Easy work Pest pullers,
pellet products and power for patio perfection
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. |