Bish Bash Bosch

A few weeks a go I received an invitation to go to Chelsea Physic Garden for a pruning and topiary masterclass given by fellow garden blogger (amongst other things) Geoff Hodge plus Roger Toombs of QVC fame. A chance to revisit a garden I frequented a lot during the 1990s plus learn something useful in the process was most tempting indeed, especially as Bosch, the event's host were willing to pay my travel expenses to get there.

So after getting up at 5.15 on Friday morning to catch the 6.25 train to Paddington, I blearily presented myself at England's second oldest botanic garden for a most fascinating session. I also got the chance to join a tour of the garden as we were free to have a wander around afterwards. Both my garden visit and the hints and tips I gathered on the day will form later posts.

Of course any sponsored gathering will have a sales pitch and Friday's turned out be a demonstration of Bosch's range of cordless garden tools. I'd guessed this would be the case and had giggled to myself in anticipation on the train as NAH's father was an early adopter of the technology in the 1970s.

He bought one of the first battery powered lawnmowers which didn't look like a designer had been anywhere near it as it was an ugly beast. The car battery perched on top which was used to power it meant it was extremely heavy and unwieldy and took a long time to recharge after use. How different the range of tools we saw on Friday turned out to be! They were light, easy to hold and packed a host of features to make them easy to use. Recharging times are so much shorter and usage times much longer these days, thus adding to their convenience.

As it was a pruning/topiary masterclass, most of the session focused on the secateurs and mini trimmer (aka shrub shears) part of the range. After a brief demonstration and question/answer session, we were let loose to have a go ourselves. I have to say I was seriously impressed despite arming myself to resist all schmoozing before I went. I was particularly pleased with the results of my trimming a large topiary spiral on offer, after using the mini trimmer. I also liked the secateurs: I'd initially dismissed them as being a bit of a gimmick, but as the owner of a bad tempered elbow of the tennis variety, I could see how useful they are for anyone who has a lot of pruning to do, or finds the more physical side of gardening is becoming harder.

We also got to see the bigger, more robust tools in the range: lawn mower, strimmer, hedge trimmers and chainsaw. We had the chance to handle most of these, though the chainsaw was hastily put away - they must have seen the speculative gleam in my eye ;)

We got to choose the secateurs or a mini trimmer and edger set to take home in our goody bag. I chose the trimmer because I don't have anything like it in my toolset. I'm glad I did, because as well as the tasks we saw demonstrated and tried out on the day, I've already thought of a host of new uses for it in my garden and on the allotment and can't wait to get cracking :)

We also had the chance to make suggestions: I've asked for a cordless shredder so I don't have to lug all my trimmings such as old raspberry canes and apple tree prunings back from the allotment. This will please NAH no end if they do develop one as he's always complaining my car looks like a travelling compost bin. We all thought the pictured demonstration of how to change the different blades on the trimmer would make a good video (is that the right word these days?) to go up on YouTube as it was a little fiddly to get just right. An improvement which immediately sprung to my mind is to make the little hole on the blade and the 'button' on the handle much bigger, so there's a better chance of getting the two fitted together first time.

My thanks to Bosch for being such generous hosts, to Geoff and Roger for making tools demonstration such a giggle; to the catering team at Chelsea Physic Garden for a delicious breakfast plus the evilly gooey chocolate brownies later on (yum); and to my fellow bloggers Ben, Geoff and Jacq for being such good company on the day.

Comments

  1. petoskystone19 June 2011 at 12:56

    a cordless shredder would be an awesome thing, especially for we urban dwellers....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Zoë19 June 2011 at 16:49

    I have contemplated buying these, so its good to read your review. I normally use sheep shears for my topiary, but since the C find my right arm, more and more reluctant to play ball.

    In the process of planting about 60 foot of box hedging too, so the mini thing will be a boon too, as the normal hedge cutters are just tooooo big!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jacq19 June 2011 at 19:25

    I've used mine today on a couple of unfortunate hedges just outside our kitchen window. I'm not sure it's improved the look of them but I had a lot of fun doing it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Compostwoman19 June 2011 at 19:52

    I was invited to this as well, but even with the expenses offer, it wasn't do able...I would have had to come down the night before...

    so sadly I had to say "no".

    I am glad you enjoyed it and it sounds like it would have been fun. Ah well, maybe next time...

    ReplyDelete
  5. VP20 June 2011 at 08:55

    Petoskystone - it would, though I suspect the power needed for a shredder to run for long periods and to shred decent sized material might be the hurdle which means one isn't on the market yet.

    Zoe - I usually use sheep shears too, but find the constant gripping alittle wearing on my elbow and my amount of box is tiny compared to yours!

    Jacq - welcome! It is fun isn't it? Too right re what you said on Twitter about the sales pitch being OK. There was a good balance between that, an opportunity to learn and for us to give direct feedback to Bosch. Other companies contemplating this kind of thing should take note.

    Compostwoman - what a shame you couldn't be there :( It would have been great to meet you at last!

    ReplyDelete

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