Fred's Timely Gardening Tips
Updated 18th May 2013
Totally Tried and Tested
No -nonsense best quality edging shears
Bahco P75 lawn edging shears- top quality - no gimmicks
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To help make your gardening easier in 2013 I will be publishing my best tips and ideas to save you time and money. I have spent a large part of the last 11 years researching garden tools and techniques and then publishing them on this website. I can help you find rare and specialist equipment - and you can help me and my readers by providing feedback on the products you use. (This site had over 7 million hits last year and is regularly visited by representatives of manufacturers and retailers). I won't help promote or sell you rubbish tools just to make money- I wouldn't be happy and you wouldn't come back. I hope you enjoy rummaging in my shed, if you cant find what you are looking for or want to make a comment I would love to hear from you. e-mail fred@fredshed.com (UK enquiries only please)
Beckham and Ronaldo get shredding lessons from Fred at the Chelsea Flower Show
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Top Tips This Month
Buy Seeds and Plants Online Garden centres have huge overheads and consequently are relatively expensive places to buy plants compared to the internet. You do have the advantage of being able to see the plants first but this is often outweighed by the fact you will likely come home with some other expensive tat you didn't really want - like candles, pickled walnuts and a plastic eagle owl. Use the links below to check the price of plants and seeds from my partner sites. These people are the best on the net and have to be well organised to retain their reputation. It will all be delivered to your door, well packaged and ready for planting!" Click here to find, plants, trees and shrubs to buy online click to buy any vegetable seed online
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Protect Your Crops
make the most your valuable crops - use netting and cages Most gardeners have experienced the heartbreak of nurturing plants for months and being proud of the fine crop we produced only to find it suddenly gone the day we go to pick it. The best way to keep birds, insects and animals away is to use netting and frames. Low growing crops can be covered by netting secured by hoops and even home made one jobs using thin branches and tiwgs. For large crops like fruit and beans a cage is the ultimate luxury. netting is available in many forms depending what you want to deter. If you use the links below to purchase your netting and quote FSNETS at the checkout you will get a 10% discount on all netting from my partner site. Ultra fine insect mesh netting Windbreak and Greenhouse Shade Netting
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Best Gloves For Gardening
You would have thought that leather were the best gloves for gardening but if you are dealing with seedlings then I find they don't give enough feel or dexterity. My favourite gloves for gardening (and DIY) are made from a rubbery plastic material developed for the medical profession. These superb gloves are machine washable, flexible but super strong. I also use them to push my wheelchair so they have had plenty of testing over the last 6 years. The gloves come in different thicknesses depending on your needs. The thin plantmaster type are so good you hardly notice that you have them on, but they protect your skin from dirt and chemicals ,inc natural plant substances. The best ones I have found are made by Showa and are called Floreo 370, or assembly grip, or plantmaster gloves- (all 3 names are the same glove) For heavier duty work and dealing with thorns the thicker green gloves are better but still allow you a good degree of dexterity.
light work -even handling seedlings! Please use my links when purchasing gloves if you want to help my work testing and reviewing the best gardening products. - (long term since Feb 2000!) buy the best Garden and DIY gloves
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Growing Plants in Raised beds
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Growing plants in raised planters have many advantages and has been growing in popularity in recent years. Easy access, not walking on the soil and good drainage all help to make raised bed gardening an enjoyable and productive experience. I have tried many systems over the years including these wooden slot together systems and some of the more modern plastic ones. Click the link below to see the latest range of allotment grade raised beds from one of my retailing partners click here to see a wide range of raised bed systems
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Wooden Raised Bedding System This is an old raised bed system I used at the Nuffield Orthopaedic centre when I worked as a Horticultural Therapist. It was much loved by wheelchair users, elderly gardeners and those with back problems - not to mention the plants that seemed to thrive in it's unique little micro-climate.
Reduces bending Improves Drainage No soil impaction from walking Can help combat pest infestations
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Best Pruning Tools
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The most important tool for pruning is the Secateur, crucial for stems up to 25mm, anything bigger than that requires the loppers. After 45mm even loppers are no use and a garden saw is required. For fast effective work you may need all 3 tools and a good quality set can be had for around £30 if you chose carefully. Unless you have very small and infrequent pruning to do I don't recommend buying the cheapest tools as they will not last and over time will give a poor cut that could harm your plants. A good quality bowsaw like the Bahco one shown left costs under £20 and its massive teeth will cut through most branches with ease. Before you buy a chainsaw I recommend trying a quality bowsaw, its cheaper, more reliable and environmentally friendly. The most common boswaw sizes are 24 and 30inches. A 30 inch version which will rapidly cut large branches that many people would buy a chainsaw for. A key feature of Bahco Bow saws is the easy availability of replacement blades. Also Bahco make special "raker" blades" that are better on live green wood. Most saws come with a general purpose blade for live and dead wood. Another handy tool to have around is a folding garden saw like the one shown from Draper. This inexpensive saw will take up so little space in your shed but is worth it's weight in gold. A top quality Bahco version is also available and is widely used by professionals.
COMING SOON - NEW RANGE OF FISKARS SAWS
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Heavy Duty Pole Pruner - Fiskars Long Reach Universal Cutter. I have used this tool for about 8 years now and still marvel at its incredible cutting power and ease of use. It is easier to use than traditional tree pruners as the cord is on the inside and does not get tangled up in the branches. Also the multi-angle head contains a brilliant mechanism with a belt and chain that enables the tool to effortlessly slice through branches up to 32mm. There are 3 ways of activating the cut, pull the sliding handle, pull the side cord or for extra reach pull the ball at the bottom of the handle. Superb design! The Fiskars Geared Universal Cutter won a 2002 Golden Shed Award and has recently won other prestigious design awards. In 2008 it was re-engineered using newly available materials and is now lighter and cuts with an anvil blade which is less likely to jam on a hard stem.. The standard version is 1.6m long and weighs only 1.1kg. This is ok for large shrubs or small trees but if you want to be more ambitious the telescopic version that extends to over 5m is the one to buy. This is an unconventional tool, but trust me, if you have branches to prune in hard to reach places, you will love this one. The advantage over a conventional cord operated tree pruner is that there is no cord to get tangled in the branches. The downside is the extra cost so I have put a link below (right) to a good quality standard pole pruner for those who want to stick to the old ways of doing things.
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A new version of the long telescopic model is now out
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Felco Professional Quality Secateurs These Swiss made Secateurs are the ultimate in quality and are used by most professionals and TV gardening celebs, eg. Alan Titchmarsh, Charlie Dimmock and Rachel de Thame. The most advanced model is this one that has a rotating lower handle to reduce finger fatigue. All Felco spare parts are replaceable and the company offer a refurbishment service so these tools can EASILY last your lifetime - guide price £30 - £45 The only small criticism I have of Felco secateurs is that I find the safety catches to be a bit fiddly, but they are metal and they don't fall off which is better than most buy Felco secatuers online from another discount supplier
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This rotating handle model 7 can reduce RSI if you prune continually for work. It is also available in a smaller version (model 12) and a left handed version (model 10) |
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Some useful accessories
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for free specialist information on the best pruning tools for your needs
E-mail fred@fredshed.com
to buy Fred's specially selected range of garden books click books
Weeding tips
For best results I like to use two different tools. A hoe for shallow easy cultivation of the soils and light weed removal. Then a specialist weed puller to remove the deep-rooted weeds complete with the roots. Below are 2 examples, if you want to know more - just e-mail me for details and a quick personal reply.
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Best Garden Tool for Hoeing and Shallow Rooted Weed Removal The Wilkinson Sword "Swoe " In my opinion this is one of the best and easiest to use weeder/cultivators ever made. It is also one of the strangest looking. Which explains why even after 30 years on the market -it is still hard to sell. The Swoe is a cross between a golf club and a hoe and is light-weight yet extremely strong. The chamfered steel blade slides under the soil backwards and forwards, (or at an angle) and can even be hooked around the back of a hard to reach plant. Turned on its edge it can be used to dig small holes for planting, seed drills and for ridging soil. All new versions have a stainless steel blade that remains cleaner and smoother therefore offers less resistance when sliding through the soil. This hoe, along with my own Stealth weeder is the tool of choice for most of the gardeners at Le Manoir. You will probably not be able to find a Swoe in your local garden centre as the unusual design makes them harder to sell than other types of hoe. The link opposite will get you one at a great price and also help me and my site keep this great tool going. I promise you that will be impressed with this tool! If you hoe larger open areas or want a more traditional type hoe then I would recommend a stainless steel Dutch hoe. |
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The Spork is back! This award winning British designed garden tool is now made in Holland and is even lighter and stronger than before. The latest spork is made from Swedish boron steel which gives it strength and flexibility so it wont break like so many digging tools made of cheap steel in the far east. The handle of the Spork is German ash and the whole tool is made in Holland by my friend and craftsman Derek Dewit. This tool is a blend of modern design enabled by improvements in metallurgy and manufacturing. To find out more or buy any of the fantastic tools in the spork range direct from Fredshed Now also Available in the USA
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Garden Tools for Children
see the largest range of children's gardening tools online
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BOOK OF THE MONTH
This book is the perfect guide to managing your garden and doing things at the right time.
Need a Wheelbarrow? click here for my recommended range
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THINKING OF VISITING FLOWER SHOWS Click here for the show gardens of Chelsea, Gardeners Worlds live and Hampton Court
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British Garden shows of 2013 |
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Fred-in-the shed and Sir Trevor Macdonald at The Chelsea Flower Show.
Click here for the fredshed exclusive gardening celebrity photos |
Pretty in Pink click here for a range of Pink coloured gardening tools and accessories
Click here to find, plants, trees and shrubs to buy online
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LATEST TOOLS UNDER TESTING 2 Ranges of Dutch Garden Tools Which are best - Sneeboer or Dewit? Not many tools are made in Europe now but 2 family businesses in Holland are thriving and now export to the UK. Sneeboer and Dewit tools have been around for generations but have only recently found there way to these shores as quality garden tools get harder to find. I know both of these manufactures personally and am happy to recommend their products. DeWit tools are made from high grade carbon steel whilst Sneeboer make similar tools but from stainless steel. In terms of strength and price Dewit come top but if you want a shiny finish and don't mind paying a premium then Sneeboer are for you. The fork and trowel shown right are hand crafted from a special type of stainless steel and have seasoned Ash handles. I will also be testing many other Sneeboer tools including Mattocks and large digging tools. Using hand crafted quality garden tools is a revelation and helps make your whole gardening experience more enjoyable. The tines of the fork are extra strong and the flat profile helps lift more soil. The Ultimate trowel is longer and thinner than normal and just what you need to dig small planting holes with ease and less bending. Below are the Dewit Onion hoes that come in left and right handed version. The range of Dewit tools is enormous and they are especially strong on small hand tools and cultivating tools.
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see the Sneeboer Ultimate Flowerbed Trowel see the Sneeboer Stainless Steel hand fork
Click to See the Dewit range of Garden Tools
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Lawncare
Lawns are the most time consuming aspect of most gardens. (Unless you use a robot like I do) Even then lawns have a tendency to thicken up and become mossy. Mossy lawns are harder to mow and become wet and boggy with time.
If your lawn is particularly damp and boggy then I recommend getting an aerator and making lots of holes to improve the drainage. The books all say that the holes should be filled I with lawn sand.
see my new page on Lawncare Tools
Find the best Loppers - 5 year test result
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Fred's Favourite Telescopic Loppers In my experience many telescopic loppers either snap or the twisting mechanism gets jammed after extensive use. These Wolf Garten telescopic loppers are the ones that I recommend for serious work based on 8 years of hard work with them. They genuinely cut a 40mm branch with ease and have an easy adjustment method. The difference between these and other telescopic loppers is that the handles are oval in section and are stronger than round section handles. Also these handles lock in position with a sliding catch with a locating pin. Inferior telescopic handles twist to lock - most of the time! Wolf RS650T Anvil telescopic Lopper, RRP £55 (often discounted to around £40 inc postage) Use my links opposite for discounted prices from my recommended suppliers. If you want a cheaper option that includes a ratchet mechanism then the Bulldog made loppers endorsed by Alan Titchmarsh are great value and good quality too.
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My assistant Vern uses the Wolf Telescopic Loppers whilst wearing his Technicolor Dreamcoat. Click to see prices of Wolf Loppers from Fredshed's recommended supplier A good tool to compliment these loppers is a big bowsaw- with these 2 tools you can tackle most small -medium sized trees.
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The best Lawn Edging Shears Lawn edging shears are simple tools that have been around for hundreds of years with few changes. I have tested dozens of pairs over 30 years and recommend buying a good quality tool that you can keep for years and not need to replace. I think the Bahco P75 shears are the best because they are light, have long handles and give a good cut.. They are made in Europe sand are used by many professionals who need reliable no -nonsense tools. If you want something with longer handles the Darlac Flip-lock telescopic lawn shears are very good and have been a resident in my shed for many years as they can be adjusted to suit the height of a variety of users.
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Long Handled Cut and Hold Pruner This long handled cut and hold pruner is one of my favorite tools and one that I have used for over 10 years. That's why it won the first ever Golden Shed Award. It comes in different sizes from the 650mm version shown here right up to the telescopic one that extends to 3m! This tool is ideal for light pruning up to16mm thick, and for deadheading roses etc. Whilst working as an NHS horticultural therapist I recommended this tool to hundreds of patients with back pain. I received many letters of thanks and never had a tool returned faulty. 650 mm version shown left- but the best version is longer at 1m and is superb for reaching climbing roses or into the back of deep prickly borders. The "snapper" can be used one or two handed and has a lot of handle adjustment. It is also very well made and I am still using one that I have had for over 10 years. click here for prices on both versions
The Snapper has a couple of pivot points that can dry out so use a lubricant regularly to make cutting easy.
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Hedge trimmers - tested -popular vs premium quality
Also safety devices for hedgetrimmers.
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The machine on the right is the latest and most powerful battery powered
cordless hedge trimmer to hit the market. It has a 1 .3ah 36v
rechargeable Lithium ion battery that gives this machine performace
comparable to some petrol powered hedge trimmers. ( for a while only
-until the battery runs out)
The good news is that the battery can be recharged in around 45 minutes and also a double capacity battery 2.6 ah is available. this Bosch hedge trimmer uses the same batteries as their cordless mowers, professional DIY tools and the soon to come 36v cordless chainsaw. click here for Hedge-trimmers and accessories from a fredshed partner site
Best Buy Good Quality Hedge-trimmers - Bosch make excellent no-nonsense hedge-trimmers with good quality blades and motors with 2 years warranty. The model with the clippings catcher is very useful on the top of hedges but is not so good for left handed peepes on the sides. Now that battery technology has moved on so much I prefer cordless hedge trimmers for safety and convenience.
Bosch 36v Cordless Hedge trimmer buy new Bosch 36v Hedgetrimmer from a Fredshed Partner
See my new page on
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Below are the best selling mains domestic hedge trimmers
The AHS 50-16 has a bigger motor and longer blade The AHS 60 - 16 has a 60cm blade for wider hedges.
See my new page on
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Don't stand on wobbly ladders If you have a high hedge get a long handled hedgetrimmer, (or a man with long arms)
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Safety tip from Zena the Gardening Princess ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHEN TRIMMING YOUR BUSH! And ... Use an RCB in case you cut the cable Keep your blades well lubricated Use links below to support my work and preserve your health.
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Don't waste your prunings- Use them for cooking fuel and entertainment!
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Buying charcoal or briquettes is expensive and involves a lot of transport and manufacturing that is not good for the environment. Taking car loads of prunings to the tip is also expensive and a waste of time. Even a small garden can product a large quantity of logs that can be used to cook food on - if you have the right equipment. The brazier on the right is superb for burning old twigs and logs and can also be used as a BBQ when the flames die down. Just drop in the grill rack and close the mesh lid down to contain sparks and splashes of fat. |
Click here to see more , Firepits, Braziers and Chimneas online
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Best Axes - Handy Brush Hook & Fiskars X5 Small Camping Axe A great tool for controlling or checking unruly bushes is this plastic handled brush hook made by Fiskars. It uses space age "fibrecomp" plastic and has a grey coating of Teflon on the blade to give strength and durability. It is also made of a special German steel engineered specially for axes. I have met the man who invented this tool and was amazed at the amount of science and R&D that went into this excellent product. It is made in Fnland where they have no shortage of trees and wood to manage. The Fiskars Brush Hook is superbly balanced and sharp. I use my one to chop back tree suckers and also to chop firewood! I was really surprised how good this tool is and am a bit annoyed I didn't get one earlier, when they first came out- and I don't say that about many tools! Now there is a new addition to the range with the X5 mini camping axe. This axe can be used to fell trees and cut kindling . The handy Brush hook is better for slashing back overgrown shrubbery but I found it is also sharp and tough enough for chopping kindling too.
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X5 camping axe
Handy bush hook
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Still can't find the tool you are looking for?
Click here to find, plants, trees and shrubs to buy online
For free
expert advice - on buying tools, (on and off-line) mail me at
fred@fredshed.com
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Other Pages
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pruning tools Weekly tips page Workshop tools
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SEE MY NEW PAGE ON KITCHEN TOOLS & GADGETS
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© Fred Walden 2013
and finally
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Vern says - "do sweep up before you go to the pub" |
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