The nice thing about adding a bit of “fire” to your backyard is that you have options. You can match your style and the feel of your neighborhood and yard. Do you like having room for dozens of people, or just an intimate gathering?

What features in your yard do you want the fire to accent? Do you have a nice view? If so, check out this picture.

Does not get much simpler than two fold-up chairs and a small fire pit. This is much like my in-law’s backyard, except they had an old bench with iron sides and slats. Lots of sky for viewing and a big enough fire pit that you could stoke it up a bit for those cool Spring or Fall evenings.

Many people will not have so much room and many need to compact their backyard fire experience a bit more. You could get a clay fire stove and a stand, and you would be good to go.

This is highly portable and does not need much space. Although, I would recommend some cleaning and mulching of the flower beds. Certainly these folk are no the formal type.

Formal Fire Settings

If you’d like to have something a bit more elaborate, check out is “near the sea” setting. Not really the type of backyard I have (or that I could afford), but it has very clean lines and both a table and an outdoor couch.

This is probably composite flooring with a natural wood wall. They have kinda gone for the indoor feel for the outdoors. Glad I do not see a TV! But I do imaging on the upper deck there is a 6-person hot tube with places to set your wine. I’d enjoy visiting, but do not expect my backyard to look like this.

Do you live in the Southwest of the US? Perhaps in Arizona. Isn’t that where many of the Californians are moving to get away from the high taxes?

Here is a very nice and very large integrated outdoor fireplace. Has nice informal seating and a natural wood roof. The roof can cut down on a hot sun while also creating interesting patterns on the decking.

Lots of integrated greenery gives this area a nice comfortable feel. I could see bringing over a 6-pack (or two… or more) and having a nice evening chat with my good friends.

Take a look around your backyard. Might some “fire” add a new dimension to what you already have? I hope so.

The post Add Fire to your Backyard appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Zinnias are actually a member of the daisy family and there are literally 100s of cultivars of a variety of colors and shapes. They are almost always brightly colored and their magic is that the more you pick them, the faster they grow!

They will like a very sunny area, will drink lots of water, and like nutrient-rich soil. They are annuals, but many people find that because they grow so easily from seed, that they will actually reseed themselves making them work much like perennials. This is just more of their magic.

I highly suggest you buy some Zinnia seeds (Amazon Affiliate link for your convenience) in the late Winter or even small plants if you are late to the game. Clear a sunny area in your garden, and plant this magic flower. You will be amazed!

I grew up calling these “Cut and come again Zinnias” so I actually thought this was their name. Little did I realize that all the varieties love to be picked and will quickly grow more beautiful flowers. And you can take the cut flowers indoors to enjoy for a week or so there as well. Really an amazing plant.

They are definitely a warm-weather plant, so be careful to plant after the last possible frost. They are late bloomers so you could even plant them in the summer and they will flower after some other flowers are dying away.

Since there are so many cultivars of Zinnia, it is best to check with the seeds you are getting or just head down to your local hardware store to pick up some small plants.

The post Zinnia – The Magic Flower appeared first on Garden Consumers.

What is right with this house?

First, let’s look at what works well for this house. And I must say that this is not really my type of house. It is clearly out of my price range. Not that I could not afford it, just I have decided to live a more modest lifestyle. This house has the feel of luxury.

Enhanced Walkway

From the photo’s perspective, the walkway clearly stands out. It is probably seldom used though and it is purpose almost seems more one of opulence than function, and I’m a function over form guy, so while the walkway is striking very well designed, unclear how much functionality it has.

Clearly, the house has a nice driveway on the right side and would function very well for foot access to the house. It definitely seems like a modern house with the mailbox on the street next to the driveway, so the mail carrier does not need this walkway.

Probably mostly used by the neighborhood friends, and for this neighborhood that use works very well for those neighbors who like to walk. Since the lots are over an acre each, more distant neighbors might drive over anyway. It is a bit sad to me.

There is a nice brick border on the extra-wide walkway. Both very nice features, but overkill really if you ask me. The walkway has a nice shallow bend that makes it much less stark and more inviting. As you approach the house, the yard descends a bit and the walkway border transforms into a small wall. Very nice touch.

Window Side Lighting and Shutters

I like the tall, almost to the floor, windows. From the inside, these will give great views of the garden to the sky. Also, the curved tops are very nice with matching curved shutters.

The window accent lights will really make this house pop at night. They are matched on each side and also matched to the next room over to the right. For this photo, it would have been better to have all the interior lights on, but I digress.

Why are people still placing home security signs in their yards? Does this really help with security? Surely a house of this stature will have a video doorbell and possibly other exterior video cameras.

There are purists who feel that shudders should at least seem like they could be functional. Here the curved tops do nicely match the curve of the windows, but they are not wide enough. Okay, this is not nearly as bad I have seen. If you really want to see some “Shutter Shaming” check out this Instagram account.

Home Perimeter Wall

The short wall extending around the house to the left really helps the visual appearance of the house from the front. Without it, the right to the left sloping yard would give a bit of a push and pull of feeling out of balance.

The walkway’s border turned short wall is extended into this perimeter wall. It gives balance to the front of the house and makes it feel solid and placed with care. Without this wall, the sloping ground and uneven border gardens would feel uneven. The designer solved the sloping problem and taken the house’s front layout from uneven to unnoticed, this is great.

Comfortable Front Porch

The covered front porch with its two rocking chairs could be a very nice place to rest with a loved one. In this instance though, it seems purely for show. Where will the people place their home-brewed iced tea?

Clearly, a small table is needed and depending on size, perhaps a small plant or other matching decor item.

Curved Roofline Accents

I’m not sure the curved roofline is helping for this house. They do not really seem to fit the style of a clean brick country home. And the curve is small enough that it does not really come alive, which is good. But better would have been to just have a straight roofline.

This is just some overdesign and opulence that distracts when noticed and does not really help with the overall look of the house.

And what about the water flow?

The area marked in the picture with the red arrow will have an extraordinary amount of water flowing through during rain. Up to half of the total front water runoff will want to flow through this area. Clearly, the gutters cannot handle the flow as even in this picture you can see that they are clogged with leaves.

This little exterior alcove has all the signs of a possible water nightmare. The only decent solution (other than redesign) would be to have a full drain at the ground level. This could be a rock garden which is not a bad idea for the area anyway because of all the shading that will occur.

Even with a drain, this will be a high maintenance area. It will require continual attention to keep the water flowing around and not into the house.

What is wrong with this house?

So back to my original question. What is wrong with the house?

Clearly with have a home that was designed with care and expertise. What did they get wrong? What is it that really motivated me to write this posting?

Well actually there are 2 things.

Walkway cuts the Front Yard

A home this size I how has some kids running around. We do not know what the backyard looks like, but from the layout, it seems they are going for a set in nature style. I would expect the backyard to be highly wooded.

So there is this large front yard as the primary playground for the kids, but it is divided with a hard walkway. What a shame!

What about those front trees?

There is definitely something wrong with those trees in the front yard. It is like the designer wanted both the clean front yard with well-manicured grass AND a forest. It just not work for me. They are TOO big and there are way TOO many of them.

I love the flat weed-free yard that I could see being mowed by a robot lawnmower. But feel it be so much better without the inserted forest.

What do you think?

The post What is wrong with this house? appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Walk around your garden and close your eyes. Open your senses. Get yourself tuned into the expansiveness that running water can give. And it does not have to be running water.

Standing water like a small pond or fountain gives so many opportunities for additional life. Birds and other animals will come. A small bird bath can bring so much life. So even if you do not have natural water sources, it is easy to tap into this new dimension.

It really does not take an extensive garden with loads of flowers to tap into the new sensations water can bring to your garden. Even with a passive “bird bath” you can easily achieve dramatic success.

If you have a passively designed birdbath, you may feel that you will not be able to keep water in it. That is perfectly okay. Even dry, it will become a new item in your garden for the animals to explore. And when it rains or you fill it while watering your garden, it will come alive. It will happen almost instantly, like when you are digging in the yard and the robins show up to feast on the worms and insects. They come almost like they had an advanced invitation.

Bridges for more Dramatic Effects

If you are lucky enough to have a small stream or brook, you automatically have lots to work with to enhance your garden. It is almost like having a bridge over water is an automatic invitation to walk across it.

Bridges are self-inviting for people to cross. Look a bridge. There must be something interesting on the other side.

A bridge could be as simple as a single flat round that is high enough to keep one’s feet dry. This rock should be stable and have a flat top big enough for someone to comfortably stand on. Such a rock with it will draw people to it. Of course, it should be uber stable as you do not want it to surprise the walker and have them question whether or not they might get wet.

Of course, your bridge should match the feeling of your garden. If you have a very formal garden, a very clean bridge will fit in naturally. The babbling brook could be just a few well-placed rocks that don’t even give away that they have been designed into the landscape.

Are you lucky enough to have running water in your backyard? Perhaps down the hill, under some heavy tree cover to a small stream. A rough path leading to the shaded bridge will bring a sense of calm to the walker like they know they are welcome there to explore the bridge to see what is on the other side.

The variety of gardens is quite wide. Perhaps you have gone for the bright open yard with beds of bright flowers.

I envy those with a nice running brook that meanders through their backyard. There is so much peace to be found in any garden. The bridge can just add another dimension that will naturally broaden the appeal of the garden.

The post Water bridges in your Garden appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Take a walk around your property. It is best to do this in reality, but if you are at the office just do it in your mind. Start from up the street and approach your yard. Ask yourself, what is the role of my fencing? What is its primary function? Perhaps it is to contain the dogs. Perhaps as a dividing line between properties or even design elements within your own yard.

Then walk completely around your house. Not how the landscape changes and how the fencing contributes to your goals. Is it working? Are there some small changes that could enhance your yard?

I am primarily a function over beauty can of person. So, I sometimes need to think, what will this look like to my mate. This opens up a world of possibilities for fencing. A fence that really serves no other purpose than to divide areas can be quite interesting in the yard.

Fences as Decoration or Background

Is the fence going to be the dramatic effect of the garden or could it just be a backdrop for some flowers or other design elements?

I generally like the more simple designs. Not overrun with plants or features. A nice plain weathered cedar fence can be a great backdrop for other elements.

And those elements do not have to be flowers. We have all seen beautiful flower beds and hopefully, we all have some that we are proud to show in the neighborhood. But are the flowers required? How about some static elements like rocks, stumps, or even some simple manufactured items like in the picture above. That frog is so cute!

A fence can also serve as a place to hang a basket or to install a bird feeder. Perhaps you’d like a vine-covered fence. Once you start thinking about a fence as more than a divider, the possibilities soar.

Color is another consideration. Are you going for the natural wood look? Perhaps the formal wrought iron? Often a white fence can be quite dramatic and really set off a flower bed or other growing plants.

Other Fence Considerations

In my spare time, I sometimes deliver food and packages. This brings me in contact with lots of front yard fences. You may want to take a look at your yard from the viewpoint of a delivery person.

These days of Amazon Primer nearly instantaneous delivery, Grub Hub and Uber Eats, and even the old standby pizza delivery makes our homes often visited to drop off “stuff”. What does your home look like to them?

If you have a fence preventing me as a delivery person from accessing your front door, I’m left wondering what to do. And if there is a “Beware of Dog” sign, I really start to wonder. I will call and text but those rarely go answered.

Should I drop the package outside the gate? Should I let myself in and hope Fido is either inside or actually friendly? Perhaps, I just need to return the package and mark it as undeliverable.

It is worth considering how your house looks to the delivery person and how you want to receive your “goods”.

Many people who want or need their front yard fenced off, will leave a delivery box on the outside with a sign indicating to leave packages there. This works very well. It is clear. The packages can be out of sight to potential thieves and can be protected from the weather.

Fence gates can also be left open. This shows that people are welcome to enter. Or even a sign that helps direct the delivery person.

Let’s have fences be for beauty and function rather than to divide us.

The post Your Garden Fence: Beauty Divided appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Many others find it fascinating in how dramatic of a landscape it can create. The house or fence covered in ivy is often used to represent the passage of time and evoke the feeling of oneness with the natural world. I am not one of those people.

Gardeners have often dealt with intrusive ivy as they prepare a new garden. The good news is that if ivy is not present, it does not seem to initiate growth in new areas super easily. It mostly propagates by growing shouts from an already established area. But once, established it can grow at an alarming pace. For example, English Ivy can grow at up to 9′ per year PER vine.

Dramatic Effects of Ivy

Ivy seems more alive than other plants. It is as if you can see it growing. This can be great if that is what you are looking for, but can quickly become a nuisance as ivy can take over and push out other plants.

If you plan to use an ivy as part of your landscape, you show know that it will require continual care. Unlike other plants which often need care to continue to thrive, ivy will need the continual care to keep from taking over. In the first year or two, ivy may seem like healthy ground covering, but once it gets established watch out. It will want to expand and take over as much area as you let.

Many ivies have become a nuisance in the United States and many are labeled as a noxious weed, like English Ivy. So interesting to me that you can still buy them at many local nurseries, but then find out later that they are near the top of many “bad plant” lists.

Any gardener will probably have some history with ivy. Some may have even used it to dramatic effect in landscapes. There are places and species that could make sense to use, but as a general rule, I just try to avoid Ivy and look for natural alternatives.

Beautify Vines and Ivy

If you are willing to take on the continual battle of controlling your ivy, there are some varieties that can be used. At one of my homes in Ohio, when I bought it there was trellis on the side of the front porch with Wisteria growing.

Such a beautify flowering vine. I knew though that it would grow to become a nuisance, but decided to wait and enjoy it for a year. Then another year passed and it had grown out of control and was tearing off my gutters and trying to gain hold of the power line. Not good!

I still loved its smell and super dramatic colors when it bloomed. So, I cut it way back and move the vine off of the porch to a new free standing arbor about 6′ from my house. It took to it. And thrived. But once it was re-established it had no problem jumping back to the house.

In the end, I decided I could not control it and took to remove it completely. This started a multi-year battle to kill the plant. I dug out all the roots, or so I thought, but it came back. I tried using a strong herbicide on the growing plants. That only slowed it down. With a second attempt at digging out the roots, I finally won the battle. But for now, I’m done with ivies and vines.

The post Ivy is it Good or Bad appeared first on Garden Consumers.

With my continuing efforts to move away from fossil fuels and clean up my act, this year I bought an Electric Vehicle (EV). Also, ever since Ohio had free choice of electric suppliers I have always selected a 100% renewable source.

It seems battery-electric mowers really started to make it into the mainstream around 2005. But, they were expensive and often underperformed their gas equivalents. As Lithium-Ion batteries became more prevalent their prices eventually started to fall. The previous Nickel-Cadmium batteries were really just horrible for any heavy-duty use.

Corded electric mowers have been around for quite a while and have been my mower of choice for the last few years.

Not only do I get a nice walk in the yard, but I also get an upper body workout trying to manage the electric cord.

Now with high functioning and great batteries available, the prices have fallen to where for most smaller yards, a cordless mower is really the way to go. You don’t even have to be a green tree-hugger like myself because they are just a better choice even without considering the environmental benefits.

As a long-time environmentalist, it has been sad for me to see that people have not moved more quickly to “green” choices. It seems the vast majority of people put little value on the environmental benefits of their choices. Why do so many people drive those HUGE cars?

Mowers Compared to Tesla

I continue to thank Tesla for “accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” The prime contributor to this transition has not been people’s consideration of the environment. It is that Tesla has shown that electric vehicles (and a renewable grid) are just a better option. Pound for pound. Feature for Feature.

Their cars are faster, more economical, safer, more reliable, and way more feature-rich than the gas equivalents. They are also stated as being lower total cost of ownership, which I also believe to be true, but think we need them to stand the test of time to really prove this out.

The same has come true for electric cordless mowers.

Frankly, Corded Mowers are a Pain

I have been a corded electric mower owner and user for quite some time. It is the green in me that made this so. I wanted to get away from those stinky, polluting, noisy, troublesome gas mowers. But, previously the cordless battery mowers were so expensive and often underpowered and narrow and not well constucted.

With the batteries being the technology which needed to catch up, the prime benefit of the corded mower was the lower cost. Also, since they could draw up to 15A, they can be very powerful.

What I did not realize is that even with my small lawn, cord management is a pain. For years I kept thinking I’ll figure out a mowing pattern that will allow me to spend more time mowing than dealing with cord management.

Yeah, I have become better at mowing without putting the cord at risk of getting cut. Start near the plugin point and mow across moving away from the house. Turn this way or that so you don’t have to jump the cord. On and on.

I even went through a phase where I said to my son, not only do I get a nice walk in the yard, but I also get an upper body workout trying to manage the electric cord. It was about this time when I realized it was getting a bit silly.

Moving to a Battery Cordless Mower

I’m so excited that I have made the move to a cordless mower. The price is right. Not really a used market for them though. The newer mowers with the better batteries just continue to get used. The majority of used cordless mowers are those ones with tired old-technology batteries that are not worth using.

There are additional considerations for cordless mowers as you need to pay attention and get the right battery size and mower for your yard. And if your yard goes much beyond an acre, you might just not have cost-effective options.

Just like my electric car, I assume it will quickly become just a normal thing. For now, I’m very excited and look forward to reporting more on how it goes.

What about Push Mowers

I have tried push mowers several times. And perhaps I never spent enough money to get a really good one. I a nice workout, and actually have enjoyed using the push mowers, but the results have always been underwhelming. I’m glad the cordless mowers are here as they can supply excellent results without the pollution downside.

The post Corded Electric Lawn Mowing is a Pain appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Whether you prefer to use granules, liquid fertilizer, or something that the barnyard animals created, you have many options in front of you when it comes to plant nourishment.

Not sure which unit to choose? Our gardening experts are here to make your search for the best fertilizer spreader walk in the park.

Join us as we highlight the top models that they trust and to see their detailed reviews of the top three models.

Broadcast Spreaders Come in Different Styles

When it comes to dispersing dry fertilizer granules, you have a few different options.

Your best bet is to go with a broadcast spreader, also known as a “rotary spreader.” In these units, the granules are dispersed from a spinner wheel and spread out into your lawn or garden. The amount of fertilizer released is easily regulated in all of these spreaders. So, you don’t have to worry about choosing a model based on the flow quantity.

You can choose from handheld, walk behind, or tow behind models.

• Handheld. You’ll find handheld spreaders that come in various sizes.

You can choose between larger handheld units that you would use for fertilizing a lawn or a smaller spreader that you can also use for seeding and disperse salt on slippery surfaces in the winter months.

There is more control with the handheld units and, since there are no wheels, you don’t have to worry about running over any healthy plants or vegetation. You control where you walk and where you sprinkle the fertilizer. Be careful though because large handheld units are often unbalanced and will put a strain on your wrist. If you only have a small space to fertilize this will not be a problem. But for a larger lawn, definitely go with a wheeled model.

• Walk Behind. Many homeowners find the classic walk behind models to meet their average lawn care and gardening needs.

These are most useful if you have a medium-sized lawn or area to fertilize and in areas where it is safe for you to roll the spreader over the surface without damaging anything.

• Tow Behind. If you already have a riding lawn mower and you have a large area to fertilize, then the best solution is to purchase a tow behind model so that you can cover more ground in a shorter amount of time.

What About Dispersing Liquid Fertilizers?

The most common types of fertilizers are for granules, but we did include one option for liquid dispensers. It is mostly a matter of preference if you prefer to use liquid or granular fertilizer. Either way, you’ll want the best spreader available to make the job quick and easy.

Chapin International All Purpose Hose-End Sprayer

A simple unit like this is attached directly to your hose and allows you to spray your fertilizer on plants or grass.

Sample Dry Fertilizer Spreaders

Solo 20-Pound Capacity Portable Spreader

One of the nice things about this handy spreader from Solo is that you can use it to fertilize your lawn and garden in the warm months. And then use it to spread deicer in the winter. It is always nice to have a multiple purpose tool. Many homeowners appreciate a versatile object in the tool shed. We consider this to be one of the best fertilizer spreaders on the list.

The hopper, which is the tank where the fertilizer is added, can accommodate up to 20 pounds of fertilizer granules. The fertilizer spreader has a crank arm that you turn when to spread the fertilizer. The faster you turn, the greater the distribution area.

What we liked about this unit is the fact that you can sling it over one shoulder as you walk. This helps distribute the weight load and makes it easier for you to finish lengthy fertilizer run without stopping for a break.

You’ll see on that just above the dispenser, there is a little lever that allows you to dictate which direction the fertilizer shoots out. Also, using the flow rate control, you can choose how much fertilizer it dispenses.

A few things we have to say about this to the potential buyer. This spreader requires a bit of physical strength since you’ll be carrying it on your shoulder. For some, we know that lugging around 20 pounds of product isn’t possible.

We also wouldn’t recommend this type of unit for large medium or large lawns simply because a push model would allow you to disperse granules more accurately.

Overall, we found it to be most useful for small lawns, flower beds, shrubs, and other small areas that you want to fertilize. Remember that it also works great as a salt dispenser in the winter!

Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader

If you needed something a little bit more lightweight than the Solo, try Scotts’ Wizz Spreader that can handle up to 2,500 square feet of lawn areas.

We like how this spreader (compared to the Solo) is crankless. No handle to that you have to turn. It is battery-powered!

As Scotts reminds you, this unit is not only good for spreading fertilizer, but also for spreading seed, weed and feed, as well as a deicer in the cold weather.

When you turn it on, you will be surprised at how accurately it spreads the fertilizer. You will love how lightweight it is. Of course, it can’t handle as much fertilizer as the previous product. But if you didn’t want to lug around a 20-pound unit, this is a great compromise.

We are surprised to see how affordable it is compared to some of the other manual units. While it may not be the best solution for every homeowner, those with a smaller area to fertilize will appreciate its convenience and affordable price tag.

Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard

Our favorite walk-behind model was from Scotts because of the quality and affordability. These are so popular you might even find some used ones.

The capacity of the hopper on this bad boy is huge. It can accommodate a whopping 50 pounds of fertilizer granules, and all you have to do is push it. You don’t have to carry it or sling it over the shoulder.

The tires make it seem more like a mini go-kart with their large circumference and thick tread pattern.

What we noticed: If you get a quality unit and everything assembles perfectly, you won’t be disappointed. Some products, on the other hand, seem to be a bit out of line when you put them together. This is frustrating as a consumer since it takes longer to assemble and can be frustrating.

Overall regarding performance and quality, we still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it as one of the best fertilizer spreader models on our list!

It also comes in some smaller and larger sizes to perfectly match your yard. And if you want precision control, you can select the drop spreader. Drop spreaders give the most precise distribution of fertilizer.

The post Fertilizer Spreader Knowledgebase appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Just to clear things up before we get into our guide. At GardenConsumers.com, we highlight the best weed eater models from a variety of brands and not just the “Weed Eater” brand. See our Cordless Trimmer page or our Gas Trimmer page. We even have some information on Trimmer Line.

If your goal is to eliminate the unsightly overgrowth of weeds and grass around the edges of your lawn, flowerbeds, pathways, or anywhere else around the home, you are definitely in the right place.

Battery-Operated, Corded or Gas?

As you can see from our table, many prefer the battery-operated trimmers, but that doesn’t mean they are the best on the market.

You need to weigh out the pros and cons of each style to determine which is the best weed eater for your trimming needs.

Battery Powered

The battery-operated units are quite convenient. Just like the gas-powered weed eaters, there is no cord that will limit the distance you can travel or that you have to worry about tripping over as you move.

The downside is that you are limited when it comes to the trimming time. The session will last only as long as the battery has juice in it, and if your trimmer isn’t fully charged, you might not be using it for very long.

We will say, however, that these are some of the quietest models, which is important when you’re trimming in areas where there are certain rules and regulations regarding sound.

Corded

Corded weed eaters do not limit you like the battery-operated and gas-powered units do. You can use a corded model for as long as you want (and as far as the cord will reach). You don’t have to worry about the battery dying or running out of gas.

The power supply is always constant! But to be honest, messing with the cord can become troublesome. So, if you find yourself weed-eating often, it is worth it to go with the battery units.

What you won’t like about a corded unit is the cord! It gets in the way as you walk and it can be frustrating when you have to move it around constantly to avoid tripping over it. You will most likely have to purchase an extension cord, as well.

If you have a fairly large yard, this is the least convenient option of them all.

Gas Powered

While they may be stinky, noisy, and very demanding in terms of maintenance, the gas-powered weed eater is the most powerful of the three.

If you have a tall brush or thick patches of weeds to whack down, then nothing compares to a gas-powered monster.

Keep in mind that these models will vibrate more than the corded and battery-operated units, which can make your hands numb after an hour of trimming!

Pay Attention to the Small Details as You Shop

Once you have narrowed down a trimmer style, there are still plenty of small details you should take into consideration before you purchase one.

• String Replacement. The less experience you have with trimmers, the easier you will want the string replacement process to be.

Let’s face it – no one wants a difficult machine, but obviously, an inexperienced user won’t be as comfortable with a weed eater as an experienced user will.

If you’re a newbie, make sure you opt for a trimmer that has an easy string reloading system.

• Whether or Not It Functions as an Edger. Some weed eaters make it easy for you to do edging around the flower beds, walkways, stone steps, or anywhere else you would like to create a straight line.

Number 3, for example, has a little lever you can pop down that rests along the edge of the surface you’re trimming, and number 7 has a little wheel that makes it easy for you to roll along a surface and create an even cut.

The post Weed Eaters: What is in a name? appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Our guide will help you effortlessly weed out the undesirable mulches on the market.

First, compare the top ten mulches for vegetable gardens in our table, then scroll down for useful buying information as well as reviews of our three favorite mulches.

What Types of Mulch Are There?

When you have a vegetable garden, mulch can be your best friend. It serves so many purposes. It cuts back dramatically on the weeds you have to pull, saving you time and back-breaking labor.

Moisture is kept in the soil, especially during the hot summer days where your soil seems to dry out as soon as you water it. It alters the soil temperature, which you can use to your advantage when growing certain types of vegetables. Plus, it makes your garden look appealing, and it can protect your garden from diseases.

When it comes to materials you can use as mulch; the sky is the limit. However, the materials basically fall into two categories: organic or inorganic. The best mulch for vegetable garden purposes depends primarily on which type of mulch you want to use.

Organic Mulch

You can buy organic mulch for your vegetable garden, but you need to be aware that it will keep the soil cooler. Depending upon which part of the country you live in and what you’re trying to grow, this can be a good thing or a bad thing.

Some of the materials used in organic mulches include compost, pine needles, pieces of bark, straw, manure, peat moss, shells from nuts, and even sawdust.

When you’re using organic mulch, you want to make sure you order enough to spread around. What you’ll want is a layer that is somewhere around 2- to 4-inches thick, and you should remember to keep some on hand because organic mulch doesn’t last as long as most kinds of inorganic mulches do.

Inorganic Mulches

Inorganic mulches include items such as plastic, rubber (from old tires), or landscaping fabric. These mulches tend to last a long time.

When you pick out inorganic mulches, you should pay attention to the colors you use if you’ve had trouble growing vegetables in the past or you’re worried you don’t have a green thumb.

For instance, red plastic mulch helps tomatoes and strawberries grow well, while peppers do better with silver mulch.

If you live in a place that has extremely hot weather, you might want to go with a white mulch because it won’t make the soil any hotter, which could affect plant growth. You will, however, have excellent weed control.

3 Mulch options Vegetable Gardens

Thunder Acres 100 Percent Natural Wheat Straw

Kansas wheat straw makes a great all-natural mulch for vegetable gardens, and you can also use it to cultivate mushrooms.

Not only will this best mulch for vegetable garden contender keep the weeds at bay if you put a nice thick layer over your vegetable garden, but you won’t have to worry about any harmful by-products or chemicals leaching into the soil you grow your food in.

As an added perk, this straw can be used for many other things as well, if you have any left after you’re done spreading it in your vegetable garden. It can work as bedding for outdoor animals, and it makes a great decoration when the fall season comes around.

This pack comes in 4 pounds, but it can also be purchased in 8-pound packages and 12-pound packages.

Pine Straw Pine Mulch

This may be a bit on the expensive side, but it covers up to 200 square feet when you spread it at a 2- to 3-inch depth. In order words, you’ll get a lot of pine needles when you order this.

These aren’t tiny pieces of pine either; these pine needles measure about 9 inches long each.

This product is good in vegetable gardens because it helps the soil stay in a temperature range – it protects the soil against wild variations in temperatures. That’s important to protect your investment in the spring after you’ve already planted all your vegetables.

It will arrive dry, not wet, which means you’ll be able to spread the needles around easily without them clumping.

These pine needs won’t blow away during heavy winds or rains. They’ll stay where you put them, protecting against weeds all season long.

Hydrofarm Plant! Organic Coco Coir Planting Chips

These Coco Coir chips will retain moisture, which is good news if you live in dry, arid regions. It will cut down on how often you have to water your plants, and less work in the garden is always a good thing. It will give you more time to find some delicious recipes you can use to spotlight the great produce you’re growing.

In addition, this mulch will resist fungus, which will keep your vegetables healthy.

Because these chips feel so light, they’re easy to carry without breaking out the wheelbarrow or feeling like you just had a rough day at the gym. The package covers two cubic feet, and it weighs under 10 pounds. Carrying that weight should be doable for most gardeners who grow vegetables.

This mulch comes in a hard block. To put the mulch down without having to break chunks of the block off with a knife, you’ll want to soak the mulch first.

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