BACKYARD DIY

Spring has arrived and you’re experiencing wonderful growth in your garden. While it’s wonderful to see the vegetables thriving, the flowers blooming and the lawn flourishing, it does take a bit of work to keep it under control. Rather than slave away hacking through the forest, a selection of power garden tools can go a long way to making this task a lot easier.
Like their indoor power tool cousins, outdoor power tools are constantly undergoing improvements and advancements, such as Black & Decker’s new 18-volt lithium ion battery-powered range, which makes it easy and convenient to keep the section tidy.
A couple of selected power garden tools can really make a world of difference to your gardening experience.
 
Lawnmowers 
How many times have you seen someone struggling to get a lawnmower started, or being enveloped by a cloud of blue smoke as they struggle around their section pushing a ragged-running, beaten-up mower that struggles every time it approaches a patch of freshly-grown grass?
Lawns always look their best when they are freshly mown – a job which can be far easier, safer and effective when you have the right lawnmower.
There are many factors to consider when buying a lawnmower: 

• How big is your lawn?
• Will you be cutting grass that is long and unruly?
• Is there a slope you will have to push your mower up?
• How much can you afford to spend?
• Are you able to maintain a petrol mower yourself?
• Are you buying for life, or are you ok with replacing the mower in a couple of years?

For most, the first thing that comes to mind when lawnmowers are mentioned is a petrol-powered rotary mower, but the options are far greater than that. 
You can get electric mowers, which are great for a small to mid-sized lawn. They are lightweight, manoeuvrable, and easy to handle, clean and quiet with no emissions. They do need a power source nearby and a power cord long enough to reach all corners of the property.
Electric mowers can also struggle when it comes to long grass, as they are traditionally not as powerful as petrol-powered mowers.
A different form of electric mower is the hover mower, which floats on a cushion of air created by the downdraft of the blades. They’re very easy to handle over uneven surfaces, banks, or between flowerbeds. 
For a mower with more power, petrol mowers are the way to go.
Suitable for most conditions, these mowers will operate in nearly all terrain and grass conditions with little limitation.  
 
Petrol mowers are available as ‘rotary’ mowers or ‘reel’ mowers.
Rotary mowers are what you will see tackling most New Zealand lawns. They have a blade that spins horizontally beneath the body, while reel mowers have blades mounted on a reel at the front of the mower.
Traditional rotary mowers are suitable for all lawn types, sizes and conditions. A good quality rotary mower will last for many years so select one you feel comfortable with, one that is safe and can be serviced to maintain its longevity.  
Select an engine that is powerful enough for the lawn you are going to be working on and also consider one that catches or mulches the clippings. Some have the option of both. 

Rotary mowers do come in regular contact with hard objects so consider selecting a blade system that has swing back technology to avoid potential engine damage.

A second type of petrol-powered mower is the reel, or cylinder mower. These use a rotating horizontal cylinder of blades at the front of the mower to slice the grass. They can create a really close cut and are often used by organisations such as bowling clubs or by cricket pitch groundskeepers to create the finish needed.

If your lawn is quite wet or you are in a coastal area, consider choosing an aluminium body lawnmower, as it will not be prone to rusting like steel body mowers can.

 If you have a really large lawn (or you just like the concept of very little effort) think about a ride-on mower. These can be quite simple and basic, or extremely well appointed, but the advantage of all of them is that you can jump aboard, point them in the right direction and start to mow. You can even hook up a trailer to cart away those clippings and other garden debris.
 
Line trimmers
Once you have the lawn mowed, you’ll still need to tidy up around those tree trunks, along garden edges or underneath plants or overhangs, and a line trimmer is superb for these tasks.
They’re also great for reducing long grass down to a manageable level.
In basic terms, a line trimmer is a spinning head mounted on the end of the long shaft with a short length of nylon that whips around at high speed, trimming off grass, weeds and light foliage with ease. The nylon automatically extends as it wears out and replacement spools are easy to fit once the nylon has been exhausted.
Like mowers, there are electric, petrol and battery-powered versions of line trimmers, all with similar characteristics.
Petrol-powered trimmers are considerably more heavy-duty and can handle tougher work for longer periods, but will generally require careful fuel management (two-stroke fuel mix), priming before starting and regular topping up if they are used for extended periods. They are also noisier and do cause emissions.
If you only have a little trimming to do and you only have a small section, a corded electric trimmer may work, beware of the cord, or you may find your way trimming your way through your power source.
Want a cordless trimmer without petrol power? Consider a battery-powered model, it’s just a case of pull the trigger and go. The downside of battery-powered trimmers is run time and charge time, but even these are becoming far more impressive. Black & Decker has just launched an 18-volt lithium ion battery-powered line trimmer, which can be recharged to 80% of capacity within 45 minutes.

Consider a split-shaft trimmer, as these can be used for a number of other tasks as well. By removing the line trimmer end of the shaft, split shaft models can be fitted with a variety of different heads, from brush cutters and hedge trimmers to edger’s and power pruners.

 
Edging
No matter how well you mow your lawn and tidy up around those shrubs, if the edges of your lawn aren’t clean and sharp, then it’s going to look messy.
Disc edgers have long been available as hand tools, but do require a bit of hard work to operate them, especially if you have a lot of edging to do.
To solve this issue, a powered edger isn’t a bad addition to your outdoor power garden kit.
These work like a line-trimmer, but use a vertically mounted blade to cut the grass along the edge of the lawn. They also have a trailing wheel or set of wheels which allow the edger to move smoothly along the boundary of the lawn, reducing effort and making for a much more accurate job.
Adjustable handles and shafts aren’t a bad idea as bending over a trimmer, even for a short time, can become difficult and painful. Like most outdoor garden power tools, edgers are available in petrol-powered versions or as electric or battery-powered models.
 
Hedge trimmers
Hedges, climbers, ivy and other fast-growing creepers can quickly get out of control, which can have much greater issues than just making the place look messy.
Left to grow these plants can quickly smother other areas of the garden, choking up walkways and paths and weighing down fences. Keeping those areas tidy, trim and under control isn’t just about making the place look presentable, it’s also about maintaining the health of your garden.
Powered hedge trimmers will help you slice through those areas with ease, removing those untidy sections from your hedge and turning it into a neat, trim border in no time at all.
If you’re not undertaking huge amounts of trimming, then think about a battery-powered or electric trimmer, as these are lightweight and pretty easy to use.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking your hedge trimmer can cut through anything in front of it as they are designed to cut leaves, foliage and very small branches. Anything thicker than your little finger is likely to be too much for it and will quickly cause it to jam.
 
Chainsaws
When you’re thinking about buying a chainsaw, decide whether to choose a petrol or electric model.
Users find that the two suit different tasks – electric chainsaws are light, easy-to-start and great for some of those smaller jobs while petrol-powered ones are generally more powerful, have a greater range of bar sizes for different jobs and don’t have a cord to get in the way when you are using it.
To select a chainsaw for your job, the basic rule to work from is “the bigger the job, the bigger the bar length”, but don’t choose one that’s too big or you will have trouble managing it.
As a rough guide, work on the following bar lengths: 

• 14 inch/350mm suits occasional light duty use – e.g cutting up a small tree – width up to 300mm;
• 16 inch/400mm more general garden/home use – e.g. cutting up a small to medium tree;
• 18 inch/450mm large jobs or farm or rural use – e.g. where you are regularly chopping trees for firewood;
• 20 inch/510mm heavy duty, frequent usage e.g. large diameter woodcutting.

The engine size of a chainsaw will normally increase with the larger bar lengths.

 
Blower vacs
After you have made all that mess with mowing, cutting, edging and trimming, you’ll need to clean up around the place to finish the job off nicely. 
A blower vac is a very handy tool, as it quickly and easily cleans up large outdoor areas of leaves, grass clippings, twigs and other garden debris. Blower vacs are ideal for clearing lawns, driveways, garages, decks, gardens and pavement. You no longer need to manually rake or sweep! 
 

You can use the blow function to clear leaves into piles - ideal to clear the garden without sucking up bark, shells or stones - and use the vacuum function to suck up the debris and mulch or shred it into the bag attached. Add the garden mulch to your compost bin or use as mulch on your garden.
When you’re thinking whether to choose a petrol or electric model, remember they suit different tasks - electric blower vacs are lighter and easy to start while petrol blower vacs are more powerful.
Corded models generally offer more power than cordless models and include a bag to hold the shredded debris. A suitable extension cord is essential.
Cordless models offer extra mobility and convenience with freedom from extension cords and are lighter in weight. Some brands offer battery cross-compatibility from their power tools, a consideration worth making.
Shredding ratio is an important feature, as this will define how often you need to empty the bag. Also consider the bag capacity.
Motor power will not only indicate the units’ performance but will influence blow speed - particularly helpful when working with damp leaves. A shoulder strap provides extra comfort and ease of use, while a wheel at the nose of the machine will enable you to rest the blower vac downwards and help reduce user fatigue. 
Variable speed models allows you to adjust the speed as conditions change and a flick switch will quickly allow the user to adapt from blow to suck modes.
 
Chippers

Clippings and smaller debris can be cleaned up using a blower vac, while small branches and twigs can be thrown into the compost bin, but larger branches can often be a little more difficult to deal with.

A chipper or shredder can quickly reduce those larger off cuts to woodchips, which can then be scattered over the garden or added to the compost. Chippers work by way of blades inside the body that are designed to shred, chop and chip anything that is fed through the entry chute, so take care not to insert fingers or limbs – much the same as using any other outdoor power garden product.
Big commercial industrial chippers can handle some pretty sizeable branches or tree trunks, but home garden chippers are really designed for branches up to a maximum of 40mm or 50mm in diameter. However, if you are thinking of the type of branches you are likely to trim from around your home, that’s still going to cover pretty much anything you need to reduce to chip.
Although petrol-powered chippers are a bit more powerful and resilient, electric chippers should not be under-estimated either. With motors ranging from 2000-2500 watts, they can also handle some pretty heavy-duty work, so may be more suitable for a standard home workshop or garden shed.
 
Safety
Staying safe is the most important basis for using any power tools. Because of the range of blades, chains, discs or teeth, it’s essential that both the operator and any family members or bystanders are protected from potential injury. In the case of bystanders, the solution is simple – keep them well clear.
However, for operators, it’s important that the right safety equipment is used.
In most cases, goggles, ear muffs and solid footwear are the very least that should be worn when using outdoor power garden tools, whether it’s a lawnmower or a hedge trimmer. In addition, gloves probably wouldn’t go astray either and, in the case of a chainsaw, protective chaps are a really great investment too, just in case the chainsaw kicks back.
When using an electric tool, we recommend using an RCD and ensure the cord is kept away from your feet and away from the tool. Also, do not use electric power tools in or around water.
Have a safe drop zone – a clear safe space where you can drop the tool if you need to let go. Keep bystanders out of this area.
Always take care with the storage and use of petrol and oil.
 Finally, before use, read the operating manual and familiarise yourself with the equipment and safety procedures.