Articles Index

Electric Snow Throwers Review

My review of electric snow throwers (snow blowers) compares them to gas-powered models. Electric has pros and cons that distinguishes it from gas.

Pole Tree Pruners

Consumer product review of pole tree pruners. With the aid of pole tree pruners, you can maintain medium-size specimens in their proper shape without having to climb a ladder.

Better Homes and Gardens Book on Landscaping

In my review of "Home Landscaping: Plants, Projects, and Ideas," I relate how this work begins with layout (front, back, side yard), progresses to planting ideas for those areas, and concludes with step-by-step guides.

"Complete Landscaping" -- This Old House

"Complete Landscaping" is put out by a name you trust in matters of the home and yard -- This Old House. What I especially like about This Old House's book on landscaping is the succinct presentation on drawing landscape plans.

Book on Landscape Terracing: Building Garden Terraces

Read my review of a book on building garden terraces to gain inspiration for your own project. Landscape terracing makes for an attractive and effective use of space.

"All About Flowering Trees and Shrubs" -- Ortho Books

When you need handy information about flowering trees, shrubs or other gardening components, Ortho books usually come to the rescue. This Ortho book on flowering trees and shrubs is no exception.

"Complete Guide to Water Gardens" - Kathleen Fisher

Book review on Kathleen Fisher's work on water-garden design, including Japanese-style. Photos and illustrations introduce the novice to designing with water in the landscape, as I relate in my book review.

"Lawnscaping: Shape the Perfect Landscape Around Your Lawn" -- Scotts

The subtitle of this Scotts lawn care book says more than the title. It's not primarily a book on lawn care. Rather, this Scotts book is on landscape design that assumes a central role for turf.

Book: Jerry Baker's "Plants Are Still Like People"

Jerry Baker's "Plants Are Still Like People" is an updated version of Jerry Baker's classic, "Plants Are Like People." My review highlights some of the tips that have made Baker both a favorite and a lightning rod.

Native Plants Book

Why would you wish to garden with native plants? One answer, as supplied in this book, is that natives, being adapted to their surroundings, are easy to grow.

Modern Garden Writing: Book Featuring Top Modern Authors

The garden writing in "The Gardener's Bedside Reader" is engaging, the plant illustrations alluring. A collection of modern garden writing well worth reading.

Japanese Gardens Book

Designing Japanese gardens is now popular in the West, and Yoko Kawaguchi's book attempts to instruct us in this art. However, the book is meant for folks with an intermediate level of plant knowledge, not novices.

Garden Trellis With an Adjustable Design

The Cascade Gardens adjustable height garden trellis could offer the right design for you, if you are growing vines in a tight space. This adjustable height garden trellis is uniform in color (black) and can offer a stylish design, if you can hang it straight.

Ropeless Pole Tree Pruners

Product review for ropeless fiberglass pole tree pruners. With no rope to get in the way, these pole tree pruners are easy to use.

A Year in the Garden

What's a year in the garden like on an island off the coast of British Columbia? A year in the garden in that region of Canada is precisely the subject of Des Kennedy's book "An Ecology of Enchantment."

Folding Garden Carts

Fold-A-Cart is a folding garden cart. Foldable wheelbarrows (wheel barrows) are easy to store away after your garden or other yard work is done.

Flower Bulbs Book

Flower bulbs aren't just a spring phenomenon. Anna Pavord emphasizes this fact in her book, offering information on types of flower bulbs that will dazzle with blooms for summer, fall and winter, too.

Garden Scarecrows

Review of book on how to make garden scarecrows. Complement your other outdoor fall decorations by making a creative straw-man figure that will impress all your neighbors!

"Landscape Lessons": Landscaping by the Seasons of the Year

"Landscape Lessons" plays on seasonality with a layout dictated by the seasons of the year, as I argue in my book review. There are 4 seasons in the year, and this landscaping book is divvied up into 4 chapters.

Garden Book Featuring Gertrude Jekyll, Other Famous Garden Writers

Gertrude Jekyll is said to have designed over 400 gardens, between her Old World and New World undertakings. A British author of 13 books, Gertrude Jekyll's first book was "Wood and Garden."

Black & Decker "Leaf Hog" Electric Leaf Blowers, Vacuums BV2500

Review of Black & Decker 'Leaf Hog' 2500 leaf blowers, by your About.com Guide. These electric leaf blowers are multi-task lawn equipment, also serving as vacuums and mulchers.

Black & Decker 16" Hedge Trimmers TR1600

This review covers the 16-inch hedge trimmers from Black & Decker. These tools allow you to give shrubs and bushes their desired shape.

Cordless Electric Mower

This battery-powered cordless electric mower is said to be the first to offer 60 volts of power with a run time of 60 minutes. Remington also says it's the first battery-powered model that allows you to switch from cordless to corded mode.

Fertilizer Spreaders

Fertilizer spreaders on wheels fall into 2 categories: broadcast and drop fertilizer spreaders. Learn the difference, as well as the specifics on a particular drop brand, Scotts AccuGreen.

BV4000 Leaf Hog Leaf Blowers ("Hand-Held Lawn Vacuums")

The assembly of BV4000 Leaf Hog leaf blowers (lawn vacuums) is fairly straightforward, an important point for the 'gadget-challenged.' I also give these leaf blowers (lawn vacuums) a good rating in terms of power.