Posts Tagged ‘tools’
Storing Pesticides and Tools
Walter’s Garden Joke of the Day: How are my garden tools and my dirty clothes alike? Answer: They both have compost clinging to them and both never seem to make it to their proper storage site. Last year I replaced...
Egg Candler – Building
If you’re incubating eggs…or just want to determine how fresh an egg is, a candler is a useful tool. Farmers once used a candle in a box…but these plans show how you can use a flashlight or a small lamp...
Tools (Gifts) – Recommended by Gardeners
A couple of weeks ago I listed several garden tools to which I am particularly partial when performing garden chores. I invited readers to tell me which tools they found especially useful. Jim Wallace responded “I am encouraged on two...
Tools (Gifts) – Choosing
I was out working in the garden last weekend, doing final cleanup chores for the winter. I’m a rather haphazard gardener so in the process of cleaning up I discovered several tools I’d mislaid during the summer. The wooden handle...
LiquiVac Lawnmower Oil Change System
I often get products to review. Many of them are quite handy. Visit my “Cool Tools and Funky Fertilizers” page for a list. The most recent is the LiquiVac. It worked like a charm to remove the oil from two...
Cool Tools and Funky Fertilizers
Interesting items I’ve collected or that have been sent to me to evaluate: Tools: Handy Camel bag tote Rescue VisiLure Fly Tape Pro Plugger VegiBee Ultrasonic Pollinator Pic WTRP Yellow Jacket & Wasp Trap Bug-A-Salt SunJoe Electric Tiller...
Power Tools – Vibration Injury to Hands
If you run a chain saw, leaf blower or rototiller for several hours without gloves, your fingers will probably feel numb or “tingly” afterwards. Repeated exposure to severe vibration can result in Raynaud’s Syndrome (often called “Vibration White Finger.”) The...
Sources of Professional-Quality Tools
I did a lot of research before buying a backpack blower recently. My main source of information was Rick Upchurch at NatureScapes Landscaping. He said that most maintenance companies, including his, rely on Stihl brand blowers. When I went looking...
Garden Watch Camera
Recently I was sent a Garden Watch Camera by the Brinno Company to try out in my garden. It has been much more fun than I first thought. My first subject was my front yard, where it was interesting to...
Basic Tools for Beginning Gardeners
Here is my list of basic tools for beginning gardeners. Give it the once-over and email me if you think I’ve left something out. DIGGING TOOLS Round point shovel – I like a long handle more than a short handle....
Insecticidal Soap
Q: Could you please advise if insecticidal soap is a healthier way to treat pests on plants, trees, etc. than using other chemical pesticides? Is the soap gentler on the greenery? A: I think we have to get away from...
Tree – Determining Age
Q: I am trying to find out the age of several live oak trees at my father-in-law’s house in north Florida. Is there some general way to determine their age based on their diameter? A: According to Certified Arborist Brian...
Tools – For Aging Gardeners
Q: I am looking for ergonomic garden tools for my mother, who has arthritis. None of the local garden centers seem to have them. Can you help? A: I think it won’t be long until all garden centers have tools...
Aerator – Hand-powered
Q: How can I find a lawn aerator that’s small enough for home use that also removes plugs from the yard when aerating? I’ve seen the rental-type aerators but they are too big for my lawn. A: You are smart...
Soil – Bed Preparation
Q: I recently purchased a house and all of the soil around it seems to be hard, red clay. I want to have flowers this spring but I know I’ll have to make the soil better somehow. What do you...
Asian Ambrosia Beetle – Trap
Q: I heard you describe on your radio show how to construct a trap for Asian ambrosia beetles. I think the parts were a plastic cup, a film canister, a cotton wick and alcohol. Where can I find specific instructions...
Boxwood – Pruning
Q: What is the best way to prune boxwoods? A: Electric hedge trimmers are the devil’s tool when it comes to boxwoods. The trimmers are so easy to use, it is tempting to make green meatballs out of your landscape...
Water Powered Weeder
Q: I saw you on TV using a water powered weeder that attached to a hose and loosened the soil around a weed’s roots. Where can I get one? A: I’ve fond this tool to be very handy at removing...
