Show -t r- E2E3 The Gardener’s Tool Shed The right tools can mean the difference between hours of gardening pleawork sure and painful Invest in a few quality tools and your time in the garden will be far more blades Keep them clean rewarding if need be store sharp and them out of the weather after use and serve they’ll you well for many years When shopping for tools there are a couple of factors to keep in mind “Vegetables: How to Select Grow and Enjoy" and whose experience includes more than 15 years working with vegetable seed companies the following are the basic tools that every gardener should have in the shed Garden fork: a digging fork used to loosen soil for garden beds remove plants lift root crops from soil turn the compost pile and divide Length of handle: long handles meain length provide better sure 47 leverage than short handles and usually have no grips Short handles: measuring about 25" in length are easier to handle and grips usually have Blade configuration: a straight blade will lift dirt out of a hole or trench cleanly the cant or lift is the angle of the blade to the handle— the greater the angle the more leverage you have to lift heavy loads Hand fork & trowel: use the fork to work off top soil prior to seeding and transplanting weeding and harvesting small root crops such as radishes use the trowel to transplant seedlings make seed furrows and to pry up weeds Construction: look for weldless solid socket construction with no joints or seams which can weaken or bend and eventually break Remember that the most useful tool is the one that feels most comfortable to you for the job at hand Cultivator or hoe: will loosen up soil clean ground of rocks and twigs weed and cultivate the soil to Derek Fell author of Pump action sprayer will dispense insect sprays and liquid fertilizers you’ll find them relatively inexpensive and ficient for home gardening perrenials fork Spading fork: good it has broad flat tines which lift heavy soil easily Garden spade: used for just about everything including transplanting slicing soil removing rocks and stones edging hammering in stakes and of course digging! According A and conditioners experts Chippershredden produces chips and shreds waste material prunings and roots so they’ll decompose more quickly when added to the compost pile Kemp and Lescha are two reliable names to look for in chippershredders Garden gloves: a good pair made of buckskin will protect against blisters also keep out moisture There are a couple of basics other than a mower that will keep your lawn looking its best and they are: Greenhouse: no longer considered a luxury a greenhouse is a tool for the gardener who wants to experiment with exotic flowers cultivate plants from seeds and cuttings or just be able to garden year ’round! and Rake: for clearing leaves and twigs Lawn shears: for clumps of grass getting to those awkward spots trimming the edges of the lawn U Lawn edging knife: to get a straight edge around the perimeter of the lawn it can also be used to cut and lift turf Smith & Hawken offers a good selec- c Our gardening recommend both the Mantis and Garden Way’s TillerCultivator Stakes and string: helpful in marking for creating out areas for digging straight rows at correct planting distances and for starting pole vegetables which require support Garden rake: essential for leveling the soil prior to planting it can also be used to blend fertilizer into the upper soil Garden cart: invaluable around the yard and garden it has better balance tion of fine quality tools— and versions for kids! Order the Smith & Hawken catalog from 25 Corte Madera Avenue Mill Valley CA 94941 The telephone number is gardeners and gardeners who want to expand in size or variety will want to consider these: Power tiller: essential for large and gardens it prepares the garden bed by mixing the soil amendment and it’s big than the wheelbarrow wheels allow it to move easily over all kinds of terrain it carries tools plants firewood— shop around and compost you'll find one that is light and maneuverable Garden hose: necessary to irrigate the Don’t skimp! buy a quality garden hose reinforced with a nylon cord c - 3 U 3 When entering from an advertiser appearing in USA WEEKEND please allow four to six weeks for delivery Sometimes delays do occur If they do contact Linda Mount USA WEEKEND 535 Madison Avenue New York New York 10022 BACKYARPOABPEMERSt “Greatest way to start seeds I’veeverused!” If you love the freedom and satisfaction of growing your own you’ll love the Actransplants celerated Propagation System (APS) we discovered in England It’s a growing tray automatic waterer and that is reusable and lots more convenient and productive than ordinary flats or peat pots! Here' bow It Creenbouae cover and growing tray hold warmth help difficult aeed germinate reservoir MATICALLY and nutrient upplle up to for AUTO- water HOMES? Buy a $fL Tiller Fora Small Job — Buy A Mantis! Each APS measure 9"xl4 W and heat retaining polystyrene made of of use for year Look for our next Special Home Section: March UMITED SUPPLY To assure delivery In time for spring planting PLEASE MAIL COUPON BELOW TODAY or for fastest service call (8021 YES! Plcuc nuh APS40 $7 95 e edit) — Professional Germinating for bett u'lckinf 9 units) $350 ex Order 9 or more Until pay pottage (Otberwite odd 62ordcr) 701 ENCLOSED $ C Check VISAMaatertard (Exp Card FREE SPRING Ruth Innovative Gardening Solution! Name 0 0 week "pegboard" transplanter pop plant out without damaging root or item! Unique 18756000 YOU DO USA WEEKENDERS! work: Capillary mat under planting tray draw water up like wick underover watering prevent WHO OWNS © Oil — City ST CATALOG Zip Cardener'i Inteivtk Supply Co — haiiiimii Plants Potpourri HAT 904 Pennsly $ ERBS Seeds TOP 1987 1 The exciting Mantis TillerCultivator is changing the way American garden weighs ust 20 pounds so anyone starts win a flick of the can use wnst cuts through tough soils turns on a dime weeds in and around plants between narrow rows and along fence lines and runs all day on a gallon of gas! Best of an Mantis costs a traction of what you'll pay for a big tiller - Spices GARDENS Boise - $100 83706 (applied) TOPIARY jT SVWIZIS f Full - mr I TrCuivvio Menuteetvnnf Ca $0t KWGoumynwHq y— m mtormston rour 'nb Mint lrw ill I AdO'M city z li -- |