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Gardening & Outdoors

	BBQs Barbecues are a great way to make the most of your garden. Charcoal gives you some degree of control over the heat; you can have the grill burn very hot or allow the coals to die down for a gentle heat. You can also add wood chips to subtly influence the flavor of your meals and you can smoke meats and vegetables. Charcoal BBQs come in a wide variety of sizes and styles, many of which are portable and easy to store over the winter. The disadvantages of grilling over charcoal is that it takes some time and experience to get the fire burning properly, and charcoal grills are messier to clean up when you're done. The main reason why true grill aficionados steer away from gas grills is that there is always some loss of flavor when the charcoal and flames are removed. However, they are great to use when you want the flavor of a grill without the time expenditure of firing up the charcoal. There is also less chance of burning or undercooking food on a gas grill. Gas grills are available with a combination of burner types and often have a side gas ring where vegetables can be cooked. There are open grill trays and solid trays to give you the maximum benefit of outdoor cooking methods. Each type of grill has its appeal and many households purchase one of each type to suit a particular need.
	Blower Vacuums There are several things to consider when choosing a blower-vac. Should you buy a petrol or electric power blower? Is a simple blower sufficient or would a combination blower/vacuum clean up the yard more efficiently? Does your yard size and your physical condition warrant a handheld leaf blower, a backpack blower, or a walk-behind blower? And, last but not least, how much are you willing to spend on a leaf blower? Petrol powered leaf blowers are more powerful and do not require a cord, which can restrict your movement. Electrical blowers are usually less expensive. Others have rechargeable batteries. These units are the least powerful and are best for small yards and surfaces such as driveways.
	Chainsaws Petrol Chainsaws There are a numerous petrol chainsaw brands available which cater for the occasional domestic user who simply wishes to saw up logs for the wood burner and maybe undertake some limbing work on small trees. The 2-stroke engines on these petrol chainsaws will generally be between 30-40cc, whilst the guide bar (the metal blade on which the chain sits) will be anything in length from 12 to 18 inches. Other types are referred to as hobby or multi-purpose petrol chainsaws. These are aimed primarily at the domestic user seeking a high quality professional-grade chainsaw for regular use around the garden and are also popular for work on farms and estates or for those with their own wood to maintain. These saws are powered by 2-stroke petrol engines ranging in power from about 40-50cc. Guide bars range in size between 12-18 inches. Professional petrol chainsaws for continuous use by foresters, local authorities and landscapers, employ high powered engines in excess of 50cc. Electrical Chainsaws If you live in a residential area where noise is an issue or if you wish to undertake work in an enclosed space, electrical powered chainsaws are a more practical option. Electric chainsaws are low-noise and - unlike petrol chainsaws - emission free. For light duty work around the yard and garden a number of inexpensive electric chainsaw models are available for under 100 euro (most with 14 inch guide bars). Larger sized 16 inch electric chainsaws are also available.
	Decking Choosing the right decking material will help ensure the decking material for your home is a wise investment. Examles of decking materials include pressure-treated pine, cedar and wood composites.
	Decorative Stone and Gravel Driveway materials fall into three main categories: solid-surface (i.e., smooth, seamless, even surfaces), pavers and aggregate-surface. Examples of solid-surface materials are asphalt and concrete. Pavers can be made of concrete, brick, or natural stone. Aggregate-surface driveway materials include gravel and crushed stone.
	Fencing There are numerous varities of fencing. These include Closeboard, Palisade, Overlap, Trellis, Post & Rail Wire fencing.
	Flagstones and Pavers Flagstones and pavers are a great way of creating a patio area. Different types of materials and sizes are available.
	Garage Doors Garage Doors come in a range of types, sizes and colours and can be manual or electric.
	Garden Furniture List of different types of garden furniture, lounges, benches, and accesserories for the garden.
	Garden Shed There are two main types of garden shed; metal and timber. Metal sheds will normally be made out of corrugated iron, galvanized steel or aluminum. What people tend to like about wooden sheds is how they have much more of a natural look about them, therefore they can easily blend into a garden without being an eye sore or standing out too much.
	Garden Shredders Garden shredders are an essential aid for the bio-cultivation of your garden. The choice is basically between a petrol or electrically operated shredder. Petrol shredders are not as economical to run but can be used where no electricity is available and also many have a greater capacity that electric shredders. Electrically operated shredders are cheaper and more economical to run but have less capacity and need an electricity supply. The maximum size of branch that you will be cutting on a regular basis should next be considered. Shredder specification give the maximum diameter of branch that the machine can handle.
	Gates Entrance and side gates can be manufactured from various types of timber and wrought iron. Entrance gates can also be automated.
	Gazebos Gazebos come in different sizes, styles and materials. Wood provides the most traditional look but requires the most maintenance because it requires staining. With metal comes the option of different colours. Vinyl gazebos are usually the cheapest. Vinyl also requires very little maintenance. Decide on what you will use your gazebo for; this will determine how big your gazebo will need to be. For example, you may want a patio gazebo or a larger canopy gazebo.
	Grass Lawn Lawns can either laid using prefabricated turf or by sowing grass seed.
	Green Houses There are two main types of greenhouse - lean-to and free-standing. A lean-to has the advantage of retained heat because of the insulating wall, but suffers from less light during part of the day when it is in shade. A free-standing greenhouse, if positioned correctly, will receive light all day long but looses heat more rapidly and needs more structural support. Both types of greenhouse come in two forms, glass from ground level upwards (excellent for tomatoes), or sections of wood or brick (better for propagation and flowers). Aluminium greenhouses are certainly more durable than their wooden equivalents but the wooden ones are much better to look at and this is a significant factor in the garden, after all the whole point of this is to make your garden look great. Glass is the most common glazing material, but horticultural grade plastic is an alternative, perhaps more expensive but safer when children are around.
	Hand Tools This section lists some of the most common hand tools used for landscaping, building work and general use around the home.
	Hedge Trimmers Electrical Trimmers Plug-in trimmers account for the most sales, since they're relatively light, quiet, and inexpensive, start with push-button ease, produce no exhaust emissions, and require little maintenance. The best also perform comparably to petrol-powered models. But you'll have to work within range of a power outlet and be careful not to cut the cord. Petrol Trimmers Landscapers favour these for their power and mobility. But petrol models typically weigh more than electrics, and their two-stroke engines require fuel mixing, pull-starting, maintenance. They are usually more expensive.
	Hot Tub Tub prices are more dependent on features more so than sizes. Hot tub pumps, blowers, underwater mood lighting, hot tub jets and stereo systems are features that are now available depending on the hot tub manufacturer. The number of jets and their placement determine the massaging and stress relief capabilities of your spa. Determine how many people plan on using the spa at the same time. Large hot tubs are ideal for larger families or those who plan on having friends use their tub also.
	Lawnmowers The best lawn mower for your garden is one which is large enough to easily maintain your lawn and at the same time small enough to fit your budget. There are various types of lawnmower: Cylinder Mower: They come with three main types of power source - petrol, electric and battery. Petrol cylinder mowers are the most powerful and they are free from electric cords. Electric cylinder lawn mowers are better suited to smaller lawns. Battery cylinder lawn mowers are suitable only for very small lawns. Cylinder lawn mowers give the best finish to all lawns although they are generally the most expensive (bar ride-on). They give the traditional stripped effect and cut the grass very cleanly without ripping it. A 12 to 16 inch cutting cylinder is about the correct size for an average lawn. Smaller sizes take longer to cut the lawn and larger sizes begin to reduce the manoeuvrability of the lawn mower. When selecting a cylinder lawn mower, take into account the number of blades on the cylinder. Around 5 blades is common on inexpensive models and is quite adequate. 8 to 10 blades are found on more expensive models and these give the finest finish. Rotary Mowers: The rotary lawn mower will not give the immaculate cut of a cylinder mower, but they are easy to use and cut the lawn quickly. In addition, they are very good at dealing with long or wet grass. They also cut tough weeds and grasses better than a cylinder mower which tends to just flatten them. They come with two main types of power source - petrol and electric. Petrol rotary mowers are the most powerful and they are free from electric cords. Electric rotary lawn mowers are very convenient but better suited to smaller lawns. Hover Mowers: The principal advantage of a hover lawn mower is that it very light and easy to use. It literally floats on a cushion of air. If you find lawn mowing a tiring exercise, this is the lawn mower for you. They provide a performance and action similar to rotary lawn mowers. They come with two main types of power source - petrol and electric. Petrol hover mowers are the most powerful and they are free from electric cords. Electric hover lawn mowers are very convenient but better suited to smaller lawns. Ride-On Mowers: For the large garden a ride on is often the most practical solution. They are able to cover large lawns, quickly. Whilst often considered expensive, over recent years lower cost models have become available, giving them a wider market appeal. It should be noted, however, that a ride on lawn mower will not be ideal for reaching into confined areas. For this you may need to combine with a trimmer or small hover mower.
	Ornaments
	Outdoor Toys Range of outdoor toys and leisure equipment for children.
	Patio Heaters Outdoor patio heaters come in all sizes. You will need to decide if you want a heater that sits on the table, is mounted up on a wall, or is one of the larger stand alone models. Smaller heaters are much easier to move around, but larger models will give off much more heat. Depending on the size of your patio area you want to be sure you have a large enough unit to fill your needs.
	Plants and Shrubs Proper plant selection is one the most important aspects in successful landscape design. Plants and colours bring your garden to life.
	Pressure Washer Pessure washers are powered by either an electric motor or petrol engine. Electric pressure washers are generally lightweight and inexpensive & well-suited for small cleaning jobs like washing a car, driveway, windows, etc. Petrol engine pressure washers are many times more powerful than electric models, don't require an electrical outlet, are more durable and they take less effort & time to clean projects. But they are noisier, and because of their fumes, must be used outdoors.
	Scarifier Scarifying is the removal of lateral grass growth and dead grass (thatch) which builds up leading to a distressed sward and deteriorating lawn. A scarifier utilises a rotating cylinder cassette with knife tines that cut into the surface of the soil (or sometimes just brushing). It tears through all of the waste that builds up allowing air and light to get through. Any heavy duty scarification is greatest carried out throughout early summer time (late April - early May) or late summer time (late August - early September). This is because growth should be strong and recovery is fast.
	Seed Spreader Seed spreaders come in three basic styles, Hand-Held, Push, and Pull-Behind. They vary greatly in price and efficiency, and each fills a specific need. Choosing the one that suits your needs is not difficult at all. It all boils down to how much seed/fertilizer you are going to be spreading. Hand-held will sling seed and/or fertilizer quite a distance. Some are designed with larger hoppers, and have a shoulder strap to help distribute the extra weight. If you only have a small project like re-seeding bare spots, or if your overall lawn is small, this may be all you need in a spreader. Push spreaders have larger capacity hoppers than the hand-held, and handlebars to push them with. The broadcast mechanism is activated by the rolling of the wheels. Prices vary according to quality and size. These will handle small to moderate size jobs. Pull-behind spreaders are designed to cover a lot of ground, and do it in an efficient and timely manner. They have larger hoppers than the other models, and a hitch to connect them to your lawnmower or 4-wheeler.
	Strimmers Electrical Strimmer For most small to medium gardens, an electric strimmer is perfectly adequate. They are lightweight, quiet and less expensive than their petrol counter-parts. However, unless you opt for a battery powered cordless strimmer the power cord will restrict movement in larger gardens. Petrol Strimmer For heavier work, or clearing large areas, a petrol driven strimmer or brush cutter is more suitable than an electical model. In addition to nylon cord, many can be fitted with different metal blades for tackling brambles, brush and small trees. Multi purpose models can serve as hedge cutters, pruners, soil tillers and power brooms through the addition of various attachments. If you have a large garden to maintain, these models make perfect sense as you only need one engine to power a range of tools. For really tough growth, consider a wheeled trimmer or a field and brush mower. In general, petrol strimmers require more maintenance than electric strimmers.
	Tiller Horsepower is an important factor to consider when choosing a garden tiller. If you\'ll be breaking up a lot of new ground with your tiller, you may want to opt for one that has more horsepower. Conversely, if you will be maintaining garden beds that have already been previously cultivated, then horsepower may not be such an important issue when purchasing. Consider the work you will be doing with your garden tiller. If you are a casual gardener with a vegetable garden and some flower beds, then you should do just fine with a 5 - 6 horsepower tiller. For someone in the market for a tiller for business purposes, such as growing and selling at a Farmers Market, it might be wise to choose a larger horsepower tiller.
	Trees and Hedges It is important to consider the type of tree you plant in your garden, be it a large or small, rural or urban environment. Each tree must suit the soil, climate, exposure elements and water levels. The size and space available is vital to the type of species you should plant - you do not want to have to remove a tree because it has grown too large for its environment. Most hedges are planted for privacy, and therefore evergreen plants are selected. However, sometimes a compromise is made to let the sunlight through in winter months, by planting deciduous specimens.
	Vegetable Garden Range of different vegtables that can be grown in the garden plus items that can be used to improve growth such as fertilizers and pesticides.
	Water Features Adding ponds, waterfalls, and fountains adds a pleasing kinetic dimension to any landscape plan. Water features can be small, off-the-shelf elements, or custom-engineered designs that wind throughout an entire yard. Water features bring sound and movement into your landscape spaces, letting you escape to a more tranquil and cooler feeling environment. Water features can be made of natural or architectural materials. In a country setting, old fermentation barrels invoke a sense of tradition and heritage, while in urban settings a rocky watercourse brings in a touch of nature and wilderness. Pond plants give both fish and birds a source of food while concealing pumps and other equipment.
	Watering Products Garden and lawn irrigation is important in the upkeep of your garden. This section lists products to help. They include hoses and reels, sprinklers, sprayers and accessories.