Garden Care is provided by Efco - 'our power, your passion'.

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Tree and hedge maintenance
Lawn care
Protection of plants, hedges and lawns
High Pressure Cleaning
Soil cultivation
Special jobs
Protective clothing
Accessories

Garden Machines Ltd offers a wide range of machinery to suit all users. Allowing them to complete their gardening tasks with a prefessional finish. Browse our site to find out more about what we do and what makes Garden Machines Ltd the first place you should visit for all your domestic and professional gardening needs.

Tree and hedge maintenance:

Pruning trees
 
The beauty of a garden is reflected primarily in the show of flourishing, healthy plants it contains. Be they evergreen or deciduous, fruit-bearing or ornamental, trees are a fundamental feature, whether of large landscaped areas and parks or small town gardens, as they generate perspective depth, create intimate and inviting corners, and give shade in summer. Trees and plants need to be tended carefully and treated continuously: so here are a few thoughts on the more important operations involved in ensuring they are properly looked after.

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Why, how and when to prune?
 
There are several reasons why trees and plants need pruning: to check excessive growth; to control the development of grafted plants (fruit-bearing or ornamental); to promote flowering or fruiting; to give new life to ageing or weakened plants; to clear away dead branches that have died off or are growing irregularly, and thus control the shape of the plant; to correct imbalances caused by previous pruning; and to favour the outcome of a transplantation, reducing leaf transpiration.

Pruning requires skill and patience; it is important to keep the harmony and growth of the tree in mind, avoiding injudicious and harmful actions such as indiscriminate cutting. Pruning must be done at the proper time and in proper proportion – according to the type of plant – but equally, using the right technique: in effect, the cut should be clean and made obliquely, near to a bud or a knot, preferably on branches of smaller rather than large diameter.

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Care of hedges and collection of leaves
 
Hedges help to increase the amount of green that meets the eye. They have a significant influence on the personality of a garden, not least as they can be fashioned into attractive and original shapes. Essential operations in any maintenance programme include periodic thinning out of unduly dense growth, so that air can circulate at the centre of the foliage and strengthen the base of the plant; also keeping the outer surface compact by frequently trimming new growth, being careful at the same time not to take too much off and open up unsightly and “holes” that can be harmful to the plant; and removing dry or damaged growth, especially in spring and autumn.

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Growing and keeping a luxuriant hedge
 
Before planting a hedge, care must be taken to plot the position of trees or shrubs so as to ensure compliance with legal constraints and with any pertinent local regulations. The best time to plant a hedge is between the beginning of autumn and the beginning of spring. To cultivate a full hedge of the desired shape, the single bushes or shrubs must be planted close together, and it will be necessary to trim the topmost branches from the second year of growth onwards, so as to encourage the growth of buds on the lower branches. To achieve satisfying results and work in safety, these are jobs that need to be done using the right machines. The hedgetrimmer is designed for accuracy; it offers the kind of clean and sharp cut needed in order to obtain the desired visual effect and safeguard the health of the plant.

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Cleaning up leaves and other debris
 
Lawns and paths can be kept clear of leaves, twigs and all kinds of debris using blowers and vacuum cleaners, offered in hand-held and backpack versions. From appliances available currently on the market, users can find the technological solution best able to meet their particular operating requirements. These are specific purpose machines, easy to handle, that will get the job done simply, swiftly and quietly. Certain models of blower, generally with an internal combustion engine, can be converted easily to operate as vacuum cleaners by fitting a special collection kit, with a blade by which vacuumed material is chopped up to reduce the volume when inside the bag. They can also be equipped with anti-vibration systems that isolate the engine from the handgrips and the body of the machine, significantly reducing the level of vibration transmitted to the operator when in use.

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Lawn care:

Looking after the lawn
 
A lush, green lawn is an object of desire for anyone who has a garden. In effect, a healthy expanse of turf enhances the appearance of open spaces surrounding a home. Like plants and flowers, any lawn requires tending and treating continuously: and with a little effort, it can be kept in perfect shape, year in and year out. So here is a quick guide to the more important jobs that need doing through the course of the year to ensure proper upkeep of the lawn.

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Mowing
 
Cutting the grass is not just an enjoyable pastime. It is also an operation absolutely essential to the health of the lawn: mowing must be done at the right time, in the proper way and using suitable equipment. It is important to remember that mowing – which should wait until the winter is definitely over – must be done frequently, to favour new growth: every 10-15 days at first, then once a week or thereabouts (right through the summer). For ornamental lawns, the height of the grass should be, on average, about 3 cm in spring and autumn and 5 cm in summer.

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Watering
 
It is important that the turf receives the right amount of moisture at all times during the year, as dictated by the weather conditions and the nature of the soil.

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Fertilization
 
The soil is not an inexhaustible reservoir of nutrients, and will be impoverished further by mowing: fertilizers are essential as a means of restoring nutrient substances to the soil. It is important to select products specifically for lawns, enabling a slow release of nitrogen and preferably mineral-organic in formulation. The lawn should be fertilized regularly all the year round, except in winter, selecting the products best suited to each respective period. Always keep to the dosages indicated, and be careful to spread the product uniformly.

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Controlling weeds and moss
 
Weeds not only degrade the appearance of a lawn, they also cause damage. The remedies to adopt will depend on the type of weeds: having identified the problem, consult a specialist, who will be able to indicate the weedkillers best able to combat the situation. Moss grows on damp soils, wherever moisture tends to linger. The ideal solution would be to prevent its growth by digging and working peat or silver sand into the soil before seeding, to create a soft and permeable bed. Where moss has taken hold, on the other hand, the soil needs to be treated with suitable products, such as ferrous sulphate; having removed the dead moss, make holes in the soil, spread sand and peat, and apply a complex fertilizer to revive the turf.

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Mulching

In addition to the benefits for the lawn, mulching helps solve the problem of how to dispose of grass clippings, as these are simply chopped up finely and spread over the turf.

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What is mulching?

In the case of lawns, this is a technique whereby the grass clippings from mowing are used as nutrient for the turf. Thanks to the use of a special blade and a plug that closes off the discharge duct, grass clippings continue to circulate beneath the mower deck when cut. The particles are chopped finer and finer, and spread uniformly over the lawn, decomposing ultimately and acting as a natural fertilizer. With mulching, the lawn benefits from an invaluable application of organic and nutritional substances – also of moisture, to prevent it from drying out – and, last but not least, there are no waste disposal problems.

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Protection of plants, hedges and lawns:
 
Watering of plants, hedges and lawns

Proper, regular watering is a fundamental aspect of looking after plants and greenery. During spring and summer, in particular, plants, hedges and lawns need a supply of water sufficient, and carefully gauged, to ensure that the roots do not dry out and the growth will remain green and lush.
 
In the case of lawns, especially, water should be distributed uniformly and rained in fine droplets. If newly seeded, the lawn needs to be kept moist on the surface, and should therefore be sprinkled 2-3 times a day with moderate amounts of water.
 
As the grass begins to grow, it will need to be watered more abundantly and less often, so that the water can penetrate well down into the soil. A mature lawn – well into spring, especially during dry spells – can be well watered every 4 or 5 days. The best time to water is undoubtedly in the early morning, as the soil cools down during the night and early watering will avoid thermal shock; also because when the sun is high, moisture will evaporate too quickly. When the lawn is particularly dry, it is advisable to water sparingly at first, and then increase the amount by stages.
 
In the case of plants and hedges, in particular, it is best that the water used should never be too cold: sprayers or lances are ideal for delivering atomized water at the most suitable temperatures.

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High Pressure Cleaning:
 
Effortless cleaning of outdoor areas

Where cleaning need to be thorough and effortless — not least on difficult surfaces exposed to weathering agents, or manual work areas that are habitually splashed and soiled — the ideal solution is undoubtedly a high-pressure washer.
 
The power of water and the force of pressure guarantee levels of hygiene and optimum cleanliness far superior to those obtainable with purely manual methods.
 
Depending on the model selected, and on the rated power, the high-pressure washer can be used to clean outdoor areas such as balconies, porticos, pavements and garden paths, also garages and car ports, even trucks and tankers.

These are handy, tough and dependable appliances that will restore moss-encrusted walkways, benches and steps to their original state, and are also useful for preparing walls to receive paint.
 
High-pressure washers are an irreplaceable aid when tackling marks and stains of the most stubborn kind, such as accumulations of sludge, rust, dirt and debris, which can be removed in a fraction of the time that would be involved using purely manual methods.

Useful in town, and no less effective in the country, the high-pressure washer will make short work of cleaning out stalls, chicken runs and barnyard areas, showing its true colours as a labour-saving device.

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Soil cultivation:

Working the soil effectively

Rotary tillers are a great help to owners or keepers of vegetable/flower gardens and smallholdings. Rugged, but at the same time easy to use, these are the perfect machines for preparing even the most unyielding and neglected soils, with future grass or crop seeding in view. Ideal for market gardening operations or on medium sized plots of land, they are just as advantageous, thanks to their ease of handling, for working the soil in confined spaces or around low-growing plants, typically in vineyards.

Earth augers, on the other hand, are used to sink holes for vines or plants, greenhouse uprights and lamp-posts. They feature high resistance to mechanical stresses under even the toughest conditions and in all operating positions, and are capable of tackling the most difficult of tasks in the hardest of soils.
These are machines that can be used to advantage for a variety of jobs, like anchoring beach umbrellas at bathing resorts, and by home-owners who need to erect palings, hoardings or fences as quickly as possible.

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Special jobs:

Transportation of bulky materials
 
A transporter is the ideal vehicle for construction and agricultural duties involving the movement of bulky and heavy loads over sloping or rough terrain. Designed to stringent quality standards, these machines offer top performance in terms of carrying capacity, matchless long-term reliability and a high level of operator safety even on steep gradients. A tight steering radius ensures unrestricted freedom of manoeuvre around building sites or in greenhouses and vineyards.

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Cutting tough materials

Power cutters are used by construction and road surfacing professionals for the most demanding of applications: cutting asphalt, concrete and metals. These machines have powerful engines, and a multilayer filter system designed especially to ensure smooth operation even in dust-laden environments.
 
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Protective clothing:

Working calmly and efficiently: the peace of mind that comes from safety.

Operator safety is one of the top priorities for manufacturers of gardening machines. PPE, personal protective equipment, is design to improve levels of safety.

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Accessories:

Accessories and spare parts, the value of being original.

To ensure machines will give long service and stay effective throughout, always use original spare parts and accessories: a certain way to continue reaping the benefits of performance and safety standards offered by chainsaws, lawnmowers, brushcutters, garden tractors and other garden machinery.

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