Four of the best electric options for everyday gardening
I’ve long found wires and cables to be such a nuisance when gardening. But I will also profess to thinking that cordless options wouldn’t be up to the job, or the batteries would empty quickly, leaving you stranded with no power and half a job done. But the technology has long since evolved and those thoughts are firmly in the past!
Mini chainsaw
Purely and simply, the GTA 26 from STIHL is a gamechanger. It’s not often I’ll say that, but I really believe that this is. The GTA 26 is perfect for pruning decent sized branches, and also for use in smaller DIY tasks, such as cutting pallet wood. The battery time is stated to last 25 minutes or up to 80 cuts in a small branch and it only takes about 70 minutes to then fully recharge the batteries. It comes complete with a battery, charger and a carry case. You’ll soon be chopping and cutting with ease.
See www.stihl.co.uk for the available configurations. RRP £149 with battery and charger.
Trimmed hedges
Let’s all agree that hedge trimming is one of those tasks that often gets put back, or off, for as long as possible. I know I’ve tried to avoid it before, put off by the, at the time, obligatory series of extension cords and cables strewn across the whole garden to get the job done. Yet, this is firmly an issue of the past with the fabulous HT 300e full kit from STIGA.
The HT 300e comes complete with two batteries which gives you double the power, making hedge trimming a breeze! Something I found quite surprising about this model is just how much quieter it is than corded or even petrol alternatives. But quiet doesn’t mean weak, this trimmer will give you all the power you need to tackle even the wildest of hedges. This tool also carries a unique wall charging unit that recharges it while not in use, genius.
See www.stiga.com for the rest of the range. The HT 300e has an RRP of £195
Neat edges!
While I’m happy for parts of my garden to go wild, from time to time, I’m also a huge fan of a nice crisp edge to a lawn too. My lawn edgers have seen better days so I was thrilled to try (and test!) the Yard Force 40v Cordless Grass Trimmer. With a total cutting width of 30cm, it’ll reach right to the edges of your lawn and further! One crucial point about this model is that it has a very lightweight design which makes handling it super simple too. This grass trimmer also comes with a plant guard attached as standard, which is there to help protect any plants you won’t want trimmed. The head has the ability to swivel to different angles too, to allow you to reach tighter spots than you might usually have been able to.
See www.uk.yardforce.eu for the range of options. RRP £144.99
Autumn lawn care
The job you’ve all been putting off but know you need to do? Scarifying your lawn! The perfect autumn job, and one that has become that bit easier thanks to the Ryobi ONE+™ Lawn Scarifier! Designed specifically to enhance the health of your lawn by removing the build-up of thatch and moss, beneath the visible surface of the blades of grass. By removing the thatch, it allows your lawn to breathe properly, which in turn gives your grass the chance to take on water and nutrients much easier. Despite being a very well-made product, it is surprisingly light and manoeuvres easily. Another job that I’ve put off for a long while, both due to my perception of how long it takes, and honestly – the effort I thought it required, but this was a piece of cake with the Ryobi scarifier.
See www.uk.ryobitools.eu for the full ONE+™ range. The scarifier has an RRP of £263.99
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For more gardening advice, tips, and DIY projects, you can follow Adam on Instagram @viewfromthepottingbench
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