Just: £199.95 (WAS £299.95)

Whether you are dealing with tall hedges and heavy branches, or just the average homeowner’s landscape maintenance In either case this powerful, versatile tool can keep you off the ladder and your hedges and garden under control.

Eckman’s 30cc petrol-driven engine runs for 50 minutes on a full tank, with minimum noise and vibration.  A shoulder strap and easy-grip handles make the device surprisingly comfortable to operate.

Neatening the top of tall hedges is simple with the extension pole that reaches as high as 9ft 2 in (2.79 meters).  The trimmer can also be adjusted to an angle of 40 degrees for reaching awkward edges and depressions.  It can be easily converted into a chain saw that will cut branches and stems as thick as an inch (2.4cm) in diameter at 8,000 rpm.

You can also add a brush cutter with a 24cm triple-cut blade, or a grass trimmer that has a bump-feed spool of 12cm double line with a cutting swath of 42cm.  Additional accessories include a leaf blower and a lawn edger.

Eckman 2-In-1 Extendable Chainsaw and Hedge Trimmer

Even without any of the optional attachments, this is a great tool for anyone who is serious about landscaping.  The addition of an extendable pole makes it very hard to beat for reaching out-of-the-way and overhead places, and the other options make this a four- (or five or six or seven)- in-one highly versatile garden tool.  Priced from about £ 199.95 to £ 239.85, this unit will help you beautify your garden with minimum strain and maximum gain.