Summer Landscaping with the STIHL MS 170 Chainsaw Theresa July 3, 2016 Outdoors 23 Comments Since the Fourth of July is tomorrow, I’ve got some last minute preparations to take care of before inviting guests over to eat our delicious, grilled food. If you checked out my 10 Essential 4th of July Party Supplies, you know I’ve already checked off most of the important things of my checklist. I’ve bought food, a grill, festive clothes, and more. When I walked out into my front yard this morning, I realized that there was plenty of last minute summer landscaping left to do. So, I fixed up the yard with the help of my husband, my kids and a STIHL MS 170 Chain Saw. Summer Landscaping: Designing a Flower Garden with the STIHL MS 170 Chainsaw When you’re having guests over to grill out at your home, one of the first places the guests will notice is the front yard. There’s this thorn bush by our front door that has been a major inconvenience. A while ago, the thorny branches were sticking out into the walkway. I was able to tear a few of the branches down, but this ugly stump was left behind there. The dead leaves and weeds only made this spot look worse. I decided the whole area needed as major of a redo that my family could handle together in one simple afternoon. This occasion called for us to use the STIHL MS 170 chainsaw that I got Ryan for Father’s Day. Since STIHL sent an entire set of protective gear that would fit me, I decided to strap on my chaps and try out the gloves, goggles, and protective ear gear. Everything fit as it should. The chaps felt lightweight, even in the summer heat. I could tell that the hearing protection worked perfectly. I could barely hear a thing. I liked that the goggles fit snugly so no debris would hit my eyes, and the gloves fit right to my hands. I had watched the clerk at the hardware store start the chainsaw in the shop, but doing it without professional help was different. I referred back to the manual and thought about what I had seen the clerk do. Ryan watched an online video, and we got the chainsaw started together. Years ago when I studied sculpture in college, I used some basic power tools. This experience was a good reminder of how to handle a power tool safely. Even though I had intended to chop this little thorn bush down, I realized how much upper body strength that operating a chainsaw required. I got the chainsaw to start, but I was hesitant about using such a powerful tool. Ryan had no problem holding the weight of the chainsaw and utilizing it to get the job done. He said that the chainsaw worked especially well for small tasks around the yard, like our summer landscaping project of designing a small flower garden in the place of a thorn bush. This project was simple to Ryan. He was able to get in close where the thorn bush stuck out from the ground. Maneuvering the chainsaw around the stump, he got in as close to the ground as he could. I loved that the huge, obtrusive item was gone from what would become a delicate flower bed. Now, for the fun part! We invited the kids out to help us manage the yard with us. Both girls brought their kid shovels. They helped pick weeds and make piles of old dead leaves. We cleaned up this whole area together. “I feel like a family!” Georgiana exclaimed. Working outside in the yard was the best experience for her. I loved getting to teach my daughters about the value of gardening. They learned that if our refrigerator broke and we had no food, having a garden would help our family live. We talked about what would happen if there was no electricity and we had to live like people did a long time ago. While completing this summer landscaping project, the girls also learned how much work it is to maintain plant life. They watered the plants and took out any stray branches left in our little flower garden. Having a new chore of watering the plants daily will be a good learning opportunity for them this summer. I was so proud of our completed flower bed! The dirt was a little muddy and messy, but it looks perfect for having guests over for the Fourth of July. While the girls and I were working, Ryan worked with his chainsaw a bit more. You can check out this video of him maintaining the bushes by our front door. We really enjoyed our experience of using this chainsaw. This summer landscaping project brought our whole family together. Do you have a favorite landscaping project you’ve worked on at your home? Share details in the comments! Disclosure I received a free item, but it in no way influenced my opinion! Related 23 Responses Betsy Todd July 4, 2016 You are so cool, and i hope i can have a try Reply theresa July 5, 2016 Thank you! 🙂 Reply Tiffany July 4, 2016 Look at you! What a great job you did! It turned out great! I love summer gardens 🙂 Reply theresa July 5, 2016 Thanks so much! It was fun too! Reply kara July 5, 2016 A Chainsaw is such a nice tool to have! I still have not invested in one, but I think soon I will! Reply theresa July 5, 2016 It’s great to have a tool that is so powerful. I’m sure it will come in handy for many more situations. Reply Kristen Hewitt July 5, 2016 YOu are a badass! i would be scared of that thing but it looks AWESOME! Reply theresa July 5, 2016 Haha, thank you! I was a little timid about using it. Reply Terri July 5, 2016 This is a great job. I love looking at people’s gardens, we are moving into a new house and i can’t wait to make my garden mine Reply theresa July 5, 2016 That’s awesome! It’s so fun to work with a new space. Reply CourtneyLynne July 5, 2016 Oooooo what an awesome chain saw!!! My hubby would love this! Reply theresa July 5, 2016 Absolutely, my husband was really happy with it! He might buy a more expensive one for bigger projects later on, but this one was great for what we needed it for. Reply Jennifer Corter July 5, 2016 Love the flowers! I don’t think I would be brave enough to use a chainsaw. I’m somewhat accident prone! 🙂 Reply Cristina at Ava's Alphabet July 6, 2016 Wow! That is impressive. Doesn’t it feel so goo to accomplish a project like that? Thanks for sharing on Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. Have a great week! Reply Tonee July 6, 2016 Super cool summer project!! Reply Claire July 6, 2016 Girl you are rocking that chainsaw! Reply theresa July 6, 2016 Haha, thank you! Reply Erica @ Coming Up Roses July 7, 2016 A lady with a chainsaw…you GO GIRL!! You look like such a badass!! Coming Up Roses Reply Andrea July 8, 2016 I love it – if i had a yard like that 🙂 Reply Heather July 8, 2016 That’s awesome! When we bought our house, the drought and upkeep had been so bad that we just pulled the stumps from the yard. They had either dried or rotted to the point there was nothing really left holding them in. Reply Sheila July 9, 2016 Doesn’t a chainsaw make you feel powerful? Gardening teaches you so many things about life. I appreciate anyone who gardens because I kill silk plants 🙂 Reply Kristi July 11, 2016 I’ve always wanted to use power tools but have not yet! We bought land recently and will be clearing it soon, so I know chainsaws are definitely in my future. I’m glad to know there is protective gear to wear and that the chainsaw works so well. Reply Lo July 11, 2016 Me and a chainsaw would be extremely dangerous! Haha!!! We are hoping to purchase a fixer upper here in the next few weeks. I can’t wait to get working on it! Reply Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.
Tiffany July 4, 2016 Look at you! What a great job you did! It turned out great! I love summer gardens 🙂 Reply
kara July 5, 2016 A Chainsaw is such a nice tool to have! I still have not invested in one, but I think soon I will! Reply
theresa July 5, 2016 It’s great to have a tool that is so powerful. I’m sure it will come in handy for many more situations. Reply
Kristen Hewitt July 5, 2016 YOu are a badass! i would be scared of that thing but it looks AWESOME! Reply
Terri July 5, 2016 This is a great job. I love looking at people’s gardens, we are moving into a new house and i can’t wait to make my garden mine Reply
theresa July 5, 2016 Absolutely, my husband was really happy with it! He might buy a more expensive one for bigger projects later on, but this one was great for what we needed it for. Reply
Jennifer Corter July 5, 2016 Love the flowers! I don’t think I would be brave enough to use a chainsaw. I’m somewhat accident prone! 🙂 Reply
Cristina at Ava's Alphabet July 6, 2016 Wow! That is impressive. Doesn’t it feel so goo to accomplish a project like that? Thanks for sharing on Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. Have a great week! Reply
Erica @ Coming Up Roses July 7, 2016 A lady with a chainsaw…you GO GIRL!! You look like such a badass!! Coming Up Roses Reply
Heather July 8, 2016 That’s awesome! When we bought our house, the drought and upkeep had been so bad that we just pulled the stumps from the yard. They had either dried or rotted to the point there was nothing really left holding them in. Reply
Sheila July 9, 2016 Doesn’t a chainsaw make you feel powerful? Gardening teaches you so many things about life. I appreciate anyone who gardens because I kill silk plants 🙂 Reply
Kristi July 11, 2016 I’ve always wanted to use power tools but have not yet! We bought land recently and will be clearing it soon, so I know chainsaws are definitely in my future. I’m glad to know there is protective gear to wear and that the chainsaw works so well. Reply
Lo July 11, 2016 Me and a chainsaw would be extremely dangerous! Haha!!! We are hoping to purchase a fixer upper here in the next few weeks. I can’t wait to get working on it! Reply