How to maintain the garden
Make your garden gorgeous! Create an outdoor haven with fantastic fences and tidy trees. But don’t waste the waste – shred it, mulch it and recycle it into the garden to get things growing.
Trimming Hedges
Step 1
A tidy hedge will make a big difference to the appearance of your garden. But don’t forget to check for any cables or similar obstacles before you get the trimmers out!
Step 2
Stand firmly, holding the trimmer with both hands. Make sure you’re safely clear of the cutters but that you can still see exactly what you’re doing.
Step 3
Work from the ground upwards, sweeping the blades over the hedge in smooth, fluid movements. Cut away from yourself so the cuttings fall away from you. And don’t let the blades come into contact with anything solid, such as a tree trunk, or with the ground.
Step 4
Don’t over-reach your safety zone with any power tool. You can trim hard-to-reach areas with long-handled pruners for the complete professional look.
Shredding and Chipping
Step 1
Make sure the shredder is sitting securely on firm, level ground away from anything that might get damaged by flying debris.
Step 2
Do not exceed the cutting capacity of the shredder. Always check first before you start to shred, making sure you feed your debris through one piece at a time.
Step 3
Following the HSS Operating and Safety Guide, position a sack or container underneath the shredder’s outlet to catch the mulch as it passes through the machine.
Step 4
Feed garden waste and small branches into the large hopper at the top of the machine, one piece at a time.
Footing for Fences
Step 1
Whether you want to screen your garden from the neighbours or create a safe play area for the kids, it’s easy to erect fencing systems. The key to doing a job that will last is preparing the ground properly by digging good post-holes.
Step 2
To build a fence on soft ground, you’ll need a posthole borer. This petrol-driven machine makes it easy to dig neat holes with minimal effort.
Step 3
Position the end of the borer (called the ‘auger’) where the hole needs to be and gently increase the engine revs. Keep the auger vertical and press it slowly and steadily into the ground. You may need to withdraw it every now and again to clear the hole of debris.
Step 4
When you’ve reached the required depth, withdraw the auger slowly from the newly created hole, keeping it rotating until it’s completely clear of the soil.
Step 5
Tidy up loose or excess soil with a shovel holer – and you’re ready to install the fence post!
