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WEED HOUND. Tired of stooping and bending over to get that dandelion or mess of crabgrass? Have I got a tool for you. It's the Weed Hound, a handy weeder that comes ready to use out of the box, no assembly required beyond opening the box, says York County master gardener Sterrie Weaver, who has been testing the tool in his own gardens and lawn.

The Weed Hound is a hollow gauge metal tube with six metal prongs protruding from the bottom. It's easy to use, says Sterrie. Place it over a weed, step on the bottom step. The prongs go into the ground, grab the weed and all you have to do is lift it and up comes the weed, roots and all.

Then you just push the handle on top and drop the weed in the trash, never to bother you again. The prong pulls the weed, roots and all, but doesn't bring a big clod of dirt with it so there is no hole to fill in behind it.

But don't necessarily throw away the dandelions, which can be sauteed, say the makers of the Weed Hound. To saute dandelions, chop 2 pounds of fresh dandelion greens. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 cloves of garlic in saucepan. Add greens, salt and pepper. Cook for 12 minutes or until greens are tender. Serve hot; yields four servings.

The Weed Hound is made by Hound Dog Products, Inc. of Edina, Minn. For spring, the company is introducing an easy-to-use aerator and edger. Retail on Weed Hound: about $24.95. Available locally or call 1-800-694-6863.

SEED STARTER. Developed by Penn State University, PennMulch is a one-step mulch and fertilizer that helps establish a new lawn. The small green pellets contain no weeds and are biodegradable so there's no clean up. PennMulch can be applied with many types of lawn spreaders. Once activated with water, the pellets expand to provide more mulch coverage. PennMulch helps hold moisture and promote seed germinations. The mulch is made mostly from recycled newspaper and contains a 1-3-1 starter fertilizer, according to the company, PennTurf Products in State College, Pa. Available locally. For more information, call PennTurf Products, 1-800-545-7097. Retail: about $5.95 for 6 pounds, $18.95 for 20 pounds, $23.95 for 50 pounds.

MONEY-WISE DECORATING. Thrift stores can be the sources of all sorts of gardening containers and accessories for indoor and outdoor use, especially terra cotta pots, says interior decorator Sandy Webster. She should know. Sandy and her associates will decorate one of the Homearama '97 homes with furniture and accessories found at area Goodwill stores. Homearama '97 runs Oct. 4-19 in Goose Creek Estates, Chesapeake. See our calendar listings for more details.

SAINT OF GARDENERS. You don't see him as often as you see St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, but the patron saint of gardeners, St. Fiacre is beginning to appear. You will recognize him by the trowel and flowers he carries. He was born and ordained a priest in Ireland. In 628, he went to France, where he built an oratory and began a life of severe self-denial. He befriended the poor and counseled visitors until his death in 670. His attention to his garden caused him to be named the patron saint of gardeners. Available locally in various sizes, materials and prices.

HEAT ZONE MAP. We've had cold-tolerance zones for plants for years. Now there's a 12-zone heat-tolerance map created by Marc Cathey, president emeritus of the American Horticultural Society of Alexandria. He worked with the Meteorological Evaluation Service to develop the map, which is being marketed by the AHS.

Data on daily high temperatures recorded at 4,745 U.S. weather stations nationwide between 1974 and 1995 was used to plot the map. Southern gardeners will especially benefit from this heat-tolerance guide because bedding plants and other plant material can be labeled for good use in dry, hot conditions.

Next, plants will have to be analyzed and have heat-tolerance codes assigned to them. Some tolerance testing has been done but much more is underway by plant societies and public gardens, says the horticultural society. A laminated, full-color version of the map is $14.95. To order, call 1-800-777-7931.

SCUM BUSTER. Fall is time to clean up the patio furniture and grill. Black and Decker's new ScumBuster Outdoor motorized scrubber/scourer. It combines cordless convenience with four attachments that tackle outdoor cleaning tasks: a brass bristle brush for rusted metal surfaces; a wide-area bristle brush for cleaning decks, vinyl siding and shutters; a heavy grit black barbecue brush for busting grime and grease from barbecue grills; and a green scrubbing pad for scouring outdoor furniture.

It can be immersed in water, features an easy press ``on'' button and weighs 1, pounds. The scrubber is powered by B&D's new rechargeable battery system, called the VersaPak. Retail: $49-$59. Available locally. Consumers also can call Black & Decker, 1-800-54-HOW-TO or visit the company's web site: www.blackanddecker.com

GARDEN ANGELS. The garden can be devilish to deal with, especially when you have to struggled with a hot, dry summer like we've had this year. But there are lots of garden angels to watch and protect the flowers and wildlife as they try to thrive at your home.

Angels for the garden come in all shapes, materials and sizes. Resin and concrete angels can be painted or left to weathe. Decorative wooden angels, many made by crafts people in the Hampton Roads area, can be sprayed with a clear-coat glaze to protect them from the elements. Clear glazes can be found at stores that sell craft supplies; various angels for the garden are usually found at garden centers and craft stores.

GIFTS AND GADGETS

If you know of a new gardening gift, gadget or book that should be profiled in Hampton Roads Gardening, call 247-4781.

Oct. 1997

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