Linggo, Mayo 27, 2018

How To Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades – Your Ultimate Guide

Lawn mowers are undeniably a hugely important tool for the gardener. Whether you’re a casual spot of gardening type person, or a full blown green fingered fanatic, the lawn mower is a pretty essential part of the gardening routine!

Keeping your lawn mower blades sharp is so important! Often people don’t even look at how blunt their blades are, but you really run the risk of yanking your lawn instead of a nice clean slice, which is not only nicer but healthier for your lawn as well. A sharp blade keeps your mower running in tip top condition and will mean less effort for you in the long run. I’m going to give you a few of my favourite tips on keeping your blade extra sharp, and all from the comfort of your own garden.

A lot of people probably are wondering whether you can safely sharpen the blade on your own lawnmower. The answer is “YES!” And you’re probably now wondering how to do it? Well keep on reading and you will find out how.

Firstly you must make sure the mower is not attached to the mains! It might sound obvious, but better safe than sorry!

So, very simply, remove the blade by unscrewing the nut that attaches it to the motor. Remove any ruse with a steel brush or steel wool. This is easy to acquire at any hardware or gardening store. Give it a good old brush with some elbow grease, till the orangey colour has gone.

Then you’re going to need to get hold of a clamp or a vice. Most DIYers will have one of these in a shed, but if not, don’t be afraid to pop over and ask a friendly neighbour! Clamp the blade in a vice, or to the edge of a solid work surface. Now were going to file the blade. Run the file along the cutting edge, thats the narrower sharper edge, trying to follow the same angle on the blade.

In some cases the blade can be badly damaged. This could be from long-term use, or from trying to cut through tougher things than your mower can handle, or from kicking up rocks or wood getting jammed. If it is badly damaged you may need to use a bench-grinder or have it professionally sharpened, which shouldn’t be too expensive if you shop around. (again just pop down to your local hardware store and ask around there)

If you do use a power grinder sharpen your blade, make sure the blade doesn’t over heat. This can weaken the blade, so be sure to dip the blade in water frequently during the sharpening process.

To remove any nicks or grooves you need to run the blade along the grinding wheel. Then hold the blade at the proper angle (the angle already on the blade) and grind the length of the blade until its sharp.

Remember, you want your blade to be about as sharp as a butter knife, it shouldn’t be as sharp as a razor blade. Not only do you risk cutting yourself, but the blade will curl in places where it hits little pebbles or wood. There is no need for it to be this sharp as the speed and angle will cut the grass perfectly at this sharpness.

There is a “lazy” way of sharpening your blade which would be to use coarse grit sandpaper. If you don’t have large nicks in your blades this will do the trick as a quick fix, and will clean up the edge nicely.

To check that the blade is balanced you simply need to balance the blade from the counterpoint on a Blade Balancer, a very inexpensive tool, or a nail. If the blade isn’t balanced, you can remove some of the material from the heavier side, but make sure not to remove it from the cutting edge.

Now that your blade is all nice a sharp, you can re-attach it to your lawn mower with the nut.

The more you sharpen your blade, the quicker and easier the task will be. If you frequently use your mower, I would recommend sharpening your blade every couple of months, but you can be the best judge of that. If you notice that your mower isn’t cutting as finely, maybe its time for a sharpening!

A few points to remember! –

Butter knife, not razor blade
Don’t change the over-all angle of the blade! (the manufacturer probably knows best!)
Make sure you’re balanced, this can harm the mower permanently
Curved mulching blades might be harder to sharpen, you could think about simply replacing it
Replacement blades can be found quickly and easily, don’t be afraid to just replace it!

So, now that you know how to sharpen your lawn mower blades, you can easily do it yourself! No more chopping and hacking at that lawn with a blunt blade, the 15 minutes it took for you to do that has surely taken a lot of the stress and sweat out of your lawn mowing!

Who Invented The Lawn Mower & History Of Mowers

Mower History 101

Lawn mowers. Every proud gardener needs one, and if you don’t have one, your neighbour probably will! Theres no better feeling than looking out at a freshly cut lawn on a sunny day. The vibrant colour brightening up anyone’s garden, and the fresh smell tickling your senses. Its undeniable that the lawn mower is the modern gardeners essential.

Let’s take a look at where the lawn mower came from… Who was the first one to come up with it? And why?

The first ever lawn mower was invented by a man called Edwin Budding in 1830. In a town called Thrupp, in Gloucestershire. They were initially invented to cut the grass on sports grounds and stately gardens. Up until then they used a scythe, but the lawn mower was granted a British patent on August 31st, 1830.

The first ever mower, which was pushed from behind, was made from wrought iron. It measured at 19 inches or 480mm.

The similarity between this mower and the modern models are astonishingly similar. Cast-iron gear wheels transmitted power from the rear roller to the cutting cylinder. Another roller placed between the cutting cylinder and the main roller could be raised or lowered depending on how long or short you wanted your grass to be cut. So they pretty much worked in the same way the mowers we use now. You know what they say, If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

The first machines, made by Budding, were sold to Regent’s Park Zoological Gardens in London and the Oxford Colleges. John Ferabee and Edward Budding had made an agreement that Ferabee would pay the costs to enlarge the small blades. They obtained patenting letter and got the rights to manufacture, sell and license the manufacturing of lawn mowers.

Soon after, other companies began making copies of their mower under license, and in 1832 the most successful copy was a mower made by Ransomes of Ipswich.

Ten years later and the traditional lawn mower has been improved and modified to be pulled by animals. A nice improvement to make lawn mowing nice and easy for the ever-evolving man.

It wasn’t until sixty years later that a steam powered lawn mower was built. Thomas Green and Son of Leeds introduced a new model called the Silens Messor (meaning silent cutter). These machines were lighter and quieter than their predecessor and soon replaced the scythe and domesticated grazing animals. With a growing popularity in lawn sports the invention started to spread and its demand grew.

The history of the lawn mower is extensive, and I could really go on for days! But you can imagine how the advances in technology has brought us to where we are today, with super snazzy gadgets such as the ride-on mower, hover mowers, and even robotic mowers.

Probably the most advanced in the lawn mower technology is the robotic mower. It is contained by a border, which the robotic mower uses to locate the boundary of the desired mowing area. It often is able to locate its own charging dock and is self-docking. It can maintain an area of up to 5 acres of grass, and can contain a rain sensor, which almost entirely eliminates human interaction for mowing grass. Will the robots really be running us all out of jobs and taking over the planet?

Although lawn mowers are arguably an absolute necessary invention, they haven’t come without their issues! In the United States alone, over 12,000 people per year are hospitalised as a result of lawn mower related injuries! Rotary mowers can shoot out debris with extreme speed and power! As well as the blades of powerful push motor being strong and sharp enough to cause serious injury. It is always recommended to wear protective footwear and eyewear, as most injuries can be prevented.

Lawn mowers are also responsible for a fair amount of environmental damage, as many things are with the advance of technology and the amount of power we need. A study has shown that some mowers are capable of producing the same amount of pollution in one hour, as driving a vehicle for 650km! Another report claims that the amount of pollution from a lawn mower can be up to four times the amount from a car per hour. Thats pretty bad… but luckily most of us only need to mow the lawn a minimum of once a week, and we’re not using our ride on lawn mowers to get to work every day!

I couldn’t live without my lawn mower, with mulching blades, so that the clippings circulate until they are chopped up into tiny little pieces, and fall into the ground, to conveniently create compost and fertiliser. It also means I don’t have to rake and collect the clippings, which is definitely the worst part of gardening! It just might not be so great for my friends who suffer from hay fever! Sorry!

So, the man we have to thank for our freshly cut lawns is the great Edwin Budding. Without his ingenious invention to cut lawns into lovely uniform blades of grass, we would all be sat relaxing in our over grown gardens, probably listening to the sweet sound of a couple of bleating goats, which, as blissful as it sounds, i’m just not sure its something I could compare to my gorgeously lush, uniform lawn. So, hats off to Mr Budding!

Sabado, Mayo 26, 2018

Lawn Mower Mulching – What Is It?

What Is Lawn Mower Mulching? Your Mulching Questions Answered!

Have you ever looked over at your neighbour happily mowing the lawn and whistling to himself, barely breaking a sweat, and ending up with a lovely luscious green lawn? Then you take a look at yourself, sweating between the continuous raking, and collecting, and composting and god knows what else you struggle with when mowing, for your lawn to be less green and vibrant. Whats that all about?

Well, its most likely that your neighbour is mulch mowing. Mulch mowing is a clever lawn care system that returns grass clippings immediately to the soil. In order to mulch properly, you will need a mulching mower and a system in place that prevents your grass from over growing.

It’s all about getting a good routine for your lawn. Not only does mulch mowing save you loads of time and energy but it will hugely improve the condition of your lawn, once a lawn care routine has been established.
So… what is lawn mower mulching? Well the main difference is mulching mowers have special blades that cut the grass, then whizz the clippings around and cut them over and over again until they’re cut up into thousands of teeny tiny little pieces. These tiny clippings will dry up really quickly due to the high water percentage of grass, its almost as if they disappear. So the what we call the ‘mulch’ is actually just grass clippings!

Mulching has so many amazing benefits! Lets look at why you should be mulching instead of bagging.

It keeps your garden healthy – by reducing evaporation of moisture from the lawn, it enhances the health and growth of the turf and will keep the soil temperature much cooler. – Mulched clippings can provide up to 25% of fertiliser needed for an average lawn, with 85% water and 5% nitrogen, its full of nutrients. – Turf specialist Dr. Keith J Karnok says “Its a good idea to mulch grass clippings when possible, providing the mulched clippings do not interfere with the use of appearance of the turf area”
Its good for the environment – A lot of garden waste can end up in landfills when collected. Grass clippings account for two thirds of all garden waste, and garden waste makes up approximately 13 percent of national waste.
Its better for you! – Bagging is a long and tedious chore, mulching takes way less time because you don’t have to stop to empty the bag. – It can save you money, where in some areas you have are charged for your waste.

Clumps aren’t very nice on your lawn. They’re ugly and when left on the surface of the lawn can damage the plant underneath. The smaller the clippings, the easier it falls to the soil surface and won’t clump as easily. If you find that you are getting unsightly clumps when you mulch, it might be because the clipping aren’t small enough. Make sure your blades are sharp, and for the most effective mulch clippings you want to use twin blades.

Some people believe that mulching grass clippings can lead to the build up of thatch. Thatch is when a layer of roots stems and clippings build up faster than they decompose. It can go brown and be unsightly. However Dr Karnok says that “Contrary to popular belief, mulching grass clippings does not contribute to the buildup of thatch, In general, proper mowing, irrigation and proper fertilisation, and in particular avoiding over fertilisation will help keep thatch accumulation down.”

So, where to start with mulching. You can purchase a mulching attachment for your current mower, but I personally don’t find this as effective as a mulching mower. They don’t shred the clipping as effectively as a mulching lawn mower, which can lead to clumping. Try to avoid letting the grass get too high as this may also lead to clumping. The same goes for wet grass, this will not only leave clumps but really clog up the mulching system on your mower.

For best result I stick to a 2/3 system. This means you never let your lawn grow more than 1/3 longer than your ideal height. As soon as the grass reaches that height you cut away the top 1/3 away! I’ve found this system allows for better breakdown of the grass clippings and ultimately a nicer mulch.

I can say for sure that I noticed a huge difference in my lawn when I started mulching. It was visibly healthier and grew so nicely. It has cut out a huge part of the effort in lawn mowing and has really put the fun back into lawn mowing for me! I purchased my mulching mower last year and I will never go back! I hope you now feel comfortable in taking the steps for a more vibrant and lovely lawn, through the easy method of lawn mower mulching!!

Top 10 Trees For Small Gardens – For When Space Is Scarce

Small Gardens – What Trees Should You Plant?

Trees are a really good way to spice up a garden. They tend to be pretty low maintenance, and provide a bit of greenery and brightness all year round. When they’re well positioned, then can be a great focal point, or they can be used to block out exposed gardens, or unwanted views.

If you’re a nature lover, you can choose trees that have berries, to attract birds and provide perches and a place to nest for birds and little animals! Or if you’re looking to grow some things at home, for a nice harvest, you could go for apple, pear or cherry trees.

The good thing about young trees is they can be grown in a pot. That way, you can position it wherever you like, and its easy if you fancy changing things up a bit. It also means that when you move house, the hard work you spent growing your little tree wont be wasted, as you can easily take it with you! You can also move it around to protect it during particularly wintery months.

Shrubs are great for small gardens, because they can be crown lifted to give the look of a small tree, while being much shorter.

Trees can also provide a great canvas for decorating your garden further. A personal favourite of mine is weaving fairy lights around the branches. Other nice ideas could be to hang lanterns, bird feeders, spotlights on the ground to uplight foliage, or you could put a bench or table around the base of the tree, for a nice focal point but also to make good use of space.

So, these are a few of my favourite trees that are perfect for a smaller garden!

Snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora)

The snow gum bears really pretty snow white little flowers during summer months. Its hardy and will tolerate most soil types. It provides year round interest, with grey, green and cream patchy bark, and dusty green leaves. It is a beautiful little tree, that prefers full sun and can grow to a height of 8 metres.

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)

The loquat is ornamental as well as practical. Featuring whirls of tropical glossy foliage and a lovely shape, they can grow up to 8 metres tall. They bear a yellow fruit called a loquat which can be eaten fresh and peeled, or for jellies, jams or preserves.

Magnolia (Magnolia stellata, Magnolia ‘Alexandrina)

Magnolias are a really beautiful and grand plant. Some of the species are too big for a small garden, but there are hundreds of species of the magnolia that can be shorter and more suitable for a small garden. The gorgeous flowers on these are just incredible to look at and will brighten anyones garden.

Cercis (Cercis canadensis)

More commonly known as redbuds, Cercis trees are grown for their beautiful spring and summer blossom. With some species having gorgeous bronze and purple foliage. Some varieties can grow 3m tall, while others can grow up to 8m tall

Birch (betula utilis var.jacquemontii)

Birches are a lovely tree that everyone knows and loves. I love how the white stems that really stand out amongst the green. Some can grow up to 30m tall! So make sure you check the variations when you buy.

Hardy Palms (Brahea armata, Chamaerops humilis)

Hardy palms are a perfect tree to give your garden a tropical feel all year round. They suit loads of different garden styles and they’re so brilliantly architectural. Check different species to see which one will suit your garden

Strawberry Tree (Arburtus unedo)

The strawberry tree is actually an evergreen! Not as common as their plant alternative, its a great choice for all year round interest. Providing plump red fruits, and white bell shaped flowers in autumn. It can grow into an attractive multi-stem tree and can also be crown lifted to improve its appearance.

Ornamental Cherries (Prunus yedoensis, Prunus ‘Pink Shell’)

The spring blossom from an ornamental cherry tree is just so breathtakingly beautiful. They’re fantastic for pollinators and perfect trees for a small garden.

Espalier Apple Trees

Now if you don’t already know about this amazing planting trick, you’re going to be amazed! An espalier apple tree grows a different variety of apple for each arm! Wow! This is perfect for making good use of a small space, and will provide you with lots of different types of apple! The spring blossom is beautiful and fruit supply is reliable.

Topiary Shapes

Topiary trees might not be your conventional “tree” but topiary bay, box and yew, make up for it with their versatility. You can buy ready trained and already shaped, or if you want to put the work in and save a bit of cash, you can train your own, with a little time and patience.

So, these are my top picks to spice up a small garden. There is a lot a tree can give to a garden so its really worth trying to see if you can get some, if you don’t already. They can add colour, vibrance and a bit of pizzazz to any outdoor space. So even if you have a tiny box garden, you can get yourself a small potted tree or shrubs, and if you have a larger space, you can go crazy with tree ideas. Planting a tree yourself can seem like a long task, as of course most trees grow quite slowly, but it will be so worth it in the end. Your hard work will pay off and you can be truly satisfied when you start to see your tree grow.

Biyernes, Mayo 25, 2018

Low Maintenance Gardening Ideas – The Guide

Many people have a garden. Whether or not they like gardening is a different story. Some people simply don’t have the time, other people probably just prefer to do something else. I love my little garden, living in London often means that not only do we not have the time, but we don’t have the space either.

However it is undeniably a lovely feeling to be able to sit in your garden with friends, or look out at something pleasant when you look outside. So, maybe we can come up with some low maintenance ways to make your outside space work for you, and not the other way round!

One of the biggest time consumers in gardening is the lawn. Of course, the easiest way to get round this problem would to get rid of it all together, which is perfectly fine! Lawns need almost weekly cutting and a lot of maintenance. If you do want to keep the lawn make sure to have it in a neat rectangular shape. Any kind of irregular shape is going to take you twice as long when it comes to mowing it and keeping it in shape. In a small garden, paving, gravel or decking can look just as nice as grass!

I would also recommend doing a bit of research into what plants are high maintenance, and which ones can just be left alone completely. Get rid of the ones that are going to require a lot of upkeep, and swap them in for something more hardy, and that will stay alive by itself, all year round!

If you do have plants, its pretty likely that they’re going to need watering from time to time. If you don’t have a tap outside, I would recommend trying to put one out there. Its going to save you loads of time and effort in the long run.

Lets talk a bit more about the perfect plants to ensure that you can have an easy-to-keep, lovely-to-look-at garden.

Avoid annuals and tender plants, so no vegetables, no seed sowing and no bedding plants, steer clear of things that need staking, like delphiniums. There are also plants that attract slugs and creepy crawlies. Try and avoid those too!

Climbers look lovely, and can frame empty garden walls very nicely. But they can be pretty hard work. They are either self clinging, like ivy, which are really hardy and grow very quickly, meaning they will grow out of control and over run your garden. Too much creeping ivy can make a garden look quite dark. On the other hand, climbers will need tying in constantly, and this can be a lot of work.

The best kinds of plants to go for would be evergreen, like lavender, holly and euonymus. Lavender has lovely purple flowers, that can add a delicate splash of colour to your garden, and requires minimal work. For seasonal colour you can put in planters with flowering plants in and use them as you would cut flowers in the house. Ready planted pots are your best friend here, you can just bring them straight home from the store and pop them where you fancy and you’re good to go! You can also get some gorgeous big tropical looking palms and big luscious leafy plants, so head to the outdoor section of the garden centre, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice!

Another low maintenance idea if you want to keep the garden bright and colourful, without the hard work of lawn mowing, would be to install fake grass. Its pretty reasonably priced and you can easily install it your self if you follow the instructions from a manufacturer. Artificial grass looks pretty smart and feels nice too, so you can still lay down and do a spot to sunbathing in the summer months! I personally don’t like artificial grass or plants, but each to their own! It could be a good solution for you especially if you have a rooftop garden or somewhere that doesn’t easily allow to put down real grass.

At the moment i’m really loving the accessories in my garden. Some agricultural supplies such as a trough or feeders used as planters are adding a really nice modern and architectural feel to my garden. I think if you start treating your garden as another room, and decorate it as if it were inside, then your ideas will start to flow. Avoid painting as this will need to be done again and again as it is weathered by the elements. I also recently put in a gorgeous garden shelving unit outside and it is a lovely place to keep gardening tools, decorative items, and more little plant pots on.

For me the main feature of my little garden space is the seating area, with a lovely little dining table and chairs the focal point of the garden is really the social part. Try decorating with a waterproof rug, scatter cushions and lamps. Theres nothing better than being able to have people round and invite them to sit in the garden, for food and drink and long evenings of laughing and chatting!

For me the most satisfying part of having a lovely low maintenance garden is to just kick off my shoes and relax! In style… There are some amazing ways to achieve this, with something like a daybed, swing seats, or hanging pods, to add a bit of luxury and a lot of comfort!

My garden for me is a huge source of pleasure, and with these easy tips and tricks, having a lovely garden space doesn’t have to be a burden. Although there are many mistakes you can make with a garden, the biggest one of all would be not doing anything with your garden space. A couple of trips to the garden centre and a little bit of research can really transform your garden. Meaning you’ll be able to enjoy your garden, and with the low maintenance way, have loads more time to enjoy it aswell!

Soil Test Kits – How to Use and Where to buy them

Soil testing, not too many people know about this little trick, that can really make an enormous difference to the health of your plants. If you have the perfect soil, your plants are going to grow quickly and beautifully. Today we’re going to talk about how to use a soil testing kit, to ensure your soil is the best it can be. As we all know, without good soil your plants will spoil!

The main nutrients plants need are nitrogen for vegetative growth, phosphorous for root and flower development, and potassium for vigour.

To get the best results, obviously lab testing is the most accurate way to find out what’s in your soil, but home kits are a great way to monitor the effects of your fertilisation.

Firstly, you need to make sure you have a good sample. To take the perfect sample you want to use a clean stainless steel trowel. Take several samples from the same area, making sure you go 6 to 8 inches down in depth, and mix the samples together. Avoid touching the soil with your bare hands, its best to use gardening gloves. Put the soil in a clean plastic or paper container. Do a soil test for each different area – for example, one separate test for the raised beds. Spread the soil out on a sheet of dry paper and let it dry for about 12 hours.

Once your soil is dry, its time to start your test. Crush the soil and sift it through a sifter or a screen to get an even texture. Make sure to remove any debris or rocks.

Today I’ll be using a LaMotte soil testing kit, which I will talk more about where you can purchase later on. Make sure you read the instructions first. Safety is really important, and the chemicals can be pretty harsh! So make sure to always wear safety goggles and gloves.

First we’ll do the PH tests. Fill one of the test tubes to the fourth line with the PH indicator. Use the 0.5 gram spoon and add 3 scoops of soil. Put on the cap and shake gently for a few minutes. Then set the test tube down for twelve minutes and all you have to do now is wait! Go and make yourself a cup of tea or prune your rose bush!

Now it’s time to compare your pH to the colour chart. To get an accurate reading of the colour chart, make sure to stand with the sun behind you and hold the test tube about half an inch in front of the colour chart. The optimum pH balance for plants should be between 5.5 and 7, but a little under or over should be fine.

Now onto the nitrogen testing, take a clean test tube and fill to line 7 with the nitrogen extracting solution. We’re going to add 3 scoops of soil again. Shake gently for one minute. Remove the cap and let it settle. Once its settled use a clean pipette to move the clear liquid to another clean test tube up to line 3, be careful not pull up any soil. Add 2 x 0.25 gram scoops of the nitrogen indicator powder. Pop the cap on, mix gently and wait for a pink colour to develop. The nitrogen test indicates whether there are traces of nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen is an important nutrient so it is good to have at least traces show up in the test.

Now for the phosphorus testing. Pretty much the same procedure as the nitrogen test, fill up the test tube to line six with the phosphorus extracting solution. Put in three scoops of 0.5 grams of soil, gently shake, and let settle. Again, remove the clear liquid into another test tube and add 6 drops of the phosphorus indicator reagent. Cap on and mix, then add one phosphorus tablet. Mix till the tablet dissolves and the liquid turns blue. A darker blue, means excellent levels of phosphorus! Hooray!

The last nutrient I’m going to test is the potassium. You know the drill by now. Fill a clean test tube to line 7 with the potassium extracting solution. This time I’m going add four scoops, and then shake vigorously, allow it to settle and move it to a clean test tube with a pipette. Add a potassium indicator tablet and mix gently and until the tablet dissolves and the liquid turns purple. Add the potassium solution one drop at a time. Mix in-between the drops, and keep track of how many you’ve put in. Stop adding drops when the liquid goes form purple to blue. I added 24 drops to get the potassium colour light blue, which means I’m pretty low on potassium.

Fortunately the LaMotte test kit comes with three amazing guides, that you can read to determine what to do next after taking your soil readings.

For me, this test kit is super simple to use, has easy to follow instructions, and has provided me with accurate results every time.

You can purchase soil testing kits from most reputable garden centres or plant shops. I purchased my LaMotte testing kit online direct from Amazon.

https://amzn.to/2s8XT10

So, what’s stopping you! Do a soil test and be on your way to having lovely healthy plants and make sure you give the nutrients your garden needs!

The Best Mowers