Articles Index
"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.
Book on Growing Hardy Succulent Plants
Growing hardy succulent plants can give you color and interesting textures in the northern garden. There's something for just about everyone in this book.
Book on Attracting Wildlife to Yards
This book on attracting wildlife to yards differs from many similar books by offering specific advice. Included are plant lists for different regions.
Modern Garden Writing: Book Featuring Top Modern Authors
Here I review a book on modern garden writing. "The Gardener's Bedside Reader" is engaging, the plant illustrations alluring.
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."
Organic Lawn Fertilizers
'Get Growing' is one of the organic lawn fertilizers, and I review it here. Have a green lawn with a good conscience by using such green products.
Fertilizer Spreaders -- Review
Fertilizer spreaders on wheels fall into 2 categories: broadcast and drop-type grass seed spreaders. Learn the difference, as well as the specifics on a particular drop brand, Scotts AccuGreen.
"Garden Voices: Stories of Women and Their Gardens"
Carolyn Freas Rapp's "Garden Voices: Stories of Women & Their Gardens" is not primarily about the cultivation of the soil, but rather the cultivation of the soul. As I discuss in my review, the book presents the unique stories of 12 women for whom working the land is sacred.
Shop Sweep Shop-Vac Vacuums - Review
The Shop Sweep is an outdoor Shop-Vac vacuum cleaner that mulches grass clippings, leaves and pine needles. Use these vacuums to clean driveways, sidewalks, patios, garages.
Book on Growing Wild Orchids
William Mathis' book on growing wild orchids has great pictures. But Mathis is repetitive in presenting his growing tips, perhaps to fit more of those great pictures into the book!
Ropeless Pole Tree Pruners
Read my review for ropeless fiberglass pole pruners before buying. With no rope to get in the way, these pruners are easy to use to trim a tree.
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.
Book on How to Attract Birds
Backyard bird watchers may wonder how to attract birds to their gardens, and there are books out there to help. This Audubon Society book is all about landscaping to draw wild birds to the yard.
Newcomb's Wildflower Identification Guide
Newcomb's wildflower identification guide is based on a key system. By answering questions about what a plant looks like, Lawrence Newcomb aids you in identifying wildflowers in a logical, systematic manner.
Black & Decker Alligator Loppers
Read my review of Black & Decker Alligator Loppers before buying. Being a specialized tool, you'd want to clear brush away first with other tools, then finish up with this chainsaw-like product.
Pump-Free Garden Sprayers
Most spraying equipment has to be pumped. But Black & Decker's rechargeable pump-free garden sprayers require no pumping.
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!
Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders: SquirrelStop
Among the most effective -- and entertaining! -- squirrel-proof bird feeders are the spinning feeders. Their method of keeping out squirrels, making them bird-only: the rodent's weight activates a spinning mechanism that sends them flying!
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.
SmartDraw 7 Landscape Design Software
SmartDraw 7 is acceptable landscape-design software for those averse to drawing. The SmartDraw software offers a plenitude of pretty symbols that can be dragged-and-dropped into templates, as I note in my review.
Realtime Landscaping Pro Landscape Design Software
Realtime Landscaping Pro landscape design software finally convinced me to advance from drawing plans the old way to letting landscape design software do it for me. It's the best program I've tested.
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.