I have 2 of these amazing lamps, these are the most impressive solar lights I have ever seen.

They come on automatically and look like real burning flames, visitors are really fooled!

Also the design is so effective they stay lit up all night most nights.

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Long reach Telescopic 18v cordless hedge trimmer

Bosch Universal Hedge Pole Review

Bosch Universal Hedge Pole 18 V

Bosch Universal Hedge Pole 18V

Bosch AHS 50-20 LI 18V Hedge Cutter

I am currently testing the new Bosch long reach cordless hedge trimmer.

This product runs off the same 18v Li-ion battery as my favorite hedgetrimmer the Bosch AHS 50-20 Li.

The long reach version comes with a shoulder strap but is still a bit of a beast.

If you are pretty strong you will have to take rests every 10 minutes or so but used sparingly this is a very useful tool.

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Self Propelled Cordless Mower

New for 2018 - Stihl RMA 448 TC

The latest and best cordless mower is this Austrian made Stihl RMA 448TC that I am currently testing on my lawns.  This model uses a 36v Li-ion battery from the Stihl Pro range and has 2 battery slots so you can have a spare ready if you need it. With two batteries it can cut up to 450m sq depending on the length of your grass and how level your lawn is.

Stihl batteries have built in gauge to check power levels

This is the biggest of the 5 Stihl cordless mowers with its 18 inch (46cm) cut and the fantastic folding, height adjustable, mono handle. This clever handle saves space during storage but also allows easy access to the grass box. Another innovative feature is the Eco mode motor that adjusts the blade speed to the thickness of the grass.  This increases the efficiency of the battery and enables the mower to cut larger areas as it done not waste energy.

Stihl mowers are the best quality and you can't buy them online as they are only sold from machinery dealerships. For this top of the range model the total price with a battery and charger will be around £650. Smaller models and different battery options are available and Stihl have hundreds of dealerships all over the UK.

One you have the battery and charger you can use it in many other Stihl Pro power tools like chainsaws and trimmers that are all available on their own.

Click here to see my special page dedicated to cordless mowers

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	New Range of Bosch Pressure Washers This is the new Bosch AQT35-12 pressure washer.  I was not a big fan of domestic pressure washers in general as I have found most to be unreliable, difficult to use and a pain to store. The new Bosch models are much smaller and lighter than previous models and with its on board tool storage and quick release fitting it is fun to use. The folding handle also makes storage easier. There 2 models have different power outputs but both have folding handles for easy storage and are available with just the 3 way gun or with the full range of accessories.    Kärcher K4 Full Control Pressure Washer  Kärcher K4 Full Control Home Pressure Washer Fredshed TEST Update My Bosch AQT35-12 pressure washer has had 3 years of  use and is performing very well. It is a vast improvement on the previous model and I am happy to recommend it to Fredshed readers. The optional patio washing hood does prevent your feet getting a bit wet but makes accurate cleaning work harder. My advice is too buy the pressure washer but invest in some good Wellingtons instead of the patio washing gadget.   New Product To Reduce Time Spent Cleaning Patios!   Pressure washing a patio is time consuming and messy so I am testing Roxil Patio Cream which claims to waterproof and protect the slabs so as to reduce the regrowth of mould and other nasties.  I am happy to put cream on my face and leather car seats but never thought of putting some on my patio! So I cleaned a slab, let it dry and then brushed in the cream. Already it looks better than the non-treated slabs so I will report the progress here as time goes on. Return to top of page
	Lightweight Trolleys and Tubtrugs My Mum with her Trug Trolley The Fredshed recommended and approved Tubtrugs have been a boon to many gardeners since I featured them 17 years ago. Now their use can be enhanced by this superb little truck to enable you to easily move material and turn your Tubtrug into a lightweight alternative to a wheelbarrow. I gave this sample to my Mum for testing and never got it back so we know this one is a winner!   Trug Trolley with sturdy wheels makes moving garden trugs, rubber buckets, etc, around the garden easy  Tubtrugs 42L Large Flexible 2-Handled Recycled Tub, Pistachio  Tubtrugs 26L Medium Flexible 2-Handled Recycled Tub, Pistachio  Tubtrug Flexible Micro: Red   Wheeled Truck To Lift and Move Heavy Pots This excellent invention was known as the Plant Pot Mover Trolley and originally sold by Fort Wheelbarrow company. I have had one for years and many readers have bought them and been happy with my recommendation so it is not really a new product but is back again after being discontinued for some years. To use the trolley simply tip the pot forward a little and slide the bottom plate under it. Then slide the top hook over the edge and you can lever the pot up and begin to move it. I can even lift very large heavy pots like this from my wheelchair!     Return to top of page
	Which is the Best Spade to Buy for Digging out Roots? Root Assassin Spade Many readers tell me they break their forks and spades whilst digging out plants. This is usually caused by having to use excess force because a root has been left and even the strongest tools will break or bend if levered hard enough. The Root Assasin has downward facing sharp teeth to cut those roots and the long thin shape of the head gives easier access to those roots. If you have large shrubs or a lot to remove I still recommend using a prybar as well as the Root Assassin because it is essentially a digging and cutting tool and not a levering tool.    Root Assassin Spade    Return to top of page
	Spiral Auger For Making Holes For Planting and Fenceposts Fiskars Quikdrill    Fiskars 2320541 Size Small "QuikDrill" Gimlet - Black/Orange/Grey

	The lightest cordless chainsaw at 3.76KG including battery STIHL MSA 120c 36v BATTERY POWERED CHAINSAW This is not the most powerful cordless chainsaw available but it certainly is the most well designed and efficient one. It has all the features found on petrol chainsaws but it is much easier and safer to handle. For more details see link below or your nearest Stihl dealer as these tools are not sold online. Click here to see my special page dedicated to cordless chainsaws     Clipper Box - Lawn Edge Clippings Collector This simple gadget clips to the side of your edging shears and collects the grass clippings. If you have a big lawn this can save hours of clear up work over the season Makes a neater, cleaner job for OCD types - I love it.  ClipperBox - Attaches to existing garden shears to collect clippings Return to top of page
	ELHO GROW TABLE - BEST RAISED BED PLANTER   This well made plastic planter is ideal for slug free growing as it is available with a ventilated propagator cover. This will protect your seedlings from the cold as well and can be taken off when your plants are larger. The planter is around £35 and is available in black or green and a wider version has also been introduced at around £55. The lid is an optional extra, UV stabilized, and has recently been upgraded with clips to hold it on. Elho XX-Large Grow Table    Elho XX-Large Green Basics Grow Table - Black Elho green basics grow house xxl accessory - transparent      Return to top of page
	Best Apple Collecting Tool      Apple Wizard    New Lightweight tool for picking up apples without bending! If you have fallen apples and want a fast and easy way to collect them then this UK made tool is ideal. It works like magic and I just love using it. The flexible stainless steel cage just gently opens and the apples roll in. Makes a superb present for anyone with apple trees and will pay for itself if you can eat or store your apples faster. This is a top quality product and the UK manufacturer offers a repair service should you need it.

MORE NEW PRODUCTS TESTED BY FRED

 

	NEW STYLE COMPOSTER, WITH SUPER INSULATION Latest news!- I have superb new compost bin! The hotbox,  compost bin is a new design that speeds up composting by concentrating the heat from the decomposing food and plant material . It is constructed of thick black Polystyrene that absorbs the suns energy and superheats the material inside.  There is a thermometer built into the lid to allow you to monitor the heat levels. I am currently testing the Hotbox composter and am amazed at hot quickly the material rots down to allow you to add more and more. I keep the bin full to the top and have inserted a mixture of food waste, hedge and lawn trimmings, weeds and other plant material. Over the last 17 years of running Fredshed I have tested many weird and wonderful compost bin and so far this is the best performer. As I like to undertake long term testing and take into account the durability of products I will be updating the feature annually to show you my results. Setting up my Hotbin After 2 years use I am impressed with the performance of the Hotbin. It has taken mountains of mixed material If you mix some lawn clippings in now and again it helps to keep it hot. The resulting compost is very good and easy to get at. Check price of the Hotbin composter with another Fredshed partner site Click to see other more traditional composting bins
	Fiskars Best Selling Hi Tech Weed Puller Is it any good? I tested the Fiskars Weed Puller  on soil and lawns It is great for the larger, deep rooted weeds, no use on small weeds. It can be fun and a bit addictive to use in the right conditions. NEW LIGHTWEIGHT VERSION - USE LINK BELOW  Fiskars Light Weed Puller - Black If you watch TV then you probably will have seen the advertisement for this "new wonder tool" to make weeding easier than ever. As part of my work I have been testing weeding gadgets over the last 18 years and have tried most of them. The important thing to realise about weed pulling gadgets is that there are many different types and sizes of weeds and none of the gadgets can cope with them all. Another reason for this is that weeds will be located in different soil types or even lawns. Compared to most of the ones I have tested I can say the Fiskars weed puller is pretty good at pulling out the larger weeds. It is made from very tough but light fibrecomp material. You will need to have reasonable eyesight and hand eye co-ordination so that you can locate the jaws of the tool around the weed. Once located you press down with your foot and lever the handle backwards to remove the weed. The tool is described as a lawn weed puller but I found it to equally useful on soil. Wherever you use it remember that a large weed will leave a large hole so have some soil ready to fill in if it is your lawn.
	Increase the Capacity of your Wheelbarrow     Wheelbarrow Booster This simple and cheap product is so useful and can save you lots of effort if you are moving large amounts of material by wheelbarrow. It is made from strong polypropelyne with stretch elastic along the bottom that is designed to fit different sizes of wheelbarrow. It is easy to fit and very effective for lighter bulky material. It can be taken off and stored separately when not required. This clever British invention featured on Dragons Den and is a must have for every wheelbarrow owner!   Itip handles to reduce strain when using your Wheelbarrow The  itip handles are easy to fit and comfortable in normal use, but are superb when you need to tip the barrow up as you don't need to change your grip or strain your arm and shoulder joints! RRP is £24.99 but even at this price it is a bargain compared to a visit to a chiropractor or a day off work due to sore shoulders or wrists. I fitted the handles to my builders barrow and it was much appreciated by the builders, especially when tipping heavy brick hardcore into a skip.

LATEST ROBOT MOWER

WORX LandFi Enabled Rtic Mower

I spotted the latest Robotic lawnmower at the Hampton Court Flower show.

Over the last 16 years I have tested many robot mowers and found most of them quite hard to program.

This one can be totally set up and controlled from your phone and does not even have an LCD screen for me to swear at.

Any programming can be overridden, which is good as I know that all these clever gadgets are only as good as your Wifi signal.

The main downside with Robot mowers is that most of them can't cut to the edge so you need another mower or trimmer to finish the job.

This is due to safety rules and the nanny state!

This new Worxs Landroid as a unique blade design that cuts almost to the edge and only leaves a 2.5cm strip to deal with.