Dealer Hints and Tips

The change of season always brings a host of exciting new ideas for your garden, so we've put together some handy hints and tips from our Approved Dealers to get your garden looking its best this season. At STIHL we firmly believe that our products are only as good as the people who sell them. That's why our dealers are carefully selected for their knowledge and expertise and will show you the tools that will get your garden looking rosy. They are always on-hand to answer questions you might have about servicing, spare parts or accessories.

Lush lawn

Dan Bryce - Lamberhurst Engineering Ltd
When it comes to getting the best finish for your lawn make sure you only take one third off the grass length. Also remember that a healthy mower leads to a healthy lawn, so clean the underside of your mower deck on a regular basis to keep your mower in tip top condition.

Water it

Nigel Gardiner - Goodrowes of Chichester
It's best to only extensively water your lawn once a week. A good way to check if you've watered enough is to put a jam jar on the lawn whilst watering. You'll want the water to collect about 13mm (1/2in) in the jar which is the optimum amount to avoid wasting water while still wetting the roots thoroughly.

Keep it trim

Dan Bryce - Lamberhurst Engineering Ltd
If you find yourself using your hedge trimmer regularly, start using STIHL's resin solvent, to help stop the build-up of sap, which can harden and clog the blades and hamper performance. The resin also provides lubrication and corrosion protection to give the best cutting performance.

Top Tip

Christian Cherry - Cherrys Country Hardware
If you're having problems with your grass trimmer line breaking too easily, there is a tip to help remedy this. Pop your line into a bucket of water overnight; the line will absorb some of the water and become more flexible and longer lasting.

Stay Safe

Peter Massey - Masseys DIY
Put safety first when using a chainsaw and wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job at hand. The new ranges of STIHL PPE mean working safely has never been more comfortable. Your local STIHL dealer will be able to advise you on what PPE is most suitable for the tool and the task.

Get Ready

Peter Massey - Masseys DIY
A full service before spring is always a great idea, but it's never too late to get your mower serviced so it's in top condition to take you through the spring and summer months. A full tank of MotoPlus, the high performance fuel from VIKING, will ensure your mower is ready to tackle your lawn. It will also increase the service life and performance of your mower due to the largely smoke-free combustion, protecting valves and pistons.

Tidy Up

Christian Cherry - Cherrys Country Hardware
Spring cleaning is a common theme this season and this job can be made easier with the help of a long reach hedge trimmer. This tool allows you to save time by reaching tall, hard-to-reach hedges safely from the ground.

Check It Up

Rebecca Lloyd - Charlies Stores
Spring is the perfect time to trim the hedges but just make sure that there are no birds' nests lurking. It is illegal to knowingly disturb nests containing eggs or chicks so it's always good to check before starting to trim. When using a hedge trimmer, it's best to start at the base of the hedge and work upwards in a smooth, continuous movement.

Get Sharp

Rebecca Briant - Briants of Risborough
Early spring is the perfect time to give your tools a clean and sharpen ready for the months of gardening work ahead. It's important to care for your gardening tools as it not only helps to preserve them but also helps to improve their performance making them easier to work with. To help maintain gardening tools, it's always best to use a STIHL resin solvent to remove the build-up of sap. Check out the range of STIHL secateurs, shears and pruning saws at our website, or for more advice speak to your local STIHL & VIKING Approved Dealer.