Ten top tools to keep you going when the snow and ice arrive

Most of us have had the first frosts of autumn and while we still need to keep lawns and hedges trimmed now is the time to prepare for the coming winter.
There are many ways to keep on top of the freezing weather from a simple snow shovel to snow blowing equipment and snow ploughs so here are ten top items of equipment you’ll need to beat the snow and ice this winter.

One thing you’ll certainly need is a good shovel and the Garant Large Canadian Snow Shovel/Pusher as its name implies is made for the job.
Garant is an old Canadian company which has been making agricultural tools for 115 years and they designed this shovel specifically for the job.
This shovel scores well because it can be used as a pusher to shove the snow to one side if it doesn’t need to be totally removed.
This one has an extra long handle and has a corrosion proof head which is 18 wide enabling the user to get a really good load each time.
The ash handle is both strong and light and the shovel head is held in place by a unique locking element.
It costs £19.95 compared with the maker’s recommended retail price of £39.95. Delivery is free anywhere on the UK mainland.

Now here’s a great little machine for smaller houses which will clear the snow from paths and drives.
The Einhell MSF 570 Manual Snow Plough saves loads of hard work shovelling. A really clever little machine it is based on a concave blade and an auger and churns up the snow and using the Archimedes screw principle pushes to snow out of the way as you walk forward.
It has a double handed bar for easy use which is folded away for storage.
If you only have a small area of paths to clear this little machine will save a lot of more.
The auger and blade are made from durable, strong plastic.
It costs £29.95 a huge discount on the manufacturer’s recommended price. Delivery is free the next working day and there is a one year manufacturer’s guarantee.

If you only have a small area to clear but fancy the idea of using a snow blower, then the Stiga Snow Electric 31 Snow Blower is what you need.
Snow shovelling is hard work and this neat little machine which has a working width of 31 cm is ideal for paths and drives around the house.
The machine is strong enough to throw snow up to five metres away and is powered by an electric motor which plugs into the mains and is started with a simple switch.
It has a working width of 32 cm and has an intake height of 23 cm so it can deal with medium to heavy snow falls.
It is cleverly designed without wheels so that it can slide along the surface and clear right down to the ground.
The telescopic means you can work at the most comfortable height to suit you and it is easily stored as it can be hung up in the hall or garage.
There is a one year manufacturer’s guarantee and free next working day delivery.
It costs £89, £10 less than the maker’s recommended retail price.

A more advanced machine is the Alpina Single-Stage Electric Snow Blower which perfect for larger domestic properties.
This one has a rubber bladed auger which churns up the snow and throws it away via a cute which can be rotated through 180 degrees.
The electric motor is reliable and has plenty of power and the revolving augers propel the machine forward once the motor is engaged.
It has a 45 cm working width and is easy to use and very manoeuvrable around drives and paths.
There is currently £50 off the manufacturer’s recommended price as we are currently selling it for just £149.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a one tear maker’s warranty.

One tried and trusted way of keeping paths and drives snow and ice free is to spread ice melt to keep it from forming or laying in the first place.
The Agri-Fab 45-0471 Professional Salt & Fertiliser Spreader is currently on special offer as within the price there is a free 10 kg of Magic Ice Melt, a product used to keep runways clear.
This machine is perfect for clearing larger areas as it has a large plastic hopper which can hold 59 kg and has a water proof cover.
It has a spread of up to 3.65 metres depending on how fast you walk and there is a clever device to stop the material from being deposited where you don’t want it like lawns or flower beds and it also saves on waste. Plus there is a simple lever to regulate the flow rate.
It has large deep patterned pneumatic tyres to make it easy to push along.
There is a one year manufacturer’s guarantee and free next working day delivery.
This handy little machine is £199.95, £170 less than the manufacturer’s recommended price. And don’t forget the 10 kg of Magic Ice Melt, worth £25.

Another single stage snow blower on special offer at the moment is the McCulloch SB121 Single-Stage Petrol Snow Blower.
This has a petrol engine which powers a rubber auger which breaks up the ice and snow and then throws it out through an adjustable weather proof chute.
The augur clear the snow right back to the surface which is why these single stage machines are offered described as cleaning back to black.
It has a working width of 54 cm making it ideal for paths and drives and it has an intake height of 33 cm.
The fuel tank holds 1.5 litres and the folding handles mean it takes little space in the garage when not in use and can be easily transported in the boot of a medium to large sized vehicle.
There is a one year maker’s guarantee and free next working day delivery.
As a special offer there is currently £150 off the manufacturer’s price as it is for sale for £349.

A complete set of equipment to get you through the really grim winter period is really worth having so we have put together our own Winter Snow and Ice Treatment Package.
You need to keep your own property easily accessible for the postman and other delivery people and that’s especially true for commercial premises.
This package contains an MD 80P Walk-Behind Spreader plus 10 litres of Magic Ice Melt.
The spreader has a capacity of 80 lb making it idea for car parks and forecourts and has a hopper screen.
The Magic Ice Melt is free flowing and the ten bags are sufficient to deal with up to 2000 sq metres. It is also non toxic and will not corrode concrete or metal and is ideal for public areas and schools.
The package contains the spreader, 10 bags of ice melt and a large Garant snow shovel. Extra ice melt and shovels can be bought at special low prices.
The pro winter package contains the spreader, 10 18.75 tubs of ice melt, three large snow shovels and special prices on extra snow shovels and ice melt and this package costs £599.

For when the going gets really rough only a proper snow plough will clear the way and that’s where the Mountfield Manor Two-Wheeled snow plough comes into its own.
It has a reliable Honda engine at its heart giving loads of torque even in low revs and runs quietly and smoothly.
It has both forward and reverse gears to help you get out of tight spaces and increase its efficiency.
The gear box is worm driven and the blade has a width of 85 cm and a rubber strip letting you clear right down to the surface.
This machine costs £848 compared with the manufacturer’s recommended retail price of £928.
Delivery is free within two to three working days and there is a one year maker’s warranty.

And finally a really powerful machine for dealing with major snow clearing jobs.
The MTD ME 66 Snow Blower / Thrower – 2 Stage Self-Propelled has a working width of 66 cm and is powered by a 277 cc Snow Thor engine designed for freezing conditions.
It is very strongly built and has the front auger inside the hood and can deal with falls up to 53 cm deep.
The auger is defended from heavy impacts by sheer bolts and the intake hood has snow skids which can be adjusted depending on the underlying surface.
The machine is self propelled with 16 in wheels and there are four forward and two reverse gears.
The direction of the chute and pitch are both controlled by a two-way joystick.
The engine has electric start and a headlight means you can keep working when it gets dark.
This machine costs £999 compared with the maker’s recommended retails price of £1299.
Delivery is free the next working day and there is a one year manufacturer’s guarantee.

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