Fall yard cleanup season is here! The blazing heat of summer is over, and the cooler days of autumn have arrived. And, right on schedule, the leaves are falling from the trees. Now is the traditional time for fall yard cleanup. It’s time to harvest the remaining fruits and vegetables from the garden, rake the leaves, and generally clean up the yard and garden to get ready for winter. Fortunately, there is a full arsenal of labor-saving tools to make fall yardwork easier. For pruning, we've got heavy-duty loppers. For controlling fallen leaves, we're got a powerful cordless electric leaf blower. Plus, there's always room in the shed for a quality pair of gloves. Here are some of the best tools that make fall yard cleanup easier and faster. Fall Yard Cleanup: Loppers Make Quick Work of Pruning A great pair of loppers is a handy tool when it’s time to prune a tree or trim a shrub. You can even cut off dead canes from a favorite climbing rose. The Extendable … [Read more...] about Great Tools Make Fall Yard Cleanup Easier
Best Battery Powered Chainsaws
The best battery powered chainsaws can now compete with gas-powered chainsaws for most homeowner uses. Cordless electric, battery powered chainsaws pack plenty of power to cut firewood, fell dying trees and prune branches. Plus, the best battery powered chain saws are easier to use, easier to start, quieter, and run cleaner with no fumes. There are now many different models of battery-powered chainsaws, so it’s important to choose the right chainsaw for your needs. That’s why Home, Garden and Homestead looked at the best cordless electric chainsaws and ranked them according to power, cutting time, and price. Our favorite battery-powered chainsaw models are described below. Editor’s note: A battery powered chainsaw is also known as a cordless electric chainsaw or cordless chainsaw. If you’re in the market for other cordless electric outdoor tools, read Best Cordless Leaf Blowers and Top Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers. Battery Power and Convenience How can a … [Read more...] about Best Battery Powered Chainsaws
Top Fruit Trees for Backyard Orchards
Plant a few top fruit trees for backyard orchards on your property, and your taste buds will thank you. There is nothing quite like fruit trees in the landscape to delight the eyes and nose with springtime blossoms. And there's nothing a wonderful as biting into freshly picked homegrown apple or peach. That's why we've chosen the top fruit trees for backyard orchards that will grow almost anywhere. Selecting the right kind of fruit tree to grow in a landscape comes down to two main factors: the varieties of trees that grow well in your area and your own personal taste. According to Ed Laivo, fruit tree specialist for Natural Hills Nursery, the top fruit trees described below have proven to be dependable growers in the widest range of climates and are better than others when it comes to consistent fruit production and flavor of the fruit. Here are Laivo’s top recommendations for backyard fruit trees that will produce bushels of delicious fruit, year after year. Top Fruit … [Read more...] about Top Fruit Trees for Backyard Orchards
Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
The best cordless leaf blowers come in handy when you need to move yard and garden debris. Cordless electric blowers are used primarily for leaves. But they also work great for grass clippings and other small debris. I even use my battery powered blower to blow light snow from my driveway and sidewalk. Cordless electric blowers never need gas. You never have to pull the starter cord a hundred times to get the engine started. All you do is charge the battery and flick a switch. Once you’ve tried a cordless electric blower, you will never go back to gasoline power. At least that’s the way it was for me. There is no shortage of choices when buying a battery powered blower. Most homeowners choose hand-held blowers. These lightweight tools perform well during most backyard cleanup jobs. Many professional groundskeepers prefer backpack blowers that have more powerful motors. Because bigger engines are heavier, it’s easier to carry that extra weight around when it’s strapped to your … [Read more...] about Best Cordless Leaf Blowers
Flowering Plants for Late Summer Garden Color
For some gardeners, adding flowering plants for late summer garden color is what makes or breaks their gardens. Springtime is the season for abundant flowers and colorful gardens. But by mid to late summer, most flowering plants are done blooming. As a result, late summer and early fall gardens can start looking a dull and tired. There’s nothing wrong with a garden dominated by green foliage. But extending the beauty of colorful blooms isn’t difficult. All you have to do is include plants in your garden that bloom later in the season. “Perennials that bloom in late summer and fall bring an added dimension to a garden,” said David Salman, chief horticulturist for HighCountryGardens,com. “These plants are essential for providing late-season nectar for all types of pollinators including bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and moths.” Here are some of the plants that Salman recommends for late summer garden color. Asters for Late Summer Garden Color Many species and … [Read more...] about Flowering Plants for Late Summer Garden Color
