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.

How To Look After Your Lawn Mower

 

Every time your cut your grass there will be regular things to check for as well as annual things which MUST be done to make sure your lawn mower is in top condition.

Most lawn mowers come with a manual which will guide you on how you should look after your mower correctly, we advise you familiarise yourself with your manual so you know what precautions you should take when undertaking any cleaning or maintenance.

Regular Maintenance

After mowing your lawn you will need to clean the underside, blade, chute and the wheels/rollers of your lawn mower this will stop an excess build of grass and dirt getting trapped. You can clean these compartments using either a hose or a stiff hand brush, just keep in mind to stay clear of the engine if you use a hose! If you do use water to clean the blades make sure you wipe any excess water off to avoid the risk of rusting.

You will need to thoroughly check all the nuts and bolts of your machine to make sure they are securely attached, you don’t want anything coming loose.

After every use check the blades for sharpness and dents, if your blade has more than a few dents then you should replace it in order to get the best performance out of your mower.

Annual  Maintenance

If you own an electric mower then a low level of maintenance is required, just make sure that your mower is thoroughly clean and that all the moving parts are well oiled.

However, if you own a petrol mower you will need to do several things: clean the filter, change the spark plug and replace the engine oil. You will also need to check any cables, chains and the wheels for any damage.

Finally, let’s discuss blades. If you own a rotary mower then you can sharpen the blade at home, sharpening a blade can be a tricky job and there are tool kits available to help you with the process. If you own a cylinder mower then sharpening the blade is a lot more difficult as you need to align the removable blade with the stationary one. We suggest you visit your local lawn mower specialist to assist you in sharpening or replacing your blade for a cylinder mower.

How To Have The Perfect Summer Garden

As we welcome spring it’s time to think about prepping your garden for summer so you can obtain the perfect summer garden.

Referring back to our monthly lawn care planner, April is the month where you should be aiming to mow your lawn at regular intervals. We suggest investing in a Hayter lawn mower; famed for making the finest mowers. You can see our review on this brand here.

With regards to obtaining the perfect summer garden, your aim for this month is to keep your grass at a healthy height without it becoming unmanageable.

Maintenance is key for this time of month as making sure to keep those pesky weeds from growing will seem like a full time job! The healthier your garden is the more difficult it is for weeds to grow. The best way to tackle any weed is to kill it as soon as you see it, rather than leaving it to grow for a bit first. To kill a weed either do it by hand by ripping them up from the roots or select a suitable and strong weed killer.

This is the perfect time of year to tidy up your garden. Any damage which has happened to your lawn over the winter months, the time is now to repair the damage just in time for June. To fix any damaged areas we recommend re-seeding any dry or dead patches and making sure you keep an eye on your freshly seeded patches.

It’s essential to make sure you give your grass a good nourishing feed in order for it to grow and stay healthy. At this particular time of year you many want to give your lawn a feed which has a high concentration of nitrogen, as this is what your lawn will benefit the most from.

By following these simple to do suggestions you can obtain a nice and healthy lawn by summer time, ideal for summer barbecues and outdoor celebrations.