Archive for the ‘Gardening’ Category

Simple Steps to Assure a Great Quality Lawn

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008

Quality Homes have wonderful gardens which attract most people. Lawns are a very significant part of our house. Just eradicating weeds and unnecessary shrubs does not serve the purpose; it requires some special skill to turn out a piece of grass into a beautiful landscape. You can also carry out some vital steps like removing undesirable grass, using quality seeds, proper fertilizers, maintenance, water irrigation and lot more. By practicing all these things, you will definitely acquire an attractive lawn that will make you feel contented for years.

Great Quality Gardens

The thick grass creates a calming sensation and makes the moments more memorable, especially when you spend some leisure time with your family and friends, sipping coffee and watching your children play on the bed of the thick green grass. To maintain your lawn for years, the foremost thing is to apply a good quality fertilizer and watering regularly at proper intervals of time.

Steps to assure Great Quality

• The first step is to remove all the unwanted grass, weeds and bushes. These kind of undesirable plants act as a parasite for the new developing seeds, so they should be removed immediately.

• Then comes the seeding part. Usually, the best time to seed is the time of fall or autumn. This time is entitled as the best time for the seeds to grow and will help acquire a completely new look. So you can start seeding in the month of August and September.

• It is recommended to rake with a double duty rake before starting the process of seeding. It helps to grind and pulverize the soil properly so that the new seeds can breathe properly.

• If you are reseeding, it is equally important to loose the soil and for this purpose you can make use of peat moss or gypsum in small quantities. Moreover, use a high quality seed to ensure excellence in the growth of grass and other plants as well. Also, after sprinkling of seeds you should spray some water immediately.

• If you want the lawn grass to grow faster, while reseeding you should cover the area, where you sprinkled the new seeds, with a polythene sheet. This will retain moisture inside the sheet and the seeds will require a less amount of water. However when the seeds start germinating you should remove the plastic sheets, so that these kernels have a proper space to grow up.

• You can also plant some attractive trees, blossoming shrubs, hedge plants, flowers and lot more so that you can make your landscape more attractive.

• Another important idea is to use some mild fertilizers so that the soil remains fertile and free from all kind of pests.

Applying Chemicals

If you want to provide specific nutrient and also want to protect plants from pests, you can bring into play some pesticide management practices that include sound fertilizers. This also helps in maintaining a good groundwater quality. While using these sound fertilizers you should keep in mind some important notions like following all the instructions that are labeled on the covers. If in any case you do not follow these instructions, your garden space may suffer from ineffective treatment. Moreover these fertilizers should be mixed accurately before applying. Apart from this, you can get some excellent ideas on maintaining a great quality lawn, on different websites. So follow these guidelines as these will surely help you to obtain a great quality lawn.

Turf has a lot of benefits for human. It can purify the air, produces oxygen, absorbs carbon dioxide, help reduce the noise and mud. It also provides a safe environment for children and pets to play. Exoticlawns.com.au is expert in providing quality lawn and turf supplies Sydney based lawn and turf preparation and installation service.

Gardening Tips For Beginners

Monday, December 1st, 2008

Our contemporary lifestyle, crammed schedules and crushing workloads tend to make gardening a threatened pastime. Especially if you have a long commute to and from work, you’ll start whining if your precious time is consumed by running around trying to maintain your garden. Pruning land mowers, pulling out weeds, tilling and fertilizing, trimming grass and sweating away can really sound nightmarish, if you don’t have a proper gardening plan. Done right, gardening isn’t really such a strenuous work and the results you get are worth the efforts. A few restful hours soaking in the beauty of a lovely garden can really lift your spirits and rejuvenate you when you’re stressed out. Not mentioning the joy you get when folks compliment you on its possession. So how do you get about creating your corner of sanctuary in a low maintenance manner? Here are some tips to get you going:

Analysis: The first thing you should do is to logically analyze your existing property. Which area catches your fancy and also requires less care? Which area has a higher weeding problem? Which area is more difficult to mow? You don’t want to run out of breath mowing uphill! Is there any area that requires too much care already? You may need to compromise a bit if your favorite areas require more maintenance than expected. So take notes on your examination and write down the garden activities that you prefer the least, and the ones you enjoy doing the most. We all have our own choices.

Goals: Next comes the goal. What exactly is your goal? Are you planning to have a vegetable garden to provide pesticide-free food for yourself and your family? Or are you planning to have a flower garden just to relax and add to the charm? Or you want both? Perhaps your goal is to increase the value of your property? Perhaps you want to create more privacy by blocking the view with thick plants? Or you want to beam with pride when your friends and neighbors applaud on your skills? Make a note of all your gardening goals.

Planning: Once you’re ready with your goals, you now have to plan it out. Be as realistic as possible, don’t go by emotions and don’t be adamant. Run your imagination and formulate your ideas by drawing it out on paper. Make compromises willingly, not grudgingly. Berry gardens are great but you may make do with some flowery trees. Ditto for a vegetable garden to a salad garden. There are several plants that hardly need any care. You can have a wild flower garden to replace a shade garden. Understand the limitations of your property, your budget and your time. We all have our own dreams, so save them in a little corner of your heart – you never know when they will come true in future!

Tips: First of all, you need to accept that gardening takes its own sweet time. If you try to hurry things up, you will not have anything done at all. Worse, you may end up creating more problems for yourself. So take things slowly, take up one area / job at a time and don’t be over enthusiastic.

Next, begin with plants that are suited to your climate, soil, temperature and moisture in which you are planning to grow them. Else you will end up wasting your time.

Formal hedges can be converted into naturally shaped informally pruned hedges, which require very less maintenance.

If you plan to have a lawn, exclude areas which has too many slopes, surface root interference, and where there are many trees or plants, where trimming around the trunks is difficult. Avoid the fence and low hanging trees where you need to stoop a lot. Also avoid shady areas.

Use electric shears to trim hedges instead of the two handled regular shear. You will require less energy to get the job done. You can also use them for dried stalks and ornamental grasses.

Leaves and grass clippings can be transformed into compost and used as mulch. They can also be burnt but this pollutes the air and is also against the law in some places. Remember to shred the leaves first – this will speed up the compost process.

Nirjara Rustom moderates the Gardening Tips Section of http://www.bharatbhasha.com at http://www.bharatbhasha.com/gardening.php - your best free information resource on gardening.

Garden Bird Houses - Some Tips to Attract the Birds and Keep Them Safe

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

There are many ways to attract wild birds to your garden and hopefully to set up home in your garden bird house. Providing food and a safe place to eat is one of the easiest and most effective ways. This is particularly important during the winter months when there may be lack of their natural food.

Set up feeding stations designed for the different species you would like to see in your garden.

For finches place specially designed thistle feeders that hold the small thistle feeds that they love. Other speciality bird feeders include hummingbird feeders to hold nectar, woodpecker feeders and jay feeders. Tube feeders are designed to prevent seeds spilling on the ground and keep the seeds dry. You could also set up a window feeder to see the birds from the comfort of your room.

Always check the food regularly to make sure it is dry and free from mold and clean up around the feeder to deter wasps, ants and other predators. If squirrels are a problem in your garden be sure to purchase a squirrel proof bird feeder.

Provide Fresh Water for the Birds

Wild birds need a source of fresh water for both drinking and bathing. You could provide this with water pans or bird baths. Place water containers at various levels as some birds prefer ground level, others will be attracted to water placed at a higher level. Place any water sources away from bird feeders as birds prefer a quiet place for bathing and preening. Attract the birds to your water source with a water dripper placed in the bird bath or a mister in the trees. The gentle sounds of running water will attract the birds and many birds enjoy a bath below the dripper or in a mister as it simulates raindrops on their feathers.

During the winter months a heated bird bath or one fitted with a de-icer will ensure the water is always at the right temperature and available for the birds.

Provide a Natural Environment

Let a part of your garden grow wild and scatter wild flower seeds through the area to provide a natural environment for the birds. hang bird feeders from trees or posts in this area. This will enhance the sense of security for the birds.

Your bird house must be a safe place for birds to nest and bring up their young. Here are some tips for making your bird house proof from squirrels, yellow jackets, snakes, cats, wasps, ants and other invasive birds.

Perches

There is no need to have any perches in your bird house. The nesting birds do not need them and they only provide a means for predators to gain entrance. many bird houses come with a perch under the entrance hole. Remove it!

Baffles

A bird house mounted on a pole can have baffles fitted to prevent predators from climbing the pole and gaining entrance to the bird house. A metal baffle is preferable as it cannot be chewed. A bird house mounted on a tree can also have baffles attached to the tree trunk.

Metal plates

A metal plate fitted with a small entrance hole can be placed over the original hole on the bird house. This will prevent predators from enlarging the hole to gain entrance.

Entrance Hole

use a bird house with a small entrance hole that is just large enough for the species of bird you wish to attract. A larger hole will allow invading birds to gain entrance and eject the baby birds inside.

Ants Nests

Regularly check around the bird house (and bird feeders if you have them) for ants nests. Deal with them quickly using a method that is not harmful to wild birds.

Metal Poles

For bird houses mounted on metal poles slip a large PVC pipe over the pole before mounting the bird house. This will deter squirrels, snakes and raccoons from climbing up to the bird house. You could also smear vegetable oil on the pipe.

Cats

Fit your cat with a collar with a bell to prevent her sneaking up on the birds.

For more information on attracting birds to your garden and some good deals on garden bird houses check out Garden Bird Houses or Blue Bird Houses

Attracting Birds to Your Garden Bird Feeder

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

It is most beneficial to feed wild birds during the winter months when their natural food may be unavailable but shortages do occur at other times of the year. So putting food out for the wild birds at any time of year can help when there are shortages. During the breeding season a temporary shortage of food will affect the young fledglings so it is especially helpful to put out food for the birds at this time.

Feeding in the Spring and Summer

During the summer and especially when they are moulting, birds need high protein foods. Good examples to put in your feeder are raisins, currents, black sunflower seeds, grated cheese, meal worms, soaked sultanas and commercially prepared summer seed mixtures. You can also purchase mixes for insect loving wild birds.

For fruit eating birds put out grapes, bananas, apples or pears, suitably chopped into smaller pieces. Avoid the use of peanuts, bread or fats as they can be harmful if taken back to baby birds. Home made fat balls are not really a good idea as they quickly go off in the warm weather. Commercially prepared fat bars are better and last for around three weeks before they must be thrown away.

During unseasonably cold or wet weather there may insect shortages. If the weather is very dry earthworms become difficult to catch. For birds with young in the nest they will be tempted by food on bird tables during these times so it is essential to make sure any food you put out is suitable for the young birds. Never put out loose peanuts, large pieces of bread, fats or hard, dry food at this time as these can be fatal if taken back to feed the baby birds.

Feeding in the Fall and Winter

During the colder months put food out for the birds regularly, twice a day if possible, especially in very cold weather. The birds need high energy food during this time so foods high in fats are particularly suitable. Put out good quality food and remove any uneaten food regularly.

Attracting Birds to Your Feeder

You can attract different species of birds to your garden by providing the food they like in a suitable feeder. Large birds will need a feeder with large, sturdy perches, hummingbirds will be attracted to a nectar feeder, finches to a thistle feeder. You can also purchase goldfinch feeders, jay feeders and woodpecker feeders.

Types of Bird Feeders

Feeders suitable for different types of food:

Tube feeder - small seeds including thistle seeds

Platform feeder - fruit or other food types

Hummingbird feeder - nectar

Squirrel proof - mesh cage feeders - peanuts, larger seeds, suet

Standard type feeder - safflower seeds, sunflower seeds

Food suitable for different species.

* Bluebird - bluebird seed available to purchase, cornmeal with peanut butter

* Bunting - small grains and seeds.

* Blackbirds - breadcrumbs, small seeds and grains

* Chickadee - sunflower seeds, unsalted nuts, safflower seeds, suet

* Finches - black sunflower seeds, thistle seeds

* Jays - peanuts, suet, corn, sunflower

* Mourning Doves - cracked corn seeds, wheat, sunflower and safflower seeds

* Mockingbirds - bread, suet, raisins

* Robins - breadcrumbs, raisins, apples

* Northern Shrikes - Suet.

* Siskins - sunflower seeds, thistle seeds

* Thrashers - suet, raisins, bread

* Towhee birds - seed mixes for small birds

* Woodpeckers - cracked corn seeds, wheat, sunflower and safflower seeds

* Warblers - peanut butter, suet

* Townsend’s Warblers - cheese, peanut butter, suet

* Yellow Throated Warblers - breadcrumbs.

For more information on attracting birds to your garden and some good deals on garden bird feeders check out Garden Bird Feeders or Finch Bird Feeders

The Benefits of Garden Fountains

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Remodeling and landscaping have become more popular projects than ever before, as people want to create a living space inside and out that is unique and complementary to their personalities– but it is also a pricey endeavor.

As the economy continues to affect pocketbooks, people have had to be even more creative with their patio and backyard revamping by choosing key pieces to make their space more inviting. Often times even a simple garden fountain (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1070) can change the mood.

Garden fountains and waterfalls are made from a variety of materials such as stone, fiber glass, wood, copper, porcelain, ceramic and concrete.

Water fountains were first used in the Middle East as hieroglyphics on ancient Egyptian tombs have shown researchers. These pictures showed the use of garden fountains in home courtyards. The Mesopotamians used many fountains to decorate their formal gardens.

Romans made use of many outdoor fountains as they were religious about their bathing rituals and enjoyed water features in the gardens mingled with public baths. Fountains have been a place for wishing and have helped people relax as the sound of running water calms the senses.

When landscaping or revamping a yard or patio, there are many options to use depending on the size of the space and the budget available. Flowers, paths, new grass, wood chips, pebbles, sculptures, decorative lanterns and outdoor fireplaces all create a more inviting atmosphere.

Patio water features (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=3252) can be placed anywhere around the home and come in a wide range of styles and prices. The sound of moving water is inviting for guests and provides a place to relax after a long day.

Besides the relaxation and beauty, having a garden fountain inside or outside has been found to improve health. The holistic living approach discusses the existence of positive and negative ions in the air.

Positive ions come from things such as T.V.s, computers and microwaves which pollute the air and cause us to become tired and more susceptible to health issues. But water fountains or garden waterfalls release negative ions into the air which naturally purifies and increases energy as well as can help relieve stress and depression.

To care for a garden fountain, you must protect it from the elements. During winter the pump should be brought inside to protect from freezing. All concrete, including cast stone is porous and cold weather can often crack these surfaces.

If a fountain is completely dry in freezing conditions, it will most likely be protected, but if there is any moisture, it is susceptible to cracking. Fiberglass fountains are easier to protect because they are light enough to bring inside.

If possible, place the fountain in an open area so that debris isn’t constantly falling into it. To keep the fountain clean and working well, it is wise to spray it down (including the pump) with a hose every couple months. These simple steps are all you need to preserve your garden fountain for years.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in gardening, home improvement, and collecting patio water features. For an amazing garden fountain or a selection of garden waterfalls, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.

How to Create a Harmonious Garden

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

Creating a garden on your patio or in your backyard brings beauty to a home that landscaping alone cannot obtain. A well-cared for garden will give back for years to come by providing beauty and a peaceful place to relax.

The first thing to evaluate when creating a garden is deciding how much space you can dedicate to it. Once you’ve found a good space that has both light and shade and isn’t in a place that could be easily ruined by children or pets, you are set to plant.

Next, you need to evaluate what plants will thrive and what garden ornaments will complement the space the best. Treat your garden like an extended room off your home. Choose themes, colors, patio fountains (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=1129), and other accessories that will complement one another as a whole.

Flowers and plants will need the most research to see which ones require more attention and which will thrive in the environment that you are creating. Perennials such as violets and irises do well in the shade and annual flowers such as impatiens and begonias do well in partial shade. Flowers that thrive in full sunlight could include poppies, daisies or morning glories.

If you are deciding on whether to invest in large water features, consider the wide variety of options available to you. Water features can be indoor, outdoor, concrete, bamboo, marble, rotating, luxury, soothing or decorative and even solar-powered. Water features are used all over the world for aesthetic purposes in homes, gardens, parks and city courtyards, for entertainment like fountain shows, and for relaxation in spas.

Solar-powered water features have become more popular as more people decide to “go green” around the house. These water features have a low voltage water pump connected to a solar panel placed in the complete sunlight which allows them to charge. They are maintenance free and are more versatile because they can be placed anywhere as opposed to being near an electrical source.

Large water features (http://www.garden-fountains.com/Detail.bok?no=123) also range in styles from all over the globe such as Asian, Indian, European African, and South American as well as contemporary and traditional and can match any d?cor.

Patio fountains are affordable water features that can dress up any home yard, or business as well as provide a relaxing and aesthetic mood to the space. Fountains are made of materials such as stone, fiber glass, wood, copper, porcelain, ceramic and concrete.

Other options that spice up landscaping and gardens and give a regal feel are garden statues. Statues have been used in gardens since the era of the ancient Egyptians, Grecians and Romans. Temples and the gardens within them were adorned with statues of the gods. Since then, statues can be found in virtually any form, to adorn every space imaginable.

The materials used to make statues are very versatile including, concrete, iron, steel, copper, bronze, lead, terracotta, ceramic and glass. Some popular themes include cherubs, animals, and mythical characters. Choosing one theme, instead of mixing many different statues together will help to create a more consistent and harmonious feel.

So get out there and start shopping! Soon you will be creating a garden that is unique, beautiful, and well worth the investment.

Sarah Martin is a freelance marketing writer based out of San Diego, CA. She specializes in gardening, landscaping, and collecting garden statues and large water features. For a wide variety of patio fountains, please visit http://www.garden-fountains.com/.

Make the Most of Your Garden Bird Bath

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Garden bird baths and garden bird feeders are excellent ways to attract wild birds to your garden. Place a bird bath in a quiet part of the garden well away from any bird feeders as birds like a quiet place to bathe and drink.

To keep your birdbath at the correct temperature for your bird visitors to drink or bathe the whole year round you could either buy a bird bath with a heater installed or attach a heater to an unheated birdbath. Birdbaths equipped with heaters either use a cord plugged into an electric outlet or have solar panels to collect the sun’s energy to power the heater. Solar power bird baths are easier to install, are cost free and need very little maintenance. They can collect enough of the sun’s energy to keep your bird bath ice free even on very cold days. In addition to heaters you can also purchase de-icers to keep the water accessible to the birds.

A heated bird bath will usually be longer lasting than an unheated one as constant freezing and melting of the water results in cracks and damage to the concrete, stone or marble materials unless you keep the bird bath empty throughout the colder weather. maintaining the water at a constant temperature will ensure that the bird bath is undamaged and will give your bird visitors warm water to bathe in and to drink all the year round.

To attract the birds and also to agitate the water to prevent mosquitoes laying their eggs you could consider adding a bird bath dripper. This can be as simple as a pipe that drips water into the bowl, making the pleasant sound of running water which will attract the birds. More elaborate drippers can be purchased that are shaped like dragonflies, climbing ivy, butterflies and more, usually made from copper to look more attractive. Birds will love to bathe in the dripper as it simulates the feeling of raindrops on their feathers. For smaller birds such as hummingbirds or warblers you could use a mister in your garden or on your bird bath. Misters do use up more water than drippers however.

In addition to attracting the birds a dripper will keep the water agitated and prevent mosquitoes from settling on the water surface to lay their eggs. There are also other ways to prevent mosquitoes from breeding including using a water wiggler or mosquito dunks. Water wigglers run on batteries and produce vibrations which cause ripples on the water surface. They are easy to use and, being battery operated do not need any elaborate installation. Just add the batteries and attach to the bird bath. They are quiet so they do not disturb the peace in the garden or frighten away the birds.

Mosquito dunks are a natural method to stop the mosquitoes breeding. They can be placed in bird baths and also ponds, barrels, gutters etc, in fact anywhere were standing water accumulates. Place one dunk for one hundred square feet of water surface once a month. As you only need a small amount for a bird bath break off a piece and save the unused pieces for later. Dunks are environmentally friendly and are a good alternative to chemical treatments. They work differently to the drippers and water wigglers as they do not prevent eggs being laid but kill the larva before they can mature.

For more information on attracting birds to your garden and some good deals on garden bird baths check out Garden Bird Baths or Heated Bird Baths

How Organic Control Methods Get Rid of Weeds Effectively

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Weeds can become a nuisance, if ignored and not properly controlled. The Organic Control Method can produce a weed-free garden to avoid the side effects of herbicide poisoning.

Weeds aggressively grows in lawns, gardens and natural areas. These unwanted plants block sunlight and get the important nutrients needed by growing plants. Determining the two weed life cycles such as annual or perennial is important in exhibiting control methods.

One of the best methods is the Organic Weed Control. This method is cheaper and simpler to manage. Mulching and the use of gardening tools are good practices for getting rid of weeds.

Mulch

Garden mulch is a protective layer on top of the soil that suppresses weeds. It is used for protection from threading, compaction and erosion. This method can act as an aid to plant culture. It conditions and retains warmth in the soil. The best time to mulch is during autumn and spring.

Mulch can be categorized in three methods:

1. Sheet Mulch – This is the best method of suppressing perennial weeds. It is easy to cut into shape, relocate, plant and store. Sheet mulch can avoid damages onto vegetables and roots of fruits. It can also improve the use of its top covering of bark or chippings.

Types of Mulch can be identified as:

• Geotextile – This is a woven or non woven permeable sheet and needle punch made from polypropylene and polyester. This can be used as a barrier between the soil and loose mulch in order to diminish perennial weeds.

• Black (White) Plastic Sheet – These are black plastic sheets (400-600 gauge of silage sheeting) that warms the soil. It keeps its moist.

• Fibre Sheets – This is a bio-degradable bonded wood developed for garden applications such as tree and flower seeded mats.

• Newspapers – These are whole 8 sheet thick papers that go together with weed-tops, including straws that hold and compost in order to suppress weeds on vegetable plots. This becomes a paper mash that can be forked and added as organic matter for the soil.

• Cardboard – A brown cardboard is more effective when it breaks down and encourages earthworms. This material allows air flow and even penetrates water.

2. Ornamental mulch – This enhances the landscape along pathways and the entire yard. It blends with house colors and decors. Using permeable barrier membranes, wood chip and gravel, this will prevent the sinkage of the soil.

3. Organic Mulch – This is widely used mulch meant for fruit bushes and flowers. It conditions and feeds the soil. It also protects it against drought in the summer and even improves drainage. Some of its properties are as follows:

• Easy to apply with a reasonable price.

• Freely drains and permits good aeration.

• Not too low Nitrogen content.

• Water will not become saturated.

Organic mulch can act as a leaf mold It can be used as a base for composting seeds. By gathering fall leaves inside a bag and leaving it to rot will eventually help add nutrients to the soil. Pine needles and lawn cuttings can retain soil moisture. For “no dig gardening”, farmyard manure is best applied in roses, pumpkins and cucumber among others, especially during the spring or late winter seasons. Other types used include straw, hay, weeds, green tops, and garden composts.

The use of the right gardening tools will satisfy the implementation of organic weed control methods. This will help gardeners maintain and remove weeds with no hassle. Fork tools can also remove underground stems of perennial weeds, without slicing the roots of plants or even damaging crops. While garden claws act as a cultivator of small gardens in order to loosen weeds, the claw can easily use top dressings or fertilizers for repetitive action. For tap roots and disturbed weeds, you can use a Dutch hoe, spade and shovel.

For successful usage of the organic control method, one must aim for a 100% soil coverage and clear off open ground. Regular inspection or an immediate spotting of weeds while young is necessary. Regular mowing is also sufficient. Nothing is safer than using organic method for removing weeds.

For more information on Weed control advice and Electric Weed Eatersplease visit our website.

Choosing Cheap Gas Powered Weed Eaters

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

A gas powered weed eater is a powerful outdoor tool used in trimming or cutting hard-to-reach areas of lawn. It is basically a mixture of gas and oil, along with great features that will suit your budget needs.

Weed eaters are designed with a rotor at its pole end. It spins at high speed with the use of a nylon wire. It can cut even tall grasses and barks of trees. Most of these gas powered types weigh 9 to 14 pounds, having two engine strokes. This can start with ease and even run cleanly. However, it still needs to be pulled in order to create an exhaust emission and for tune-ups.

Determining the best gas powered weed eater as a supplement for lawn mowing is an effective strategy. Here are some ways you can consider:

• Decide what fits your lawn or garden needs. Assess the landscape. Consider how big the yard is. Gas powered weed eater are best for larger properties, especially in cutting down overgrown grasses and plants. A lower horse power weed eater can manage thin grasses also. These straight shaft trimmers can easily reach shrubs. This is while curved ones weigh less.

• Check its capabilities. In order to reduce fatigue, a lighter trimmer is the right choice. A good balance can be obtained by adjusting the handle in front. Checking for smooth controls can add an evenly distributed weight.

• Choose a smaller gap or protective sleeve. Wrapping around and cutting head tops with gaps on tall grass will slow down the use of weed eaters. Problems can be avoided with the use of a smaller gap around the shaft.

• Determine the needs of the weed eater parts. Gardeners can choose between nylon cords and plastic blades by the wacker blades. Nylon cords need frequent replacement while plastics can break easily. Both are inexpensive with effective usage.

• Choose a more quiet type motor. Some gas powered trimmers are noisy and may require you to wear hearing protection. Many manufacturers are introducing quiet-running engines already.

• Consider the brand models in the market. Manufacturers of weed eaters can present a wide array of professional but budget friendly features in the marketplace. Big names include Weed Eater/Poulan, Ryobi, Homelite and Craftsman. Weed Eater, Poulan and Poulan Pro product lines can give the best value, with outmost quality and durability. Some products you can choose from are:

1. Weed Eater Gas-Powered String Trimmer, Reconditioned,

Model#SST25 is a straight shaft trimmer having a quick-snap spool replacement and high-torque gear drive. Northern Tool Equipment can give the lowest price, only at $59.99.

Specifications:

• 174 in. cutting width

• 52 in. shaft

• 0.08 inch in diameter

• 25 cc quiet running engine

2. Poulan Weed Eater 16 25cc FeatherLiteXtreme Gas Line Trimmer

FeatherLiteXtreme is a quiet running 25 cc with a “no tool” assembly engine. This trimmer offers low emissions of powerful 2 cycle primer bulbs, for a quick start. The price ranges from $77 to $85.64.

Specifications:

• 123 lbs shipping weight

• 16/40 cm cutting path

• Tap-N-Go line advance

• Line diameter of 080/2mm

• Curved unit shaft type

• Limited 2 year warranty

3. Factory-Reconditioned Ryobi Gas-Powered Straight-Shaft String Trimmer Model #ZR30002- $89.99

Product Details:

• 18 inches cutting swath

• 14.8 lbs, shipping weight

• Line advancement of.095 in. bump feed.

• 30cc 1.0HP engine

• Dual piston rings with hard chrome cylinder plated.

• Non CARB compliant

4. Homelite MightyLite String Trimmer

Homelite MightyLite UT21506 is a gas-powered lightweight model that can do heavy duty trimming for a low value of $64.

Product Details:

• 17 in. curved shaft

• Weighs 8 pounds

• Tool-free assembly

• Lightweight

• 1 year warranty

For more information on Gas Weed Eaters and Weed Eater FeatherLitePlus please visit our website.

Go Online Shopping With Discounted Weed Eaters

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Weed Eaters are one of the important gardening tools. A wide variety of these are now sold in the market. These can be sold as electric or gas powered.

Weeding is the most time-consuming job in a garden or lawn. It takes good quality gardening tools to get the job done right. There are many specialized stores online that offers a variety of weed eaters. Gardeners may even have a sample demo in order to ensure its quality. Now, online shopping sites can help gardeners to compare and to order tools without leaving home. They offer the latest trends and discounts on new and used weed eaters.

Northern Star and Equipment, Amazon, Walmart and Ebay are some online shops that advertise weed eaters at a nominal price. Some of the branded tools featured online are as follows:

• Weed Eater FeatherLitePlus Curved-Shaft Trimmer - Reconditioned, Model# FL20 for only $44.99

Product Specifications:

- 15 in. cutting width

- 20 cc displacement

- .065 in diameter

- Curved shaft type

- Lightweight with Tap-N-Go line advance.

- Has a quick snap spool replacement.

Gardeners who purchase this product should handle this tool with ease and comfort by using only a minimal adjustment for the carburetor.

• 17-Inch 25cc Gas-Powered String Trimmer Curved Shaft #XT260. Amazon gives the lowest price of $77 for 1 to 2 business day ships. This tool was $99.99 before, a 23% savings on your budget. It features:

- .080″ Diameter Dual Exit Cutting Line

- 2-Cycle Gas Engine

- Tap n’ Go Head Type

- 9 lbs. shipping weight

- 58.6 x 11.4 x 11 in diameter

Accessories include:

- 2 Gallon Gas Can with Spill Proof Fill System

- Grass Samurai Universal Fit 3 Line String Trimmer Head

- Fuel Filter

- Cyclone .080-Inch-by-200-Foot Commercial Trimmer Line, Green

- Safety Glasses

The XT260 need no tools to be assembled in just 15 minutes. It is ergonomically- friendly for some users but it keeps the right pressure on the throttle so as to keep it working. Thus, reading its manual is a must before starting it.

• Weed Eater 12-Inch Electric String Trimmer is a small electric type trimmer. It is great for women and the elderly. The Model RT112 is best for small yards. It is ergonomically designed to minimize hand and back pains. Amazon offers this tool for only $30.58, the lowest price ever. Other features are as follows:

- Weighs 6.4 pounds

- 3.7 Amp electric trimmer

- Adjustable handle

- Includes extension cord retainer

- Dimension - 12.8 by 52 by 6.6 inches

- 2 year limited warranty

RT112 often offers gardeners more maneuverable space for trimming purposes. It can provide less fatigue with easy bumping feeds. Weed eater RT112 is easy to clean and it occupies only a small storage space at home. The best advantage about this electric tool is that it is odor-free.

Other discounted weed eater tools are:

1. Weedeater 12-Inch Electric Trimmer Model #RT112C – A 3.7 ampere for $35.46

2. Weed Eater 15-Inch Electric Trimmer 4.5-AMP Model #RTE115C - $50. Shipping is free.

3. Black & Decker Electric 12-Inch Bump Feed String Trimmer/ Edger 3.5-AMP Model #ST4000 - $34.99

4. Black & Decker Grass Hog 14-Inch Electric String Trimmer/ Edger 5-AMP Model #GH600 - $54.27

Weed eater product lines continuously offer low prices over the net. People who tend to buy this can commonly compare the price because of its quality and durability. More often, low quality products can give poor performance. In the growing era of gardening tools, manufacturer’s produce weed eaters with greater features in order to satisfy the consumer needs.

For more information on Discount Weed Eaters and Honda Weed Eatersplease visit our website.