The McCulloch M738 petrol chain saw is such a machine, boasting a powerful but eco-friendly 38cc engine with a fuel primer and electronic ignition, making it easy to start.

It also features ergonomically-designed handles which are vibration insulated, meaning gardeners do not need to worry about becoming tired or suffering pains in their arms.

In the unlikely event of a kickback, users are protected by a dual-action inertia-type chain break.

What this does is stop the chain immediately should such an incident occur.

Normally the McCulloch M738 petrol chain saw, which also comes with a 35cm guide bar, would cost you £190 but at MowDirect it is available for just £139.95.

In addition to this low price, customers are also given a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty and free overnight delivery.

The Husqvarna 235E petrol chainsaw – which comes with a 38cm guide bar – is designed to be convenient, simple and effective.

What helps set it apart from other chainsaws is the tool-less chain-tensioning and Husqvarna’s Smart Start system which ensures quick starting and reduces the required pulling force by up to 40 per cent.

The power is delivered by a 34.4cc X-Torq engine, which is not only reliable and powerful but is also environmentally friendly, meaning gardeners who want to do their bit against climate change can do so.

It also features an air-injection system which gets rid of debris from the air stream to allow for a more consistent performance and reduces the number of times gardeners need to clean the filter.

At MowDirect, the Husqvarna 235E petrol chainsaw can be yours for just £218.99 and that includes free delivery and a one-year warranty which covers both commercial and domestic use.

The Efco 136 multi-purpose petrol chainsaw, which has been built to last and features technology found in higher-specification chainsaws, could be the perfect tool.

It boasts an automatic oil pump and an electronically-controlled digital coil, which helps keep fuel consumption low and makes it perfect for gardeners trying to reduce their impact on the environment.

The cutting is taken care of by a 35 cm Oregon bar and chain for more efficient sawing and better lubrication, with the power delivered by a 35.2 cc two-stroke Emak engine.

In addition, an anti-vibration system isolates the body and hands of the user from the machine, making it more comfortable and convenient for the person using it.

All this quality is available from MowDirect for just £179, which also includes free delivery the next working day and a three-year manufacturer’s warranty.

You’ll find that wood merchants have had a field day and there has never been a better time to supplement expensive oil and gas fuels with wood from your own garden.

That old fallen branch can provide additional warmth during the coldest icy days and an investment in a log splitter and chain saw will a good buy for years to come.

Once you have good equipment you can always get into the habit of collecting fallen branches (provided you have the landowners permission) during the warmer months to provide you own wood pile which can dry out during the spring and summer.

Even if you have to buy a couple of fallen trees from a farmer you’ll soon find they can provide a good stack of wood as an insurance against cold spells.

Good quality machines will last year in year out provided they are properly serviced, so always buy the best you can afford.

Many people have always wished they owned their own chainsaw (in our experience they are the most borrowed of all garden machinery!) and a good starting model is the Victus VT51 petrol powered chain saw which is on special offer at £199.

Suitable for either commercial or domestic use this powerful saw has an 18 inch guide bar and has an oil pump which can either be set to automatic or adjustable, so that it can be adjusted according to the toughness of the wood you are cutting.

There is free next day delivery on this model which also has a three year manufacturer’s warranty.

A mechanical log splitter is another handy garden tool which comes pretty high on the most borrowed list and we have a special offer and a really robust model at the moment.

It’s all very well promising yourself that all you need is a good axe, but just wait until you get an old trunk of twisted oak!

For a first purchase the Einhell BT-LS 44 Log Splitter is ideal, tough enough to tackle most wood with four tons of splitting force. The 1500 watt motor is robust enough to for the job while keeping noise levels down to a minimum for those in urban areas. There is free next working day delivery and a two year manufacturer’s warranty all in the special price of £179.

Keep a close eye on our website as we already have a special section on next season’s garden machinery products and innovations in mechanised gardening equipment.

The Mowdirect team have been busy in the warehouse making room for some of these really innovative new products and you can find some excellent bargains on our site.

The snow has now thawed in many areas, and Spring is just around the corner.

The first snowdrops have been seen and the blackthorn hedges will be in blossom in a few weeks (hopefully!).

With best wishes from the team at Mowdirect.

Nothing could be further from the truth because this time of year gives us time to look through our existing stock to make room for the new machines ready for the Spring. It’s hard work for us, but it could be good for you.

Keep an eye on our website as we are constantly updating our special offers with some exceptional bargains.

Often these are just one-offs but they can represent a real bargain.

After our last newsletter we have noticed larger numbers of chain saws than usual are being sold, possibly because the message is getting across that burning wood to keep warm is greener than burning oil or gas.

We have heard from wood stove suppliers near us that they have been exceptionally busy lately.

So see our main site for an extensive range of petrol chainsaws and electric powered saws. Some come complete with chainsaw safety equipment. It is always worth investing in special safety helmet, goggles and gloves when using these – you won’t see any garden contractors using one without.

MTD Garden Tractor

Those of you lucky enough to have a big garden have probably always dreamed of having your own proper powerful garden tractor.

Well if you buy now you could save a huge sum of money.

The MTD JN160H lawn and garden tractor will give a really professional finish to a large country house lawn.

But the great thing is that it is easy to covert to a general purpose garden tractor with the range of attachments we have on offer. We’ve found that people who buy one of these quickly get adapt to using it for even the smallest garden tasks, It almost becomes a big boy’s toy!

But for £1999 it represents a saving of £500 on the manufacturers recommended price.

Keep in touch with our site because there are significant developments here at Mowdirect coming next year which will be of even greater interest to you.

In the meantime, enjoy browsing through our site and from the team at Mowdirect, have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

A Country Gardener

Some, we know, are still taking the whiskers of their lawns on dry days when a brisk wind dries the grass enough. For many others, the mowers are pushed to the back of the garden sheds and garages and won’t be thought of until next Spring when they’ll be dragged out and moaned at if they don’t start first time!

Mowers need care and servicing just as much as your car so make sure that you have this work done in plenty of time. Workshops have more time in the winter to service mowers so this is the best time to have the work done.

But winter is also the time to tidy up fallen trees and branches and maybe now is the time to consider buying a chainsaw to make lighter work of the back-breaking job of sawing by hand.

We have a huge variety of these and new models come on to the market every year. They are perfectly safe to use as long as you follow the manufacturers’ instructions and wear the recommended chainsaw safety equipment.

Don’t stint on this – see any professional woodsman at work and he’ll always be fully equipped. Indeed if you ask any of these people about their work, they’ll always tell you to make sure you put safety first.

The one we especially like this year is the Victus VT 51 because it is strong and versatile, handy enough for small garden logs, yet is tough enough to be chosen by many contractors.

For a sturdy petrol powered saw it is remarkably light with a 48cm guide bar and has the engine mounted separately to the machine body to allow easy maintenance. It also allows the engine to keep more cool than some other models.

The price of this saw is extremely good value for money for such a powerful and professional model and has a three years manufacturers warranty.

Earlier I mentioned the importance of safety equipment and Einhell is a top German manufacturer where again we can offer big savings.

But the Einhell BGPC-3735 has the added advantage that it comes with a free safety kit of a safety helmet with attached goggles and special gloves.

Added safety features on this model are designed to stop the chain quickly if the machine kicks back and also to minimise the chance of the chain jumping off.

Another manufacturer which we find to be very popular is MTD.

They are the world’s biggest maker of petrol-powered garden machinery and we think they are hard to beat for value for money.

If you have a big pile of thick solid logs this is the best machine as it has a really powerful engine and the three models we have are truly impressive machines.

We have noticed big improvements in electric chainsaws over the years and the latest models are powerful enough if you have smaller branches and trees to cut up for the fire.

They are also quieter and more environmentally friendly.

The one offering really outstanding value for money is the Victus VT2000-E which has features often only found on more expensive models.

This is ideal for people not used to using chainsaws as it is lightweight and has a fast-acting anti kick back chain and chain brake and has dampers to cut out excessive vibrations.

If you’re not used to using a chain saw this is the ideal model for you.

Another low-cost model which we like is the Talon 2016E which has a powerful electric motor and large cutter bar.

As well as sawing fire wood it can be used to prune branches on trees and larger shrubs. Another handy feature is the chain tensioner which is on the side of the machine and a gauge which allows you to keep an eye on the oil level without having to look in the tank.

Again, we think this an excellent model for people not used to using chain saws and costs under £80.

Another make we like is Stihl, one of the world’s leading manufacturers. Their MSE140 C-BQ has a powerful motor but is still very light and easy to use. This one has a very low kick-back tendency.

Stihl have a wide range of chain saws which you can see on our site.

Another manufacturer to consider is Husqvarna. Again this manufacturer has a long reputation for making top quality garden machinery and the two electric models we have on offer are among the best.

Whatever machine you buy, always make sure that the oil level is topped up before use. Chains can get very hot and can fail if they are not properly lubricated as recommended by the manufacturer.

Chainsaws should always been used with great care but can save hours of time when clearing old logs.

Heating your house using wood as fuel is now considered eco friendly – the wood from the trees has absorbed vast quantities of CO2; wood left to rot can in turn emit the gas back into the atmosphere.

And while winter is often considered a dead time in the garden time, it is very satisfying to wrap up in an old sweater and spend time turning old fallen branches into fuel for the house.

Time spent in the garden now will repay dividends in the Spring when you want to be preparing the lawn for its first cut and replanting shrubs and planting out annuals and tending to the vegetable garden.

Get the flower and vegetable beds turned over, prune back the perennials, get the garden waste shredded and on the compost heap.

Then you’ll have more time in Spring when vigorous growth begins and you never seem to have enough time.

The team at Mowdirect wishes you good gardening, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

A Country Gardener