• Several factors should be considered when choosing the right lawnmower: the size of the area to be mown, whether there are slopes in the area, whether the area that needs to be mown is easily accessible, and whether there are any obstacles. The power and speed of a lawnmower are mainly determined by power and RPM. The larger the area, the more powerful lawnmower is required.
• The cutting height of most lawnmowers can be adjusted. By doing so, the distance between the blades and the ground can be either increased or reduced to cut the grass at the desired height. Some lawnmowers allow you to set the exact cutting height you need; others have a standard height option.
• Lawnmowers vary in width as well as cutting height. If there is a lot of greenery in the garden or yard, a smaller cutting width may be more suitable. In other cases, a wider cutting width will be better. The cutting width usually varies from 30 to 55 cm or more.
• When choosing the most appropriate lawnmower, you should check whether it’s the right size for the storage space, for instance, that it will fit through the doorway, etc. before you buy it.
• Different types of lawnmowers are available on the market. If there is an outlet near the lawn and the lawn is not large, an electric lawnmower is the best option.
• When selecting a battery-powered lawnmower, the battery must be charged before each use. For relatively large areas, you must consider where the battery might run out.
• Battery-powered lawnmowers have several advantages. They are much more comfortable, comparatively smaller in size and therefore easier to move around. Please note that the battery can often be used for other equipment.
• To help you choose, the advantages and disadvantages of the four main types of lawnmowers are provided below.

• Lawns should preferably be mown in dry weather when there is no dew on the lawn. In wet weather, the grass discharge chute can become blocked, putting extra load on the electric motor and requiring more time to clean the chute.
• Overgrown grass and areas that are difficult to access with a lawnmower should preferably be cut with a trimmer.
• If the lawn is irregular in shape and contains greenery and flowerbeds, it is advisable to divide the area to be mown into sections to avoid repeatedly passing over areas that have already been mown.

Safety first!

To protect yourself and others, safety precautions must be observed when using a lawnmower!

• Read the user manual before using the lawnmower.
• Wear protective gloves, goggles, sturdy shoes and trousers when using a lawnmower or trimmer.
• Fuel must be added before starting the engine, not when it is running or hot.
• The lawnmower must not be left unattended while it is in operation.
• Never touch the lawnmower blade with your hands or feet, even when the engine is switched off. If the blade is blocked with debris, the blade can move quickly after clearing it and cause serious injury.

• The lawnmower blades need to be sharpened regularly. Mowing your lawn with dull blades can injure the blades of grass. Furthermore, the device consumes more power when working with dull blades.
• Washing the blades of the mower after each use is recommended. It is sufficient to wipe the blades with a damp cloth to get rid of grass stalks. After washing, you should also make sure that the blades are dry to prevent corrosion.
• When using a lawnmower with a battery, the battery must be charged correctly. To avoid damaging the battery, the charge level should be kept above 20% and the battery should be disconnected after it has been fully charged.

Preparing for winter

• When storing the lawnmower, it must be kept in a dry place and protected from the elements. To provide extra safety, specially designed covers can be used to cover the appliance for long-term storage.
• When the mowing season ends, it is important to check for any remaining moisture before putting the lawnmower into storage. If required, it should be wiped, as moisture can cause the corrosion of the body.
• After the season, the lawnmower should also be cleaned of grass and soil residues.
• To ensure efficient work of the battery, it should be disconnected from the lawnmower when fully charged and stored in a cool, dry place when preparing for winter storage.

• Decorative lanterns and various suspended lighting objects can enhance the visual appearance of your garden. A creative approach, for instance, the integration of string lights into the interior of a terrace or greenery, will create a feeling of cosiness, as well as pleasantly surprise your guests.
• The best way to light your garden is to buy solar-powered lighting – it converts sunlight into electricity and charges the batteries. When choosing the location of lighting equipment, attention should be paid to trees, walls or roofs that can obscure light and reduce the charging power thereof during the day.
• Such devices can be used to illuminate areas, building facades, streets and driveways, etc.
• It is necessary to choose bulbs that are suitable for outdoor use. The IP or protection class is indicated on the bulb packaging. At least IP44 bulbs are recommended for outdoor use.

• In addition to the IP class, the type of use – indoor and/or outdoor – tends to be indicated on the packaging as well.
• The packaging of the bulb also indicates other important parameters that should be taken into account. Learn more about bulb characteristics here.

Which bulb to choose?

• LED bulbs have a lower power consumption, ranging from 0.05 W to 0.5 W per bulb, while filament bulbs range from 0.1 W to 1.5 W. If floor lamps or, for instance, strings are to be selected, it is best to combine them with LED bulbs.
• High-quality and certified LED bulbs are safe for both people and the home. They are more resistant to blowing out and more fire-resistant because they virtually don’t heat up when in operation.

Lighting adjustment

• Devices equipped with light sensors should be placed in areas where prolonged illumination is required during the dark hours. The light is switched on at night, when the light level has decreased, and off in the morning. For the sensor to work reliably, the location must be selected correctly – the device should not be placed close to night-time light sources such as street lights.
• To reduce electricity consumption, it is recommended to equip your outdoor lighting system with motion sensors.

• Another way of reducing your outdoor lighting’s electricity consumption is to add a timer to your lights and only use them when it is dark and when you need them.
• The position of luminaires is important. Distribution of light is more efficient at different heights; knowing this eliminates the need to buy more luminaires to compensate for dark areas in the yard. Efficient lighting covers different light positions, which increases efficiency and reduces light pollution.

Safety must be a top priority when it comes to outdoor lighting. When outdoor lighting is used:

• Always use certified bulbs;
• Regularly check the wires and sockets for damage;
• Do not overload electrical circuits;
• Bulbs must be stored away from flammable materials.

• Outdoor lighting fixtures should be checked regularly to ensure that the wires are not disconnected from the fixtures. If significant damage is found, the luminaire must not be used, even if it is still working.
• To help direct the light in the desired direction, the bulb, as well as other parts of the appliance (if permissible in accordance with the user manual), should be cleaned regularly with a damp cloth.

• Avoid string connections that conduct electricity or can otherwise cause damage. It is best to use plastic clamps or cable ties.
• If the strings have been in use for several years, check whether they are sufficiently secure and free from damage after removing them from winter storage.
• When you install strings outdoors, select an extension cord that is intended for outdoor use and that has a protection class of at least IP44. In addition, the extension cord must be positioned so that it doesn’t obstruct the yard, driveways or interfere with snow clearing.
• When fixing the strings, make sure that they are exposed to animal influences as little as possible.
• To reduce the electricity consumption of LED string lights, it is recommended to switch them off while you are away and for the night when you sleep. In this way, you will be able to cut your electricity consumption in half. This process can be facilitated by plugging a timer into the socket or installing a smart socket. A smart socket enables scheduling of the operation of the strings, which makes switching them on and off from your smartphone convenient.
• If stored correctly, outdoor lighting strings can prevent many problems. To prevent tangling and breakage of wires, coil up the outdoor light strings before storing them.

• When buying a heating appliance, you should first consider the size of the area where the appliance will be located. The heaters can be placed on the floor or mounted on the wall, and there are also various suspended models.
• The advantage of a gas infrared terrace heater is that it can be placed anywhere, even in places where no sockets are available. Please note that this heater requires a gas supply.
• Safety features such as grilles, covers, emitter screens and a sturdy base are great if you have pets or small children.
• Stainless steel or aluminium are the best materials for heaters that can be kept outdoors all year round.
• Modern heaters come with various features, for instance, an automatic shut-off function that will switch off the heater if it tips over, adjustable temperature settings and the ability to control the appliance from your phone.
• Infrared heaters can cause so-called thermal discomfort, as the rays only heat one part of the room while the other parts are cooler.

• To obtain homogeneous and comfortable heat, infrared heaters should be turned inwards or towards the object to be heated.
• Since infrared heaters only heat the surfaces, objects and bodies that they reach, it would be preferable to have two heaters – one that heats from the front and the other that heats from the rear.
• The closer you are situated to the infrared heater, the smaller the area to be heated becomes, while the heating effect becomes more intensive. Due to this reason, it is important to correctly select the distance for placing the heater. This is individual for each heater model.
• In spring/autumn, there is more air movement compared to summer; therefore, the effective heating area will be smaller than indicated in the instructions. The effective heating area will increase if the heater is used in summer months.

• Regular maintenance is important to keep the heater in good operating condition for a long time.
• Before starting any cleaning processes, read the maintenance section of the user manual and, if necessary, contact a specialist.
• Before servicing the appliance, make sure it has cooled down. Even though most infrared heaters are equipped with heat-dissipating features, they get extremely hot during operation! Therefore, make sure it has cooled completely before cleaning by waiting for about 20–30 minutes.
• The use of household cleaning agents is not recommended. Clean the equipment with a damp cloth only. Additional detergents may cause damage.