Articles by Pete Wise, TTR Contributor

Pete has reviewed hundreds of gardening products for titles including TopTenReviews, Ideal Home and the London Evening Standard, as well as writing articles on diverse topics for other publications such as The Guardian and BBC Good Food. Pete loves spending time in his yard – although, having just read The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, he is regarding his plants with a newfound suspicion.

Articles by: Pete Wise

10 things you should never do to your lawn in a heatwave

By Pete Wise published 31 July 24

Advice Cool it! Routine lawn care tasks like mowing and fertilizing can harm a lawn during very hot weather. Here's what you should never do to your lawn in a heatwave, according to an expert.

dewalt string trimmer with brushcutter attachment next to a hedge

How to maintain a string trimmer: 6 expert-led maintenance tasks

By Pete Wise published 20 July 24

How to If you know how to maintain a string trimmer then you'll be able to effectively maintain the health and appearance of your lawn.

How to choose pruning shears | The Felco 8 bypass pruner, cutting a slender tree branch.

How to choose pruning shears—experts explain

By Maddy Biddulph, Pete Wise published 7 July 24

Advice Find the right gear to prune plants, trees and shrubs with our essential guide on how to choose pruning shears.

10 plants not to prune during Spring— according to an expert

By Pete Wise published 23 May 24

Advice An RHS gardener weighs in on which plants you should avoid pruning during springtime, from lilacs to honeysuckles.

The Char-Broil grill, fully assembled in our reviewer's yard.

Char-Broil C-Line Charcoal Grill 665 review: a recipe for smoky success?

By Pete Wise published 20 May 24

Review I cooked up a storm with the Char-Broil C-Line Charcoal Grill 665 – but did the barbecued meats and veggies pass the taste test?

A lit charcoal grill with smoke rising through the iron grills.

How to light a charcoal grill: 5 easy-to-follow experts steps

By Pete Wise published 19 May 24

How to Our BBQ reviewer will take you through how to light a charcoal grill, for sensationally smoky outdoor cooking.

Hickory wood chips in a stainless steel smoker box.

How to smoke on a gas grill: 5 easy-to-follow steps for achieving perfectly smoked foods

By Pete Wise published 17 May 24

How to Our BBQ writer explains how to smoke food on a gas grill, using a smoker box.

The Navimow i105E robotic lawn mower, on our reviewer's lawn.

Segway Navimow i105N robot lawn mower review: smarter, simpler, superior?

By Pete Wise published 12 May 24

Review I put the new-for-2024 Segway Navimow i105N robotic lawnmower through its paces in a hands-on backyard test. Here's what it did for my lawn...

The Black + Decker BEMW472ES mower, shown in our reviewer's yard

Black + Decker BEMW472BH Electric Lawn Mower review: a corded electric lawn mower with easier steering

By Pete Wise published 28 April 24

Review I've reviewed the Black + Decker BEMW472BH Electric Lawn Mower. Here's how it performed in our medium-sized back yard...

Removing weeds from a blueberry plant container using a handheld garden fork.

How to prepare the yard for spring — 7 tips for seasonal success

By Pete Wise published 2 April 24

Advice Take these simple steps today to help prepare the yard for spring.

how to plant grass seed | You can sow grass seed by hand, or using a tool called a spreader.

How to plant grass seed — expert advice for a healthy green lawn

By Pete Wise, Maddy Biddulph last updated 14 March 24

How to Read our step-by-step guide on how to plant grass seed for improving the chance of successful germination.

Sustainable gardening includes promoting biodiversity

11 sustainable gardening tips for an eco-friendly yard

By Pete Wise published 11 February 24

Outdoors From your tools and gardening materials to your approach to propagation, here's how to garden more sustainably.

How to choose an electric lawn mower

By Pete Wise published 28 January 24

How To We run through the crucial decision factors to consider when choosing an electric lawn mower, with advice from the experts.

How to prepare the lawn for snow

By Pete Wise published 23 January 24

How To This guide will take you through everything you need to do to ensure your lawn stays healthy after a snowfall.

Chainsaw on grass in front of a pile of logs

How to choose a chainsaw

By Pete Wise published 17 January 24

How To Our comprehensive guide covers everything to consider when choosing a chainsaw, with expert advice

8 steps for preparing your yard for winter

By Pete Wise published 16 December 23

Yard Get your yard ready for the colder months with our eight top tips for preparing your yard for winter.

The Fiskars L31 lopper, shown with its geared handles splayed into their unusual open position.

Fiskars PowerGear Anvil Lopper XS L31 review

By Pete Wise published 6 December 23

Review I've tried out the Fiskars PowerGear Anvil Lopper L31 – a lightweight lopper designed for pruning thick tree branches with minimal effort. Read on to find out how it performed...

9 useful power tools that will always enhance your home projects

By Pete Wise published 3 December 23

Take your DIY to the next level with power tools that will seriously make light work of any home projects

How to store a lawn mower for winter

By Pete Wise published 21 November 23

How To Our expert guide to make sure your lawn mower is stored properly for winter

Why is my lawn mower not starting?

By Pete Wise published 20 November 23

Lawn Care 7 common reasons why a lawn mower won’t start – plus expert solutions

When should you stop mowing your lawn before winter? Experts explain

By Pete Wise published 19 November 23

Lawn Care These are the no-mow months for cool-season and warm-season grasses - with help from lawn care experts

I'm a keen gardener - this is what I'm looking out for during Black Friday

By Pete Wise published 19 November 23

Prime Day Expertly-selected gardening gear to look out for this Black Friday - from lawn mowers to pressure washers

Our reviewer holding the Felco 211-60, on a lawn.

Felco 211-60 review: powerful tree loppers for the backyard

By Pete Wise published 6 November 23

Review We review the Felco 211-60 lopper, a 23.6in cutting tool that’s designed for pruning tree branches up to 1.4in. Find out how Felco’s lopper performed in our hands-on testing.

How to prune a tree: A step-by-step guide to revitalising your trees

By Pete Wise published 2 November 23

How To Improve tree health and prevent branches from growing out of control by learning how to prune a tree.

The Ryobi 18V Cordless Pole Lopper, cutting a tree limb.

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Pole Lopper review

By Pete Wise published 1 October 23

Review The Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Pole Lopper uses a telescopic pole and trigger-activated jaws to prune high-up tree branches. We review this super-useful yard tool hands-on.

Pete Wise

Get the Top Ten Reviews Newsletter