CULTIVATORS/Tillers (Rotavators)

We stock and sell machines from Lawnflite (MTD), Husqvarna and BCS

These are all machines for cultivating or tilling the ground and may be used for turning the soil in vegetable gardens or preparing a fine level seed bed for sowing such as when creating a new lawn.

Two main types – those with the digging tines positioned to the front of the machine and those with rear mounted tines.

Front tine machines pull them selves along by the action of the digging tines using the weight of the machine to aid penetration of the ground. An adjustable strake or foot that resists the forward motion of the machine and makes the tines work harder, controls the depth of penetration and the quality of the tilth created. These machines may have a reverse gear and/ or transport wheels to aid manoeuvrability.


Rear tine machines usually have driven “land wheels” that govern the forward or reverse motion of the machine and this controls the quality of the tilth created by the rear mounted tines. Some machines offer the facility to run the tines in either direction to vary the quality of the tilth produced – counter-rotating (opposite direction to the land wheels) for a deeper tilth and forward rotation for shallower cultivation.

Larger, heavy duty machines such as those from BCS are basically two wheeled tractor units that, in addition to cultivating, can be fitted with a variety of attachments such as sickle bar mowers, snow blowers or even mini hay balers!

MTD.
The range includes 3 front tine machines starting with the T/205 4.5hp,16” machine and progressing to the T/380 5hp machine which has a reverse gear and a maximum tilling width of 32”.

The rear tine model T/410 has a 6hp engine, counter-rotating tines, reverse gear and an 18” tilling width. The model T/450 has a 6.5hp engine and tines that can be run in either direction.

Husqvarna.
Their range of 4 front tine machines starts with the T300RS Compact Pro with a 33cc engine and 24cm tilling width and finishes with the T560RS with a 160cc engine and a 60cm tilling width. The T560RS features a pneumatic clutch, reverse gear and folding transport wheel.

Their rear tine machines, the TR430 and TR430 Dual have 169cc, 2.8kw Subaru engines and a tilling width of 43 cm. The TR430 Dual has tines that may be run in either direction.

BCS.
BCS produce a range of two-wheeled power units aimed at estates, contractors and smallholders.

SHREDDERS

The average garden generates a large amount of waste during the year. Traditionally this has either been burnt or put out for the bin man!

Much of this waste can be composted and returned to the land - composting un-shredded material is space consuming and slow.Shredding is the ideal way to start the process and does not affect the ozone layer or reduce land fill capacity.

Electric Shredders
Ideal for the smaller garden. Originally nearly all electric shredders were of the Impact type. The shredding was done by a combination of hammers and blades, which made them very noisy to use and hard on the hands when feeding them.
Newer designs use slow speed; recoil-free spiral cutters or millers to shred the waste material and still allow normal conversation!

Bosch electric chipper/shredders
Bosch AXT 25 TC Quiet Shredder. Powered by a 2500 watt & uses the “Turbine Cut” cutting system and copes well with both woody material up to 45mm and also green material. Includes a 53 litre collection bin and a removable feed hopper to reduce its height for under bench storage.

Bosch ATX 25 D Quiet Shredder. Powered by a 2500 watt motor driving a super quiet “drum cutter” that can cope with woody material up to 40mm. This system cuts and crushes to aid fast decomposition. Includes a 53 litre bin and removable feed chute for easy storage.

Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 blade shredder. Designed for the fast throughput of green material. 2200 watt motor drives Bosch’s blade cutting system which is up to seven times more powerful than conventional systems.


Petrol powered chipper/shredders
Lawnflite Lawnflite 24-463. 5.5HP Briggs and Stratton engine. 50mm chipping capacity with a flail system giving a 10:1 reduction for green material. Drop down chute for easy feeding, transport wheels and 90 litre collection bag.

Lawnflite 24-465. 7hp engine giving 70mm chipping capacity. Other features as for the 24-463 above.

Lawnflite 24-202. This is a 5 hp walk-behind Vacuum with a built in 50mm shredder.
 

These range from hand-held electric units for domestic use to high-powered walk-behind machines for large gardens, schools and commercial premises.

Some incorporate a blower for pushing leaves and litter into a corner before sucking them up and most have a shredding system to reduce the volume of material entering the collector bag.

Hand–held
We stock a selection of electric and petrol machines from STIHL , MTD and Ryobi.

Walk-behind machines.
We stock machines from MTD/Lawnflite most of which may be fitted with a “wander hose” for getting into those awkward places. Some are offered with the option of “wet” or “dry” bags, the wet bag having a more open mesh to maintain airflow when collecting heavier material such as autumn leaves. Dry bags have a closer weave to keep dust under control in summer or when being used in enclosed spaces.

Lawnflite/MTD.
AS10. 5.5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, 75cm suction nozzle, wet or dry bags and optional wander hose. Self- propelled.

24-202. 5hp Briggs & Stratton engine, 60cm suction nozzle, 50mm chipper chute, optional hose kit. Self-propelled.

24-060. 5.5 hp Briggs & Stratton engine, 61cm suction nozzle, 40mm chipper chute and wander hose. Push/hand propelled
 

MISCELLENIOUS LAWNCARE

Scarifiers – also known as Verticutters, Dethatchers or Lawnrakes.

The powered alternative to the garden rake! If you are using a mulching mower the chances are that sooner or later you will need to scarify!

Their purpose is to remove debris from the base of the sward, discourage horizontal growth and create a healthy environment for grass growth by allowing the free exchange of air, moisture and nutrients.

They range from inexpensive electric machines for smaller domestic premises to larger petrol-powered units for larger gardens and contract use.


Bosch electric machines.
ALR 900. A 900watt 32cm lawn-raker with a 50 litre collector. For regular lawn maintenance.
ALR 1100. An 1100 watt 32cm Verticutter with a 50 litre collector. For more serious attention to neglected lawns!

Lawnflite petrol powered .
VG40BM. 5.5hp, 40cm width, collector bin.
AR60. 5.5hp Briggs & Stratton engine, 61cm working width. Heavy duty machine with optional collector.

Can’t justify owning a Scarifier? – WE HAVE ONE FOR HIRE!

EDGERS

Quicker and less back breaking than shears to keep the lawn edges looking good.
Electric – these are designed to replace hand shears for trimming the grass that over- hangs lawn edges.

Our favourite machine the Spin Trim is once again out of production – well made and battery powered it was the best, but it was expensive. Let’s hope that it reappears as there are dozens out there that are getting on in years.

The choice is now limited to various adaptations of nylon line trimmers – both battery and mains powered.

Petrol-powered. These are designed for heavy duty “edge making” rather than just trimming grass.