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There are many lawnmowers on the market in all shapes and sizes’,
choosing a mower depends on the size of your lawn. If your lawn is small, a push mower may be adequate, this can be hard work but it is cheaper than the gym.
A powered mower is an alternative and can be electric or petrol.
With an electric mower, consider if you have a suitable power point and how long a cable is required, a trailing lead can be a nuisance, great care must be taken to avoid running over and cutting the cable, always use a RCD.

Electric Mowers.

Electric mowers are available in cylinder type with grass collector and wheeled rotary, also hover rotary.
The electric cylinder mower gives a better finish than the rotary type, but only suitable on smaller lawns.
The hover rotary is suitable for rougher grass and for mowing in awkward places and on steep banks.

Petrol Mowers.

A more suitable mower for the larger lawn is petrol driven; these are much more versatile than electric, and no cable to cut.
Petrol mowers come in cylinder and rotary models. They are available in a range of sizes. The cylinder types have a rear roller, essential if a striped lawn is required, although a rotary mower with a roller can give an excellent finish.
Petrol cylinder mowers are self-propelled while rotary wheeled can be push or power driven. Petrol hover mowers are the most manoeuvrable, and will handle long grass and steep banks with ease.

Electric and Petrol Strimmers.

A powered strimmer can be very useful in most gardens. The electric types have a nylon spool containing the cutting line, ideal for trimming around trees and awkward places.
The petrol types can have nylon line or a metal blade fitted and makes them extremely versatile, for clearing rough areas.

Electric and Petrol Edge Trimmers.

Electric and petrol, lawn edge trimmers are available; if you have a large lawn these can save a lot of hard work and time.
However they will not make as neat a job as lawn edging shears.

Lawn Maintenance tools.

Half Moon Lawn Edging Tool.

It has a curved blade attached to a wooden or metal handle, Useful to keep the lawn edges looking good; using this tool too often can make your lawn smaller.

Long Handled Shears.

with long handles alleviate stooping. Used for trimming overhanging grass at lawn edges, can be tiring to use for long periods.

Spring tined rake.

Wide rake with a long handle, with plastic, rubber or metal tines. Used for raking leaves and dead growth from the lawn.

Strimmers.

can be electric or petrol powered. Electric types only suitable for smaller gardens. Engine types much more versatile.
Used for trimming around trees and tidying rough areas. Can be hard work if used for long periods.

Scarifier.

Electric or petrol powered.
Used for raking dead moss, leaves and thatch, usually has a collector box.

Lawn Aerator.

Hand or petrol powered has hollow tines. Allows air into compacted lawns, encouraging growth. Ordinary fork can be used on small areas.

Spreader.

Hand operated, metal or plastic bin on wheels with handles. Used for accurately spreading grass seed fertiliser and granular weedkiller.

Roller.

Rollers can be made of cast iron or a better type has provision to add water to vary weight. Sometimes used to roll lawns. No need for these if your mower has a roller fitted.

Tools and Equipment for Maintaining Shrubs Trees and Hedges.

Shears.

Made with extending or standard length handles. Used for trimming long grass or tidying shrubs and hedges.

Powered Hedge Trimmer.

Available electrically or petrol powered Suitable for larger hedges, can have extension for tall hedges and conifers.

Rechargeable Hedgetrimmers.

Useful for small areas out of reach of power supply. Easy to use, but lack power for thicker branches.

Secateurs.

Parrot bill type has a scissors action, with curved blade. Anvil type has a straight upper blade that cuts against a fixed flat anvil. Secateurs are used for pruning roses and shrubs.

Pruning Saw.

Made with straight or curved folding blade. Suitable for pruning in confined spaces.

Bow Saw.

Has tubular triangular frame that tensions, replaceable blade. For trimming large, accessible branches quickly.

Long Handled Loppers.

Heavy-duty cutters with extending handles, made in bypass or anvil type. For cutting branches, up to one inch thick.

Long Handled Tree Pruner.

Cutter blade is positioned on a long pole. The blade is operated by a rod mechanism. For pruning tall trees.

Brushwood Cutter.

Petrol powered with metal blade. Suitable for heavy duty clearing of undergrowth and scrub. Efficient but can be tiring when using for long periods.

Chainsaws.

Petrol or electrically powered. Use for trimming tree branches and for felling and cutting trees up into logs. In inexperienced hands can be very dangerous.

Equipment and Tools for Cultivation and Irrigation.

Spade.

Available in standard and border sizes. Made in carbon steel, can have a non-stick coating. Also made in stainless steel. Used for digging and shifting soil.

Fork.

Available in standard and border sizes. Use for digging and cultivating heavy soils. Smaller border fork used for cultivating borders.

Hoe.

Draw and push hoes are used for weeding, sometimes used for forming seed drills.

Garden Rakes.

Made out of pressed steel, in one piece head or riveted, with wooden or steel handle. Rakes are used for levelling cultivated soil and for raking up debris.

Dibber.

Short wooden handle sometimes with a metal point. Used for making holes when planting cabbage seedlings.

Hand fork and trowel.

Used for planting bulbs and bedding plants.

Garden Line.

Length of strong hemp with two metal pins. used as a planting guide to set out line of plants.

Hand Cultivator.

Three, four, or five pronged tool with a long handle. Used for cultivating compacted soil.

Petrol Rotavator.

Rotovators can save some hard work, only worthwhile for larger gardens. Can chop, spread, and help weeds germinate.

Wheelbarrow.

Can be obtained with galvanised metal or plastic bin. The builder’s type with inflatable tyre is the most durable.

Incinerators.

Made out of mesh or dustbin design. Used for burning garden rubbish.

Shredders.

Powered by electric, petrol heavy-duty types are available. Quickly turn garden waste into mulch, which is then easily composted.

Watering Can.

Made in galvanised metal or plastic. Essential in drought conditions when hosepipe ban is in operation. Always use with a rose when watering plants. Can be used for applying weedkiller, but keep separate can for this purpose.

Hosepipe.

Made in different lengths and materials. Best types are through feed reels, permanently fixed near tap. When purchasing, make sure it will reach to the furthest point of your garden.

Sprinklers.

A few different types are available. Most common is rotary, covers a large circular area. Oscillating type is most useful.

Sprayers.

Small pump up type, or knapsack sprayer. Used for pesticides and weedkillers. Can also be used for fertilisers and misting. Knapsack sprayer only necessary for larger gardens.