This is the time of year to trim overhanging branches and cut down trees and it goes without saying that a good chainsaw is vital.
Yes, you can use a bow saw for the odd branch but you need to be built like a front row forward to spend hours working like this.
Choosing the right machine is never easy so to help we have put together ten top machines from those ideal for back garden use and lopping small branches and trees to ones made for intensive use by professional gardeners and farmers.
Many of these products come with bundles of free safety kit and accessories, so keep an eye open, you can really save some money here.
The first is battery-powered, light and yet strong enough for cutting logs for the fire.
The Greenworks 24v Cordless 25cm Chainsaw (G24CSK2) has a lithium-ion battery which will give up to 50 cuts on a single charge.
It has a 25cm guide bar and is very light, weighing only 3.6kg and the chain- oil level has a clear gauge making it easy to check.
The battery and wall-mounted charger are included in the price.
It costs £129.99, is delivered free the next working day and comes with with a two-year warranty.
This next one has a free starter kit including safety gear and a replacement chain, and is ideal for anyone who has not used a chainsaw before.
The Einhell Petrol Chainsaw with Free Starter Kit is exclusive to us at MowDirect and is a powerful saw ideal for small-scale felling and lopping as well as cutting logs for the fire.
Powering the chain along at 21 metres a second is a 41cc engine designed with an easy start and to keep emissions to a minimum.
It is easy to start even when the weather is cold, has an electronic ignition and a primer to get you working quickly and is fitted with a centrifugal clutch to stop the engine stalling.
The chain bar is 35cm long and both bar and chain are from industry leaders Oregon.
It weighs 4.5kg and has a comprehensive anti-vibration system.
With the starter kit you receive a helmet with face mask and ear defenders, work gloves, replacement chain and a fuel mixing bottle.
This model costs £139.95, £60 below the recommended price, has a two year warranty and free next working day delivery.
Here’s one from a British favourite, Mountfield.
The Mountfield MC-48LI Cordless Chainsaw has a 40cm guide bar and a 48V DigiTorq motor driven by a lithium-ion battery.
Chain lubrication is essential to keep the machine cutting smoothly, and the Oregon guide bar and chain on this model are lubricated from a see-through oil reservoir, making levels easy to check.
It is fitted with an inertia chain brake, hand guard and a quick-release throttle and weighs only 4kg.
Battery and charger are purchased separately and 2Ah and 4Ah batteries are available.
These batteries can then be used with a range of Freedom48 garden machines from Mountfield, offering money saving and added value.
The saw costs £159, £20 under the recommended price and there is a two-year warranty and free next working day delivery.
From the same company comes the Mountfield MC640 Two-Stroke Petrol Chainsaw with a 40cm guide bar.
This one has a 40.1cc engine and a 30cm guide bar just the right length for cutting logs and small-scale felling.
This has proved to be a very popular chainsaw, and easy starter and has a sprocket nose on the guide bar to ease the chain around the tip and give it a longer working life.
A side tensioner makes it easy to ensure the chain fits snugly on the bar – you should check this frequently when using.
The chain lubrication on this one is adjustable as well as automatic so you can regulate the oil according to the toughness of the task.
It costs £189, £20 off the recommended price and is delivered free the following working day with a two-year warranty.
There are also special prices on a range of extras including a chainsaw helmet with visor and muffs, gloves and a spare chain.
This next one is from a leading Italian garden machinery company and the leading Italian chainsaw manufacturer.
The Oleo-Mac GS-370 Pro Petrol Chainsaw with Free Starter-Pack is on exclusive special offer and is a very comfortable machine to use with low exhaust emissions and rubber stops and damper springs to minimise vibrations.
It has a 35.2cc engine and a 35cm guide bar and engine controls are grouped on the handle.
It weighs 4.2kg and has an inertia chain brake. It is delivered free the next working day and comes with FREE helmet with visor and ear defenders, work gloves, engine oil and chain oil.
It costs £219.95, £100 off the recommended price and has a three year warranty.
One from a Japanese company now which is becoming a favourite with professional gardeners.
The Tanaka ECS 3351 Petrol Chainsaw with a 35cm guide bar has a 33cc engine which is a really easy starter, is powerful and yet weighs only 3.5kg.
This one has a crankshaft-driven chain oiler which can be adjusted according to the toughness of the task – again chain and cutter bar are from market leaders Oregon.
There is also a free safety helmet with face guard and ear muffs which normally costs £24.95.
The saw costs £269, £80 less than the recommended price and is delivered free the next working day.
And it is worth noting that this one has a five-year warranty for extra peace of mind.
Here’s another from Oleo-Mac made with estate owners and farmers in mind. It’s on exclusive special offer and has a free spare chain.
The Oleo-Mac GS-440 Pro Petrol Chainsaw with Free Spare Chain has a 40.5cm guide bar, long enough for sawing larger logs and felling trees as well as maintaining small coppices and plantations.
It is a really tough machine with a 42.9cc engine designed for the sort of rigours farm workers inflict.
It uses little fuel and keeps emissions down while be an easy starter. And with the engine isolated it produces fewer vibrations, important when used for long periods.
The lubrication oil feed to the chain is both automatic and can be adjusted and it has a lateral chain tensioner and an inertia-operated chain brake should there be any kick-back.
A handy feature during cold weather is the Ice Device system which uses engine heat to the carburettor to stop ice forming.
This one costs £329, £120 off the recommended price and there is a three year warranty and free next working day delivery.
This is another aimed at professional gardeners and estate workers.
The Tanaka ECV 4501-18 Petrol Chainsaw with a 45cm guide bar has a 43cc engine and is intended for dealing with larger trees and logs
It it designed to remove most of the dirt and dust before it reaches the air filter and has a decompression valve reducing the effort to start it by 70 per cent.
It still weighs only 4kg and has vibration-damping cushions so it can be used for longer periods with greater comfort.
The chain oiling mechanism is adjustable and it is fitted with a fast-acting chain brake.
It costs £369, £130 0ff the recommended price and with it you receive a free safety helmet with visor and ear muffs worth £24.95.
Delivery the next working day is free and there is a five year warranty.
The Oleo-Mac GS-650 Professional Petrol Chainsaw is an even bigger machine with a 51cm – 20in – guide bar and a 63.3cc engine made for a long challenging life.
It is fitted with a decompression valve making it easier to fire up and has a comprehensive engine damping system and a large fuel tank.
The chain tension is adjusted at the side and it has an adjustable oil pump.
This is the machine you will need when felling substantial trees or dealing with thick branches which need cutting up and is a leader in its class.
It costs £499, £200 off the recommended price and has a three year warranty and free next working day delivery.
You also get a free replacement chain worth £35 and you can buy an accessory pack of helmet, gloves, engine and two-stroke oil plus mixing bottle for £70.
And finally a great little device for dealing with all the wood you’ve just sawn.
The MD 4-Ton Electric Horizontal Log-Splitter is a strong little machine which will take logs up to 25cm in diameter and 37cm long and turn them effortlessly into fire wood.
A hydraulic ram forces the logs against a splitting wedge with four tons of pressure enough to deal with the majority of garden woods.
As both hands are needed to operate the machine it is safe to use as hands are kept away from the splitting mechanism.
Wheels on the base of the device make it easy to move around.
You can also buy a four-way splitting wedge for an extra £20.
It is one of the best value log splitters on the market at the moment and also a best seller and costs £159.95, £90 less than the recommended price.
We deliver it free the next working day with a two year warranty. It is becoming an immensely popular machine with our customers. Take a look at what they have to say.
These pages have a huge selection of log splitters.
We are keen that if you purchase one of our excellent saws that you get the best out of it, and use it safely so it is also worth taking a look at my colleague Drew Hardy’s useful little guide to Chainsaw Safety. Just ignore the puns and you’ll be fine.
And finally, if you can’t see the chainsaw you want here have a look at these pages or give us a ring on 020 3026 8712.
