Before you get the steaks and veggie burgers
ready, there's a few things to think about to help
you get the best out of your outdoor cooking.

Your choice of barbecue will depend on how many
people you're likely to be cooking for and how you
want your BBQ to be fuelled - charcoal,
gas or electric.

Please see below for handy tips and all-important
safety information.

For up to 4 people, a 2-burner gas
BBQ, small electric or charcoal BBQ,
or a kettle BBQ are ideal.

For up to 6 people you'll need a 3-4-burner gas
BBQ, medium-sized charcoal BBQ or best of
all, a barrel BBQ.

For larger parties, your best options are either
a 6 burner gas BBQ with side burner or a large
charcoal BBQ.

Charcoal is the traditional fuel used for barbecuing
and grilling food and gives you a really authentic
chargrilled taste.

You need to light your charcoal BBQ
at least 45 minutes before you start cooking to
make sure it reaches the right temperature.
(when the charcoal turns white).

Charcoal fuelled barbecues generally cost less
than gas powered ones, so they're an affordable
choice.

You can only use BBQs outdoors and in a well ventilated
area, making sure that you don't position them near
or under any combustible surface. Never move a BBQ
once it's lit and always keep children and pets well away
from them.

Don't use spirit or petrol for lighting your gas BBQ, only
firelighters that comply with EN1860-3 are safe to use.

These can be lit instantly and heat up fast,
so you can be cooking quickly. Gas gives you
consistent heat with temperature control at
your fingertips.

Multiple burners let you cook different foods at
different temperatures and a side burner is
great for cooking food like fried eggs and potatoes
which you can't cook on the main grill.

You'll need to buy or hire a gas bottle to use your
Gas BBQ. Your BBQ user guide will show you
whether you need to use Propane Gas (sold in
red bottles) or Patio Gas (green bottles).

You can only use BBQs outdoors and in
a well-ventilated area, making sure that you don't
position them near or under any combustible
surface.

Never move a BBQ once it's lit and always
keep children and pets well away from them.
Always carefully inspect the hose for cuts,
cracks or excessive wear before you use it.
If the hose is damaged, you must replace it with
a new one that's suitable for use with Liquefied
Petroleum Gas.

You need to make sure that the barbecue
is completely cool before you put the covers
on or storing it away.

Outdoor heating is great for extending those
summer evenings on the patio.

We have lots of great information to help you
decide what type of outdoor heating will be perfect
for your garden and your lifestyle and all-important
safety information below.

Perfect for any size garden and especially good for
smaller back yards, patios or decking areas.
They stay warm for hours after the fire has gone
out - perfect for keeping warm well into the night.

Choose a traditional cast-iron chimenea or a lighter,
more portable clay model. Clay chimineas need
to be kept dry, so it's a good idea to invest in a cover.

Look out for a chimenea with a cooking grill
if you want to heat and eat.

You can only use chimeneas and fire pits outdoors
and they need to be placed on a level fireproof
surface for safety and stability.

Choose your location carefully as chimeneas can
be heavy and can crack when moved around often.

Build small fires when first using a chimenea or fire
pit (they'll withstand larger fires once they're
seasoned). If flames come out
of the chimenea, your fire is too big. Keep water
handy in case you need to put the fire out.

Use pre-cut chimenea wood such as Easy logs
or cut larger logs down to size. Never use lighter
fuel or any other type of flame
enhancing material.

These are the easiest way to heat your outdoor
space - just plug in and switch on for instant heat.

Whilst they might not provide such a traditional
look as chimeneas, they are incredibly convenient
and you don't have to worry about starting a fire
from scratch.

Always follow the manufacturer's guide when using
your electrical heater and treat it just like any other
electrical appliance, keeping water well away from
it. Never, ever, ever use an electric heater in the rain.

Replace bulbs when necessary/as required and
always store your heater away or use a protective
cover when it's not in use.

Keep the cable that connects your heater to the
power outlet safely tucked away to avoid any
accidental trips and falls.

Relatively quick to heat up and easy to use,
most gas heaters come with a control knob so you
can easily and quickly adjust the level of heat
up or down to suit.

You need to buy your BP or calor gas separately
to fuel your gas heater.

Always follow the manufacturer's guide when using
your gas heater, and never use it indoors.

Carefully inspect the hose for cuts, cracks or
excessive wear before each use.

Be careful to place your outdoor heater on level,
firm ground and always switch off the gas supply
when your heater is not in use.

Here's a few things to think about to help you
decide the type of garden building that's best
for your garden and your lifestyle.

Plus handy tips about planning and
preparation.

Overlap sheds tend to be
more rustic in style with
timbers overlapping each
other to let rainwater run-off.
They usually cost less than
shiplap sheds. Most wooden
sheds come with thin, durable
wooden flooring known as OSB
(Oriented Stand Board).

Tongue and Groove sheds
have slightly thicker,
interlocking timbers to reduce
cracks. Most wooden sheds
come with thin, durable
wooden flooring
(often referred to as 'Shiplap' ).

Our wooden sheds are available in a range
of sizes to suit most gardens. Please make sure
the shed you want will fit in the space available
and gives you the storage space you need.

Door size is important depending on what you
need to get through the door. They come in single and
double door options.

Most sheds come with one or two windows
(two windows will give you the best light
if this is what you need). Security sheds have
no windows and are perfect for keeping
things safely out of view.

Wooden sheds have either an overlap or tongue-and-groove
structure (often referred to as shiplap).

Overlap sheds tend to be more rustic in style with
timbers overlapping each other to let rainwater run-off.
They usually cost less than shiplap sheds.

Tongue-and-Groove sheds have slightly thicker,
interlocking timbers to reduce cracks. Most wooden sheds
come with thin, durable wooden flooring known
as OSB (Oriented Stand Board).

Shed timber is treated to protect against rot and insect damage.
Dip-treated timber is finished with a factory applied surface
treatment which needs to be renewed every year.

Sheds with a pressure treated finish (where the treatment
is forced into the timber at high pressure in a vacuum chamber)
will resist rot and insect damage for many years.

Our metal sheds are available in a range
of sizes to suit most gardens. They don't
have windows, so they're an ideal choice
for use as a security shed.

Metal sheds are maintenance free, they're made
from hot dipped galvanised steel with a baked on
weather - and insect repellent, permanent
colour finish so there's no need to paint and no
need to apply preservatives. And because they're
fully galvanised, they won't rust.

Our plastic sheds have no windows, so they're
a great choice as a security shed.

Our Skylight range features unique Skylight
roof panels, which illuminate the shed with soft,
natural sunlight but remain opaque from
the outside.

Skylight plastic sheds are made from durable,
virtually unbreakable polycarbonate panels.
They have a durable and rust-resistant aluminium
frame plus an anti-slip floor designed with your
safety in mind.

Skylight sheds are maintenance free and can
be washed with no rusting, rotting or peeling and
there's no painting needed.

They're also 100% recyclable and eco-friendly.

We have a variety of different sized greenhouses
from a compact 4x2ft lean-to for the enthusiastic
beginner or a garden with little space. Or for the
best of both worlds, choose the glorious 12x10ft
orangery that can double as a greenhouse or sun room.

You'll want to place your greenhouse where it'll
catch the best of the sunshine. Please make
sure you map out space carefully, so you pick
the correct size for your garden and to get a
good idea of how it will fill the space.

Our greenhouses are available in green, silver
or black, and all of them use Polycarbonate
glazing instead of glass. So they're virtually
unbreakable and shatterproof.

All sheds need to be constructed on a suitable base, which must be complete before you start
assembling your shed. We recommend that you consider anchoring your outdoor building (especially greenhouses)
to make sure they're secure during bad weather. Anchoring kits are available to buy separately.

All of our outdoor buildings require a minimum of 2 adults to do the assembly. Assembly options are available for some
of our sheds with details shown on product pages.

Securely anchor the shed to wood
or concrete. Included in the price.

Assemble base frame. Base frame
can be bought, or made from
concrete, wood, gravel or any
other perfectly level surface,
provided the shed can be anchored
securely.

Assemble and position
corner posts, mid-way
bracing and wall panels.

Two people are needed to
assemble the shed.

Assemble the roof in
one piece using the fibre
washers with each
screw to ensure no
leaky roofs.

Two people can lift the
whole roof in one piece.
Secure it, then add
the doors.

An assembly option is available for some of our sheds. Details are shown on the product pages.
The size of the shed base is given for each shed size; please see the measuring guide below.

These "hover" on a cushion of air to glide on the top of
the grass. They're easy to use and manoeuvre -
great for use on uneven surfaces and around corners.
They're easy to store with a folding handle so
you can just hang them in a shed or your garage wall.

A horizontally rotating blade cuts the grass like a
scythe, collecting or dropping clippings as it goes.
Hover mowers work best on shorter grass

Ideal for most grass lengths and adjustable to cut
long or short grass with a tidy finish. They come
with adjustable cutting height, removable grass
clipping box and a built-in roller for a classic
striped finish. You can choose, electric or petrol-
driven models, manual or self-propelled for
easier operation on larger lawns.

You'll need a mower that's light, compact, manoeuvrable
and easy to store. An electric mower with 30-33cm
cutting width or a hand cylinder mower are good options.

Choose an electric mower with 35-40cm cutting width.
If your lawn is a long way away from a power socket,
choose a small petrol mower. They start at about 40
cm wide.

Look out for a petrol lawnmower with a cutting width of
46cm or more. Choose self-propelled if you want to
take the hard work out of pushing or a self-start version
if you think you could struggle with a starter cord.
Hybrids are also suitable for large lawns - mow using
the battery for areas that are difficult to reach or
lack a power source. Switch to corded for closer use.

The most popular type of lawnmower and easy to
maintain, fairly light and easy to use, giving you
constant power in use. Ideal for small to medium
sized gardens.

Ideal for medium to large areas and able to tackle
the largest mowing tasks. You're not tied to a power
source and your petrol mower can generally cope
with longer grass, due to its extra power. They're
noisier than other types of lawnmower and do
require maintenance.

These have both battery and corded power,
combining the convenience of corded operation
with plugged in power. Just switch to suit.

Ideal for fine lawns, providing a fine cut. They're
lightweight and compact and easy to store in
a garage, shed or suitable cupboard.

Please read the manufacturer's instructions
before using your lawnmower.

Before you mow, remove stones and thicker twigs
and branches that could fly up to hurt you
or damage the blades and mower.

Never use an electric lawnmower in wet weather.
You need to check the socket outlet has RCD
protection and test the RCD to make sure it's working.

Keep your electric mower's trailing cable away
from the direction you're cutting.

Always switch off (and unplug if it's an electric mower)
and make sure the blades are still before lifting
the mower to remove jammed clippings or
empty the grass box.

Make sure you use and store petrol safely.

Keep children and animals well away when you're mowing.

Please check the features below to help you find the
right tool to transform your hedge.

Blade lengths range from 14 to 30 inches with
long blades of 22 to 30 inches providing
extended reach for taller or wider hedges. The
longer the blade the more hedges you can cut in
one stroke, and the quicker you can complete
the job. However longer blades need more
power and heavier motors so you may need to
decide between power and ease of use.

This indicates the space
between teeth and the
maximum thickness the
trimmer can cut through, e.g.
20mm blade width will be
able to cut through a
maximum 20mm branch.

The larger the blade size,
the heavier the hedge
trimmer will be.
Please make sure it feels
comfortable as you will be
holding it for long periods of
time at awkward angles.

Ideal for trimming smaller hedges and bushes, portable,
cordless garden power tools run on rechargeable batteries,
so there are no trailing leads.

These trimmers are larger, heavier machines, great if you
have large or overgrown hedges far from a power source.
They are noisy, create exhaust fumes and can be tiring
to use for long periods.

These trimmers have a lump on the bottom of the
head, which releases more line when its 'bumped' on
the ground, allowing you to control the line feed.

These trimmers feed out line automatically as the line
gets shorter, for continuous use.

These put you in control of the feed as you need to
pull out more line when you need it.

Allows you to reach in a
comfortable trimming
position, extend to suit
your height.

You can change the angle of
the head to cut horizontal
standing grass or grass
against a wall, or cut
vertically against a path or
soil border, without having to
change handle position.

Ideal for trimming and edging smaller garden areas.
Corded trimmers have more power than cordless
trimmers but are less portable. These come in various
sizes from small, light trimmers to large garden
clearance machines.

Ideal for trimming and edging smaller garden areas,
portable, cordless garden power tools run on
rechargeable batteries, so there are no trailing leads.

Fantastic for clearing heavy undergrowth and larger
gardens. Unlike battery operated models, these tools
don't need charging - just fill up and go.

For your safety, any garden tool should be used with
the correct safety gear, especially chainsaws. Always
read the safety instructions provided.

Before removing any trees you must check with your
local authority for any preservation orders that may be
in place. A qualified professional should carry out any
advanced tree surgery.

The length of the chain saw's cutting blade is known as the chain bar.
This should be longer than the piece of wood being cut, so
look for a longer chain bar if you have thicker
wood to cut.

If you need a big displacement saw for one job, move to a smaller
saw for lighter duty jobs as you will tire easy and sawing
can become dangerous.

Electric saws are great for smaller projects and less
experienced people. They're quieter than petrol
models, are lightweight, easy to start and require less
maintenance. However, they have less power than
petrol saws and you do need to be careful with the
trailing cord.

These chainsaws are larger, heavier machines,
essential for larger gardens, as they don't need
mains electricity. However, they do need regular topping
up so you'll need to have a supply of petrol/oil mix
readily available.

• For cutting safely make sure the chainsaw bar length is
  longer than the diameter of the wood.


• Check that the kick back guard is in the forward position
  when you are cutting, pull towards the handle and your
  chain should rotate freely. The back guard plastic is there
  as a safety measure.


• Applying extreme force can damage the chainsaw; just
  let the tool do the cutting.


• And please make sure that the chain has stopped
  rotating before putting the tool down.


• Don't cut above your or anyone else's head, as gravity
  will affect your control of the tool.

Lighter than a garden vac, a blower is handy if you
have a lot of leaves to collect, as you don't have to
keep emptying them. You can use the tool to direct
leaves to an area where you can easily collect them,
near your garden waste bin or compost heap.

A garden vac collects the leaves, shreds and deposits
them into a bag to be emptied. Some have the option
to shred or mulch the leaves. You can easily put this
into your garden waste bin or your compost heap.

These give you the best of both worlds by utilising
both the Blower and Vacuum functions in one handy
unit. Some also have a shredding/mulching option
which saves space in the bag and
means less emptying.

You will need to ensure your cable is long enough to
reach your entire garden or have the correct
extension leads. Lighter in weight and quieter than
petrol models, these are great for smaller garden
areas.

These Blower/Vacs are larger heavier machines but
are a must if you're out and about in larger gardens,
as they don't need mains electricity and can
be used anywhere.

These shred small branches, shrubs, hedge pruning
and leaves into wood chips and compact pile for
easier disposal or composting.

There are two main types of shredder:
impact and roller models - also known as rapid and
quiet shredders.

These shredders have a crushing mechanism, either
with a toothed wheel against a metal plate, or a
corkscrew mechanism. They work really well on wood
only branches to produce wood chips. The Toothed wheel
shredders have an adjustment point that is used to
ensure that your shredder is working to the maximum.
The roller action draws material through the machine,
which can make it easy to shred lots of material, but
also tends to get blocked by greener,
more fibrous material.

These have a disk that spins at high speed with a
blade attached. These shredders can deal with green
foliage and are better suited to thinner branches. The
blades attached to the disk need to be replaced
as they wear. These shredders are noisier than the roller
models.

You'll need some basic personal protective equipment
to use a shredder safely: goggles, gloves and ear-defenders.

A scarifier cuts the surface of the turf, removing
thatch and allowing air to reach the grass roots;
this job should be done once a year.

These are a lot more heavy duty than scarifiers.
A cultivator is used in areas such as allotments
or vegetable plots, where you need to
break down the soil.

The ultimate multipurpose garden tool, brilliant for
various tasks such as cleaning patios, paving,
landscaping, cars, bikes and tools.

A pressure washer, or high pressure cleaner, draws
water from a hosepipe, pumps it up to a high pressure
and then releases it through a small gap in the nozzle.
At higher pressure the water can force dirt and
grime away that would otherwise be difficult
to remove. Because the water is at pressure, it
doesn't take much water to complete the job.

So which pressure washer is right for you?

• Barbecue grill
• Garden Furniture
• Small decks & patio
• Lawn mower
• Mountain bike
• Conservatory

• Car
• Driveway
• Decking & patio
• Exterior wall
• Conservatory
• Caravan

• Exterior wall/siding
• Large car/truck
• Kennel
• Machinery
• Large boat/yacht
• Rust/paint/graffiti

Please check you have the right cord length for you garden. If you have a large garden you may need an extension lead.
Leads come in various sizes to suit your garden power tool.
For your safety, please make sure you have a residual current dervice (RCD) to protect
Any power sockets you'll use, and test it regularly.

There are two battery type availabe Nickel cadmium (NiCad) & Lithium-ion.
Batteries will need to be charged for 4 - 6 hours before first use.

Nickel cadmium - Batteries are normally cheaper and jeavier than the Lithium batteries.

Lithium-ion - These tend to be smaller and lighter with virtually no self-discharge, so you can store a lithium-ion
battery for months without losing charge.

Please ensure you use the correct petrol to oil mix; otherwise you could damage your tool.
Please check the tools user guide for further information.