Five things to check on your petrol mower before the long rains

If your mower has been sitting in a shed for a while, give it a quick check before starting it again. Takes about half an hour and can save you a trip to the repair shop.

Drain the old fuel and put fresh in. Old petrol goes bad and clogs things up. Change the oil while you are at it. Pull out the air filter and clean it or replace it if it looks worn out. Check the spark plug too and swap it if the tip is black or damaged.

Last, look at the blade. If it is dull or chipped, sharpen it or bring it in to us. A sharp blade cuts clean. A dull one tears the grass and your lawn ends up looking brown.

Drip systems have a reputation for being expensive. They do not have to be. You can set one up for a medium-sized garden bed with parts from our range without spending much.

The idea is simple: a main water line connects to your tap through a timer. Smaller tubes branch off to individual drippers at the base of each plant. The timer waters automatically, morning and evening, so you do not have to think about it.

The main thing people get wrong is water pressure. Too high and the fittings pop off. Too low and nothing comes out. Our starter kit comes with a pressure reducer that handles most normal tap setups. If you are running off a rooftop tank, you may need the tank raised a bit for gravity to do the work.

Older gardeners tend to like these because there is no standing around with a hose. Set it up once, check the drippers now and then, and that is about it.