Author: Sara May

Garden Tools & Tips, Storage Solutions

Minimize the Messy in Gardening

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Messy Garden Tools Need Organization

Gardening is messy.  Don’t make it messier by tossing garden tools into a corner of your shed or garage when gardening chores are done for the day.  Not only are tools harder to locate when they’re needed again, they can suffer damage easily and require frequent replacement.

To prevent hoes, rakes, shovels, and other garden tools from getting out of hand, keep them neat and tidy in a convenient place.  A sturdy, wooden garden tool holder makes an ideal garden tool storage solution.  With casters underneath and a dedicated slot for each individual tool, a garden tool holder is easy to move where it’s needed, and makes organizing tools a snap.  Your tools can be found where you left them, and they’ll stay in good working order for many years to come.

Cedar Garden Tool Holder

Garden Tools & Tips, Healthy Ideas

Simple Solution for Gardening Woes

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Raised Planter Boxes for Back Pain Prevention

Gardening is an enjoyable pastime for millions of people, but for many, it can present challenges and hassles. Those of us who have issues with mobility, space limitations, or invasions by local wildlife may find gardening a frustrating experience. All of these challenges can be solved easily, though, with the addition of raised planter boxes.

Raised Planter Boxes

Raised planter boxes, which are available in square or rectangle shapes, are an easy way to keep plants and veggies contained, but they also offer a number of other advantages:

  • Cedar Rectangle Planter BoxesNo Bending Required — Planter boxes raised on sturdy legs are ideal for gardeners who may have difficulty bending down and working in garden beds on the ground.
  • No Critter Competition — Raised planter boxes are also appealing to gardeners who are tired of losing out to local rabbits and other critters. They keep tender plants and veggies out of reach.
  • Suitable for Small Spaces — For homeowners who lack yard space for planting a garden, planter boxes give them the opportunity to keep a garden on the patio or deck.

Thanks to raised planter boxes, gardeners can enjoy fresh herbs, veggies, and fruits without having to experience the problems that sometimes accompany traditional ground-level gardens.

Garden Tools & Tips

Do You Really Know Why You Use Compost?

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Compost Bin

You’ve probably  heard that making your own garden compost in a home compost bin saves you money because that’s one less thing you need to go out and buy at the local garden center.  But, did you ever wonder exactly why you use compost in the first place?  Initially, that may sound like a dumb question, but it’s really not.  Gardeners use compost because it’s good for growing plants, but there’s more to it than just that.  Here are just a couple of reasons why you’re using compost in your garden:

Compost is good for soil.  As any gardener will tell you, not all soil is good soil.  Meaning, not all soil is ideal for growing and maintaining a hardy garden.  Because compost is rich in nutrients and helpful bacteria and fungi, it can improve the quality of existing soil and create a more inviting home for growing plants.

Compost prevents pests and diseases.  Compost “has also been shown to suppress plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers, and promote higher yields of agricultural crops,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Maybe it’s enough to know that compost is good for growing plants, but understanding why can help gardeners appreciate compost all the more.

The ThermoQuick® Compost Bins   Earthmaker Aerobic Composter

Garden Tools & Tips, Storage Solutions

The Proper Workspace Starts a Garden Right

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Ready for Gardening

January is National Mail Order Gardening Month, and it’s the perfect time to peruse those fabulous gardening catalogs to find favorite plant varieties as well as new and interesting possibilities.  While you’re waiting for your seed order to arrive, gather the necessary potting supplies: soil, compost, seed pots, trays, and whatever else you like to use to prepare for the upcoming season of seedlings.

Where do you do your seed planting?  Do you have a designated space with room enough for working and storing yourCedar Potting Bench supplies?  The most efficient way to complete these early gardening tasks is to have a space dedicated to this work.  A potting bench offers the perfect location because it comes equipped with hooks for hanging tools, shelves for keeping pots and soil close at hand, and ample space for working.

Upping your gardening game this year means having the right tools and gear to make your gardening work easier and more efficient.  Treat yourself to a new potting bench and get the season off to a smart start.

Backyard Fun, Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Portable Fun

Thinking Outside the Picnic Basket

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Picnic Baskets and Picnic Totes

When you think of the word “picnic,” do you automatically associate it with warm and sunny outdoor excursions to the park or the beach?  If we open our minds a bit, though, we can quite easily visualize picnics happening anywhere, at any time of year.  

Picnics don’t have to take place out of doors.  A picnic meal can be set up on the living room floor, at the office, or in the treehouse out back.  All it takes is a little imagination and a bit of whimsy.  What really makes a picnic a picnic is a thoughtfully packed snack or meal, a blanket for sitting on, and good company.  It doesn’t require sun, warmth, or outdoors if those three ingredients are not available. 

Consider using a Picnic Basket or Tote that includes cloth napkins and washable, shatter-proof dishes and utensils.  Not only do these picnic sets give a picnic style, they make the experience environmentally friendly, too.  Here are a few tips to ensure a perfect picnic:

  • Packing a salad?  Take your dressing along in a separate container and add it to your salad just before eating.  Your lettuce and veggies will stay crisp and delicious.
  • Avoid bringing foods that need to be reheated if you won’t have access to a microwave or other cooking device.
  • Hard cheeses, fruits, hummus, crusty bread, and chopped veggies like broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers make excellent picnic fare.  They’re healthy and don’t require refrigeration if they’ll be consumed that day.