that is too small to shred or saw a garden vacs will vacuum up the waste and leave your garden ready for spring. Next month we will look at the lawn and what machines will get your lawn looking pristine for summer.