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Books on Landscaping (2)

Top 3 Lawn Mowers
What are you looking for in a lawn mower? If you have to mow on a slope, you may be looking for an easier alternative to standard lawn mowers. If you find fueling a machine messy, you may be seeking the cleanliness of electric lawn mowers. If you're concerned about the environment, you may be drawn to reel mowers -- they don't pollute the air. My lawn mower reviews should help you in your search.

Top 4 Pole Pruners, Other Pruning Tools for Trees and Tall Shrubs
Series of consumer product reviews that deal with tree pruning tools. Among the tree pruning tools reviewed are pole pruners, pole chainsaws and hedgers for tall shrubs.

Pole Pruners, Other Pruning Tools for Trees and Tall Shrubs
Series of consumer product reviews that deal with tree pruning tools. Among the tree pruning tools reviewed are pole pruners, pole chainsaws and hedgers for tall shrubs.

Top 4 Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders and Other Wild Bird Supplies
Providing for wild birds is a fun part of landscaping. With these wild bird supplies, you'll create a landscape design that attracts both humans and wild birds. Besides complementing your landscape design, one of these items will even save you money. After buying these wild bird supplies, your main bill thereafter will be for birdseed. But this bill can be drastically reduced by buying a squirrel-proof bird feeder. Feeding those pesky rodents is costly: they do not "eat like a bird."

Top 4 Pest Control Products
These consumer product reviews of pest control products may help landscaping enthusiasts save money, avoid frustration and prevent illness. Rodents who damage the plants you've labored so hard to nurture are frustrating to put up with. Squirrels who raid your bird feeder are more than frustrating: they can cost you considerable money in the long run. But worst of all, bites from mosquito pests can carry the dreaded West Nile virus. Learn how to keep such trouble away via pest control products.

Landscape Vision Design Software Program 5.4
Review of the Landscape Vision design software program. My review considers the pros and cons of the this landscape design software program, as I consider such features as screen format and mechanisms for moving objects around and deleting them.

Ropeless Pole Tree Pruners
Product review for ropeless pole tree pruners. With no rope to get in the way and a sophisticated pulley system that helps you do the cutting, these pole tree pruners are a delight to use.

Realtime Landscaping Pro Landscape Design Software
Realtime Landscaping Pro finally convinced me to switch from drawing landscaping plans the old way to letting a program do it for me. My consumer product review of this software may help you decide whether it's time for you yourself to switch or not.

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

Cordless Electric Pole Chainsaws
Cordless electric pole chainsaws offer a safe alternative to standing on ladders for trimming high branches. The added reach of cordless electric pole chainsaws and their lack of a cord make them far preferable to regular chain saws.

Scarecrow Sprinklers
Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinklers are effective animal repellents that don't force you to spread anything on the ground that will have to be re-applied after a rainstorm, as with many animal repellents. Scarecrow Sprinklers shoot a blast of water at pests to scare them away.

Gas Snowblowers
Gas snowblowers are available in both single-stage and two-stage models. But single-stage gas snowblowers are not recommended for regions prone to heavy or wet snowfalls.

Outdoor Holiday Decorations
Get some ideas here for decorating outside for holidays, throughout the year. I update these tips according to whichever holiday is currently approaching on the calendar, so be sure to check back as the great "wheel of the year" continues spinning.

Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders
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!

Pump-Free Garden Sprayers
Most garden sprayers have to be pumped. But Black & Decker's rechargeable garden sprayers require no pumping. That's the good news; but there's little else to recommend these garden sprayers.

Tree Trimming Equipment
Having the proper tree trimming equipment can greatly aid you in caring for those gentle giants of your landscape -- trees. Consult these consumer product reviews of tree trimming equipment before buying.

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

Pest Control Products
These consumer product reviews of pest control products may help landscaping enthusiasts save money, avoid frustration and even prevent illness. Learn how to escape such trouble via the pest control products covered here. Included among the entries is the famous "Mosquito Magnet," which is perhaps the most thoughtful of gardening gifts imaginable for a loved one who spends a lot of time outside.

Consumer Product Review of a Lawn Mower for Uneven Terrain
Consumer product review of MTD Yard Machine lawn mowers with a Briggs & Stratton engine and high wheels in rear to facilitate mowing slopes or bumpy areas. If you want a basic model at a cheap price, this MTD Yard Machine lawn mower with a Briggs & Stratton engine is a smart choice.

Hedge Trimmers on Poles: Remington Axcess Hedge Trimmers
Treat Remington Axcess hedge trimmers as specialized tools. As hedge trimmers on poles, the Remington Axcess gives you access to tough-to-reach places in trimming shrubs.

Craftsman Gas Leaf Blowers: 4-Cycle Leaf Blowers
Gas leaf blower vacuums with 4-cycle engines have lower emissions than 2-cycles, making them less hostile to the environment. These Craftsman gas leaf blower vacuums have the added benefit of easy start-up.

Cordless String Trimmers
Consumer product review of Black & Decker "Grass Hog" electric string trimmers. This piece will help the buyer choose between corded, gas and cordless string trimmers.

Garden Cultivators
Small mechanical garden tillers, also termed, "cultivators," are preferable to their larger cousins for small plots. Learn more about garden cultivators in this review.

Consumer Product Review on Mulching Lawn Mowers
Decisions, decisions! You're tired of raking leaves every fall, and you want to facilitate leaf removal with technology. But which piece of power equipment do you buy? This consumer product review suggests an option that obviates leaf removal altogether: Use a mulching mower! Specifically, I review battery-powered mowers, which have pros and cons distinct from gas and corded models.

Consumer Product Reviews on Patio and Deck Accessories
Patios and decks design require accessories that will make them secure, joyful and attractive elements of your landscaping. Below are ideas for such accessories. They also make wonderful gift ideas. Are you shopping for friends who have patios or decks? Why not buy them accessories that will enliven their patio or deck designs? Let these consumer product reviews guide you to smart choices.

Gardening Gift Ideas: Reviews of Landscaping Books
Get some gift ideas for that outdoorsy person you love! Browse this book review site before buying gardening gifts. Comments on works by Jerry Baker and books in the "For Dummies" and "Complete Idiot's Guide" collections are included for your online perusal. My book review site focuses on works suitable for beginners at landscaping and gardening.

Consumer Product Reviews on Lawn, Garden Accents
You work hard at garden plant selection and lawn care, so you and your landscape deserve the best in lawn ornaments and garden accents. Let these consumer product reviews provide some ideas. Put the finishing touches on your lawn and garden design with these ideas, or give them to your gardening friends as gifts.

Troy-Bilt Wood Chippers
Consumer product reviews series entry. Troy-Bilt wood chippers come in 6.5 horsepower and 10 horsepower models. I recommend the 10 HP wood chipper here. It's penny-wise and pound-foolish to scrimp on wood chippers. This equipment is asked to do heavy-duty work. So if you're going to spend money at all on a wood chipper, get one that you can rely on.

Consumer Product Review of a Classic: Reel Lawn Mowers
Although a classic lawn mower (it was, after all, the first), today's reel lawn mowers are no antiques. This consumer product review explains why modern reel lawn mowers are gaining in popularity in some circles, as an alternative to the "standard" lawn mower -- the rotary mower. Learn under what circumstances it may make sense to "take 1 step back in order to advance 2 steps forward."

Get Rid of Garden Pests the Humane Way!
Havahart traps are "live-traps": the animal is captured, but not hurt. Afterwards (with the proper permission), you release the garden pest somewhere else -- far away from your garden! Read this piece to find out how you can get rid of garden pests the humane way.

Outdoor Christmas Decorations
Isn't dreary winter weather reason enough to decorate with outdoor Christmas decorations? These consumer product reviews of outdoor Christmas decorations will facilitate your online shopping for the holiday season.

Consumer Product Reviews on Weed Control Devices
Read my weed-control consumer product reviews for some advice before you make purchases. Numerous types of weed control products are on the market. My goal in composing these consumer product reviews is to help you determine which products best meet your needs, before buying.

Electric Hedge Trimmers
Electric hedge trimmers are inexpensive and lightweight when compared to gas-powered models. An added plus with electric is automatic start-up. But the comparison is not one-sided, as gas hedge trimmers have their own advantages. Explore the comparison further in this consumer product review.

Consumer Product Reviews: Lawn Mowers
Buying a lawn mower? What exactly are you looking for in a lawn mower? My consumer product reviews on lawn mowers focus on the practical needs of ordinary homeowners.

Consumer Product Reviews of Wild Bird Supplies
Desirable wild bird supplies for the smart landscaper include squirrel-proof bird feeders, copper birdbaths and bluebird bird houses. Read my consumer product reviews on these gardening gifts and start adorning your yard with the most attractive -- and frugal -- wild bird supplies.

Black and Decker Electric Leaf Blowers, Vacuums, Mulchers
The Black & Decker Leaf Hog blower BV2500 is a versatile gadget for the money. Homeowners who maintain compost piles or who mulch around plants will appreciate the mulcher function. But it is also a powerful leaf blower. Push a button, and it converts from leaf blower to leaf vacuum. Find out more in this review.

Leaf Shredders / Wood Chippers / Vacs: Trying to Do it All
You've discovered that fall yard cleanup is facilitated by leaf blowers. You'll never trade your leaf blower in for a rake. But you wonder if there's a gadget even better than leaf blowers? Some companies tout their combo gadgets as being better. But my consumer product review on these leaf shredders / wood chippers / vacs disputes their value. See why you should stick to leaf blowers.

Cutting Tools to Make Yard Work Easier
Cutting plants in one form or other -- from damaged tree limbs to weed intruders -- is a big part of landscaping. Don't do it the hard way! Get tools that will allow you to cut as efficiently as possible. Here are a few.

Leaf-Cleanup Supplies
Arm yourself now for fall leaf cleanup. Learn more about some gadgets out there that could make yard work in autumn a breeze.

Chainsaw the Cheap, Easy Way: Remington Electric Chain Saws
Gas-powered chain saws are fueled with a gas/oil mix, and you're forced to calculate the ratio. With electric, you just plug it in and go! That goes for startup, too. Gas-powered chain saws start with a starter rope that you tug at. With electric, startup is a sure thing. At about 5 pounds the 12" Remington electric chain saw is also easy to wield once you begin to chainsaw.

Consumer Product Review: Ratchet Pruner for Easy Landscaping
With “ratchet” anvil pruners you can easily cut thick tree branches that regular pruners would stand no chance against. The ratchet's settings multiply your hand's power, so that you don’t have to do the work – the tool does it for you. As you cut through a branch, the ratchet clicks and moves to the next setting, providing ever-increasing pressure as you cut.

Consumer Product Review: Electric Snowblowers
If you don't have too long a driveway, electric snowblowers provide an alternative to clumsy, heavy, high-maintenance gas snowblowers. True, you'll spend a bit more time snow blowing with electric snowblowers, because they're less powerful. But this consumer product review argues you'll spend less time on maintenance, starting up the snowblower, and finding a place to store it away later!

Outdoor Banners for Summer
Yard banners can make a statement about who you are. Choose one from this consumer product review to make a colorful addition to your summer yard.

Cordless Hedge Trimmers
Consumer product review of Black & Decker's cordless hedge trimmers. These battery-powered hedgers have many of the features of corded electric hedgers, but without the annoying cord!

Wooden Structures
Top picks for wooden structures available for online purchasing: arbors, gazebos and storage sheds.

SmartDraw Landscaping Software Review
SmartDraw 7 is acceptable landscaping software for those averse to drawing. The SmartDraw landscaping software offers a plenitude of pretty symbols that can be dragged-and-dropped into templates, as I note in my review. But SmartDraw 7 wasn't smart enough to convince me that good, old-fashioned drawing would be on the brink of extinction anytime soon.

Black & Decker Alligator Loppers
Review of Black & Decker Alligator Loppers. Being specialized tools, Alligator Loppers would normally be used in conjunction with other, complementary cutting tools.

Outdoor Patio Furniture
Enhance your al fresco dining by selecting the outdoor patio furniture right for your yard. Outdoor patio furniture includes lounge chairs, cedar benches, wicker chairs and their accompanying cushions.

Ergonomic Snow Shovels, Snow Pushers, Wide Grips
To those who suffer from bad backs, snow shovels are nothing less than instruments of torture. Ergonomic snow shovels may help you avoid back problems due to shoveling. I tested three Ames True Temper snow shovels and wrote down my thoughts on them in this piece.