Archive for Repairs

Book a full service now and save 10% with NO VAT! Offer ends 1st April 2022

Our Winter Service Supersaver offer is back, with a 10% discount on parts and labour, plus FREE isolated local collection and delivery when we service your garden tractor, lawn tractor or ride-on mower.

Due to Covid – 19 this service is in line with Government guidelines. This means collection and delivery will be in isolation and arrangements for payment and delivery without contact will be discussed prior to collection for this service.

The 10% saving is for full services only, on any machine. And now we are no longer VAT registered there’s no VAT added to your bill, making your overall service even cheaper. Our Winter Service Supersaver is always popular so book now to be sure of your 10% saving. And remember, this offer must end on 1st April 2022 .

So what’s included in a WG Gardencare full lawn tractor, ride-on mower or garden tractor service?

The answer is a thorough and meticulous check on every element of your machine including cleaning, lubricating and tuning.

For petrol mowers, for example, we steam clean the machine, strip the carburettor, flush the fuel tank and replace the pull starter cord, fit a new spark plug, replace the air filter, sharpen and balance the blade, check and adjust the drive belt, lubricate the height adjuster and all control levers and cables. Finally, we tighten the engine mounting and handlebar bolts, run and test all machine functions, check the running speed and tune the carburettor. You can find out more about our full service here.

As part of your full service, we also supply a complimentary fuel stabilizer, which means you don’t have to drain the tank prior to storing your machine for the winter – a practical, time-saving touch that’s typical of WG Gardencare’s service.

Why not book your garden tractor or mower in for its full service now to be sure it’s running smoothly and ready to go this spring? Email us now or call us on 01403 283814 and we’ll be happy to help.

Preparing a petrol lawnmower for winter storage

With the growing season coming to a close, you should be looking forward to putting your lawnmower away for the winter. The best time to service your lawn mower is immediately after the last cut of the season. By doing this you will miss the mad rush next spring when everyone else has left it to the last moment to get their lawnmower or ride-on-tractor serviced. Also it is not good to put the mower away for the winter if it is wet and caked in grass clippings as it will cause it to rust and deteriorate.

Have your lawnmower serviced

At WG Gardencare we specialise in servicing and repairing all types of professional and domestic garden machinery including mowers, four and two stroke machines and commercial diesel tractors.

When we service a lawnmower, ride-on-mower or tractor we will look at a whole host of things. For a full list of what is included in our winter service click here. We will collect your mower and return it to you at home once the service is complete. Our Collection and Delivery Service covers West Sussex and Surrey.

So once spring arrives you will be ready to go with only a few spot checks needed.

Check the oil level before use

Once any faults have been repaired as part of the annual service, all you’ll need to do before use is check the oil level using the dipstick and top up if needed.

Clean after use

After use, clean the underside of the mower with a damp cloth to prevent a build-up of grass and rusting. Be sure to tip the mower toward the back of the sump, rather than toward the carburettor. Consult the manual if you’re not sure.

Consider a conditioner

If you’re storing more than one can, you can prolong the life of fresh fuel by adding an ‘additive’ or ‘conditioner’.

Servicing your lawnmower with WG Gardencare

Our comprehensive workshop facilities offer a service – second to none. Our service price is carried out at an hourly rate with free estimates. Please call us on 01403 283814 or email us for a quote. And from the 1st November 2017 until the 1st April 2018 we are giving 10% off our winter service.

Guide to buying a petrol chainsaw

Is a petrol chainsaw right for me?

A petrol chainsaw is a good choice if you have a lot of logs to cut or heavy pruning to tackle in the garden as it will cut through large logs faster than any other machine and you can use it anywhere without the hassle of a trailing power cable.

It will need regular maintenance including:

• Servicing the engine
• Keeping the fuel tank topped up
• Sharpening the cutting teeth
• Keeping the chain at the correct tension

Petrol chainsaws can also be heavy, so it’s worth testing one out before you buy to check whether it’s one you could use comfortably for a reasonable period of time. Consider how you would use a chainsaw for different jobs: pruning branches would involve making single cuts with rests in-between but chopping logs would be a series of vertical cuts in a continual motion.

Petrol chainsaws are noisy, some more than others, but all are likely to irritate the neighbours if you use them constantly and they give off powerful petrol fumes.

Pros: Powerful, portable, great for chopping logs

Cons: High maintenance, noisy, overpowering emissions, expensive

Which petrol chainsaw should I buy?

Petrol chainsaws come in different sizes and power capacities depending on the sort of work they’re designed to do, from pruning the branches of a shrub to felling large trunks.

There are three categories of use:

• domestic
• heavy
• professional

Most of the petrol chainsaws you’ll find in DIY stores and garden centres are designed for domestic use and have a guide bar of 40cm or less and are the best choice for cutting jobs around the garden. Howeverer, choosing a chainsaw isn’t just about cutting. You want a machine that’s easy to use, manoeuvre and maintain.

How does a petrol chainsaw work?

With a petrol chainsaw the engine drives a metal chain, with lots of cutting ‘teeth’, at high speed around an oblong-shaped guide bar. As the spinning chain makes contact with a log or tree trunk, its teeth are dragged along the surface, cutting the wood. The circular motion of the chain keeps the teeth in contact with the wood, so the saw keeps cutting until it has sliced all the way through or the power is stopped.

Most petrol chainsaws have two-stroke engines, which are similar to those used in mopeds or outboard boat engines. It’s worth bearing in mind that a petrol chainsaw’s engine will require regular servicing to keep it in good working order.

Oil and fuel for petrol chainsaws

Petrol chainsaws need a specific mix of petrol and engine oil. Most petrol chainsaws run on a 50:1 petrol-to-oil ratio, but check the user manual for the exact ratio your chainsaw needs.

Petrol chainsaws also need lubricating oil to ensure the chain runs smoothly and doesn’t snag. Look for a chainsaw with an integrated oil chamber that supplies oil automatically, as this will save you time and hassle. Most petrol chainsaw models come with these as standard, but check before you buy.

If you don’t use a petrol chainsaw regularly you must drain it of fuel and oil between uses.

If you have any questions, require help choosing a petrol chainsaw or your chainsaw needs servicing then please contact Jeremy or Graham on 01403 700743 or email us and we will be happy to help.

Caring for your lawn in January and February

General maintenance

Your lawn still needs work in the winter months when you have stored your lawnmower or Ride-on-Tractor away.

If the weather is mild you can lay a new turf or repair hollows and bumps in an existing lawn. For the latter, make a ‘H’ shaped cut in the turf, peel back the grass and either fill the hollow with loam, or scraping away the soil from a bump. Re-lay the turf, press it into place and pinch the cut edges together.

Repair lawn edges, especially around flower and shrub beds, with turf cut from other areas of the lawn.

If your lawn suffers dieback from treading during the wet, muddy season, then laying stepping-stones through it to allow easy access across it without causing damage is a good idea.

Troubleshooting

As the weather gets wetter watch your lawn for signs of waterlogging. If you missed the opportunity to carry out autumn lawn maintenance, then you can still remedy the situation a bit, by spiking the lawn with a garden fork or mechanical aerator. Then fill the holes with a mixture of sharp sand and loam, brushed in using a stiff broom.

In January and February mole activity will increase due to mating and nest (fortress) building. You will need to move the largest molehills and re-firm before overseeding the bare patches in the spring.

Worm casts are particularly troublesome at this time of the year so keep brushing them away so that there is not a build up of soil on the turf surface.

Snow mould can be a problem in wet weather, particularly on overfed and lush lawns that have been left a bit too long. During wet conditions these small patches of yellowish, dying grass become covered in a white or pinkish, cottony fungal growth. The only fungicide available to buy over the counter is Bayer Garden Lawn Disease Control and can be used all year round except when there is a drought or the ground is frozen or covered with snow. However, use should be kept to twice yearly and combined with other non-chemical control methods.

Algae can be a problem on lawns where there is poor drainage, excessive shade, or under the drip-line of trees.

And remember if you have not already had your lawn mower serviced ready for Spring then please give us a call on 01403 700743 to see how we can help or click here for more information.

When is the best time to stop mowing your lawn?

When is the best time to stop mowing your lawn?

There is an Old Wives’ Tale about when to stop mowing your lawn in the winter months. The true is grass does not actually stop growing even when it is really cold, it simply slows down. So the question of when you should stop mowing the grass is more a question of the prevailing weather and ground conditions that quite often prevent you getting onto the lawn when you have the ideal opportunity to mow it.

The factors restricting lawn mowing in the winter months can be –

• Ground frost and snow
• Water logging
• Earthworm casts
• Rain
• Reduced daylight hours
• Temperature
• A heavy lawnmower or ride-on-tractor

The lawn’s growth pattern will naturally slow as the soil and air temperatures reduce. If the air temperature is above 5 degrees centigrade the grass will keep growing. Reflective heat from buildings and localised sheltered microclimates will aid growth and where you live in the UK geographically.

As we are now into the winter months the frequency of mowing will reduce from twice a week or more normally once a week only to once every 10 days then down to once a fortnight and finally down to once a month in December and January. The aim is to literally take the ‘top’ off the lawn, so that means no more than 25% of grass growth at one time. This will keep the lawn tidy and help in the removal of leaf litter and debris.  And mowing the lawn if you are able to a few weeks before Christmas keeps the garden looking neat and tidy ahead of the festive season.

If you have any questions regarding what type of lawn mower, ride-on-mower or tractor you should be using then give us a call on 01403 700743.

How to keep your lawn in good shape this summer

June is upon us so lawn mowing is a regular job in the garden and it may even be necessary to mow your lawn twice a week. With a well-serviced lawnmower or Ride-on-Tractor the job is so much easier. If rainfall is low then water the lawn thoroughly but not too frequently to encourage deep root growth. If weeds are still prevalent then apply a lawn weed treatment when the soil is moist and if clover exists then rake the lawn before mowing.

Mowing the lawn is probably the most well known of all lawn care jobs but it is still carried out incorrectly by many gardeners. To develop and keep a top quality lawn you need to know when and how often you should mow the lawn and with the right lawnmower for your lawn. Mowing too often or at the wrong times can seriously damage the condition of the lawn.

The aim of mowing the lawn should be to keep the grass somewhere in between ‘not to long’ and ‘not to short’. The height of the grass will depend on what you use it for and the aspect of the garden. If the grass is too short then the roots will not receive adequate nutrients and the ability of the lawn to take up these nutrients and water through the roots will decline which in turn will result in poor growth rates and a loss of vigour. Mowing the lawn helps to stimulate side shoot development in the grass and this leads to the build up a dense lawn that has a strong growth rate.

Always aim to mow the lawn when the grass is dry as the blades of the lawn mower will cut the grass better. If you mow the grass when it is wet then the weight of the mower and your footsteps will leave muddy patches and the lawn surface will become compacted when it dry’s out. The grass will find it hard to re-establish itself on these areas.

Remember you can always contact us if you need any advice or help with servicing, repairing or purchasing a new lawnmower or Ride-on-Tractor to keep your lawn in the best condition this summer.

WG Gardencare Machinery Ltd have moved!

WG Gardencare Machinery is pleased to announce that we have moved to Slaughterford Farm, Sumners Ponds, Barns Green, West Sussex.

Our new premises have excellent workshop facilities manned by highly trained mechanics and whether you need your lawnmower or ride on tractor servicing or repairing, we will be able to give you a fast and efficient service. We are happy to give advice on any new purchase and have a variety of lawn mowers, ride on mowers and tractors available to buy.

With an on-site licensed cafeteria by a lake offering meals, snacks or afternoon tea, you can enjoy refreshments while you wait for your machine to be assessed or repaired.

If you are unable to come to us then we offer a collection and delivery service to customers throughout West Sussex and Surrey. Contact us now or call us on 07926 168953 or 01403 283814 and we will be happy to help.

Getting your Lawn Mower ready for winter

Take a bit of time and care to maintain and store your lawn mower or garden tractor properly in the winter, and you will have no problems getting started again in the spring.

How WG Gardencare Machinery Ltd can help.

Although most people can generally care for their Lawnmower or Garden Tractor during the season, many choose the convenience and security of having a professional do the final maintenance service before putting the machine away for the winter. We recommend doing this now, not only to maintain its performance, but also to avoid the spring rush so you are ready to get going when the grass starts to grow in the spring!

At WG Gardencare Machinery Ltd we have excellent workshop facilities and highly trained staff who will take care of all your winter servicing needs. We specialise in servicing and repairing all types of professional and domestic garden machinery including two and four stroke mowers and commercial diesel tractors. Plus we offer a FREE collection and delivery service throughout West Sussex and Surrey.

So contact us today or call 01403 700743 and we will be happy to help.

Autumn Lawn Care – Part 2

As the weather starts to change the grass on your lawn will be growing much more slowly. For this reason it’s important to adjust the cutting height on your lawnmower so the cut is higher. You now only need to mow about once a fortnight but this will depend on whether we continue to have such mild days and nights! As always, maintain your mower in good condition and keep the blades sharp. Contact us if your lawn mower needs a service or blades sharpening on 01403 700743.

Feeding & Conditioning

Feeding your lawn in the Autumn will depend on how much wear and tear it has had over the Summer but an Autumn lawn feed and moss killer will provide your lawn with the essential nutrients it needs to strengthen itself for winter, as well as killing any moss that is present. If weeds also need to be controlled there are plenty of products at your garden centre that combine both feeding, weeding and killing moss all in one treatment.

Overseeding

Depending on the wear and tear that the lawn has received over the previous months you may want to overseed the lawn in early autumn. By using a combination of lawn and turf dressing with an equal quantity of grass seed this mixture can then be brushed gently into the surface of the lawn. The grass seed will germinate ahead of the winter frosts and produce a thicker, healthier lawn next spring.

Topdressing

If your lawn has become uneven then topdressing will even out any low areas. A rate of 1 – 3 kg per square metre will be sufficient when brushed into the lawn surface especially in lower areas. It is a good idea to add a top dressing to help fill in any thin areas and it is always best to carry out topdressing when the lawn is dry. Topdressing also helps break down thatch and aids drainage.

The effort put into a lawn in autumn will improve the quality and health of the lawn and ensures it will look its best right through the following year.

Edging

To recut your lawn edges use a half moon edging iron to create a neat finish. You will need to trim the lawn edges every week using lawn-edging shears to give a neat finish. For more information on sharpening or repairing lawn-edging shears contact us now.

August lawn maintenance

During August raise the blades on your lawnmower before cutting fine lawns. This will help reduce drought stress.

Mow lightly and frequently so that short grass clippings can remain on the lawn during hot days to act as a moisture-retentive mulch. Excess thatch can be scarified out during autumn maintenance next month. Mulching lawn mowers cut the clippings even finer than normal rotary blades, making the mulch less visible.

If your lawn is on thin soil it may benefit from a high phosphate feed. This will strengthen the roots for winter, rather than encouraging lush top growth that could suffer in the cold and weaken the grass.

Avoid using lawn weedkillers in late summer – they will be more effective in the cooler, damper autumn weather.

Dig over any areas due to be grassed over later in the year. Leave them for a few weeks to allow weeds to re-emerge, and then spray with a weedkiller or hoe off to ensure thorough weed clearance before seeding or laying turf in the autumn.

Summer meadows may need mowing now if they have past their season of interest, especially in areas of the country where autumn comes earlier. In warmer parts of the UK, spring and early summer meadows that have extended their period of interest well into the summer could be cut now if not done already.

Do get in touch by emailing us or calling us on 01403 700743 with any questions about Lawn Mowers, Ride-On Lawn Mowers and Tractors or any aspect of garden machinery, garden tractor or lawnmower sales, repairs or service.

Lawn advice courtesy of The Royal Horticultural Society www.rhs.org.uk