Our backyard is small, but filled with lilac trees and evergreen bushes. Squirrels abound while birds nest in the trees and bird houses. Pine barked and grassy areas each share a portion of the yard. With water usage getting expensive we have become zeroscapers, and with new regulations against chemicals on the lawns we spend time weeding by hand. To compound things, there is always waste from my building projects to be disposed of.
But we don’t complain. Being ecologically responsible is the new norm in many gardens and around many homes, and there are easy and environment-friendly alternatives to the old ways as suppliers get on board.
Before raking out the dead leaves, cleaning up the perennial beds, pruning the roses, neutralizing for salt damage, putting down Eartheasy’s recommended corn gluten for weed control and adding mulch, consider investing in these great gardening tools to replace those old ways of maintaining and growing your lawn and garden and disposing of waste.
Catching Life on Camera
It can be used for many things but Wingscapes’ Time Lapse Plant Cam seems like an interesting way to legally nose in on the privacy of your garden’s plants and wildlife. As the manufacturer, Wingscapes explains, “the high resolution digital camera takes photos at set time intervals and automatically creates time lapse movies. From immediately, to once a day, a variety of time intervals gives … flexibility. Rugged and weatherproof, you can leave it unattended without worry. It is capable of capturing both close-ups and landscapes.”
Filling Those Garden Waste Bags
I like Leaf-Pactor’s utility tool for holding up two yard bags at a time and keeping them upright. The manufacturer lists its features as follows:
- a convenient way to open and flatten the bottom of paper yard waste bags with ease
- built-in clips to keep two paper yard waste bags upright when filling them with leaves
- the serrated base breaks down and compacts dry leaves inside bags
Using a Waste Disposal Company
With our space limitations, a metal dumpster is, for all practical purposes, out of the question. Instead, I’m constantly driving to the public recycling facility. But there is an alternative: the Bagster- a dumpster in a bag that holds up to 3 yards of waste. As the manufacturer explains, you simply “buy the Bagster bag at your local home improvement retailer, and then store it and use it when you need it.” But they caution that yard waste is not accepted in all areas. When finished you “schedule your collection online or by phone. Here are the collection steps:
- schedule and pay for your collection online or call Waste Management’s toll-free phone number
- WM will will collect the Bagster within three days of when you schedule collection and properly dispose of its contents
A Collapsible Rain Barrel
Even zeroscapers use some water. Rain barrels are functional but not always pretty so an alternative is the collapsible variety that can be disassembled and stored for the winter. One variety, the 'Heaven & Earth Collapsible Rain Barrel' by Footprint Tools Canada Limited, retails for slightly over $100.00. Advertised features include:
- can be assembled and disassembled in minutes with no tools required
- it is easy to transport and store
- it is made of three layers with a center mesh of strong durable ultra violet protected PVC
- standard hose fits the bottom tap to easily fill watering cans or pails
- holds approximately 2000 litres or 42 imperial gallons
A Telescoped, Stand-up Weeder
Pulling weeds is better than applying pesticides but it can be hard on the back and joints, particularly if you have any arthritic parts. An alternative is the Fiscars Deluxe Telescopic Weeder that you can use standing up. Retailer Canadian Tire lists the following features:
- puts an end to the back breaking of weeding
- no more stooping or tugging
- an environmentally friendly way to eradicate dandelions, thistles and other invasive weeds
- extra-long serrated teeth grip to remove entire weed including the root
- telescopic shaft can be adjusted up to 20 cm (8 inches)
- Nyglass D-handle boosts leverage and working comfort
Container Gardening: Potato Bag
With a small space and a preference for organic vegetables I enjoy container gardening. A new product out is the potato planter bag by the U.K garden supplier Bosmere. Yardlover.com lists its features as follows:
- made to last from tough woven polyethylene
- UV stabilized
- strong webbing handles
- holds 40 litres of growing medium
- reusable
- no digging, tilling or hoeing needed
- dimensions: 18 inches tall X 14 inches diameter
The Pick of the Bunch
All of these products and services are exceptional. However, in Sharon Anne Waldrop’s article, ‘Easy Gardening’ in Arthritis Today, reference is made of the the fact that "Fiskars Power Gear garden tools received the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use Commendation.” In light of that I give the weeder and its manufacturer a special nod of approval.
James Gibson - James Gibson is a retired teacher and small business owner. He is a published writer and has a wide spectrum of interests.
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