Winter seems to have arrived with gales and lashings of rain but the weather remains unseasonably mild for the most part.
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
