Annuals or Perennials - Many gardeners wonder if they should fill their yard with perennials or plant annuals every year. Perennials will come back each year and annuals have to be bought and planted every season. So it would seem that perennials would be the smarter choice, but maybe not.

What Should You Plant, Annuals or Perennials?

If you want a beautiful flower garden that has color all summer long, it is best to go with a combination of both.  The is good reason for this. Annuals will provide you will color all summer long, where perennials have a season. They will bloom for a period and then either remain as green foliage or die back to the ground until next year.

So, you may be saying why not just plant annuals since they bloom all season, right? It really is personal preference and you can fill your yard with annuals if you want. But, by mixing the two you get a yard that is always changing, with new interest almost weekly.

Perennials also give your flower beds a structure or definition. They are always constant, after a few years you will look forward to the peonies that always come up and bloom in the spring, or the fall mums that show their color after everything else has faded.  As I stated above, many perennials will remain as green foliage when they aren't blooming and that provides a beautiful backdrop for your showy annuals.

A good plan is to design your yard so you have shrubs, perennials and annuals.  Start with the shrubs and trees since they are like the framework. Then tuck groupings of perennials here and there in your yard. Take care to notice the exposure requirement and how big a plant will get before you plant it. Many gardeners have had to pull out beautiful perennials because they grew too big for the spot they were planted! It is also a good idea to take note of when the plant usually blooms.  That way you can spread the beauty around your yard. You don't want all the spring bloomers in one spot and the summer ones in another.

When you are planting your perennials, leave pockets of space for annuals.  It is so beautiful to have a few showy annuals sprinkled throughout the yard. If you want a real show, leave a couple of larger areas where you can plant an entire bed or section of just petunias or other vibrant annuals for gorgeous color.

It is really up to you whether too plant annuals or perennials. But a good mix of both will make your yard stunning!

More information on annuals and perennials:

	Raised Bed Gardening 101

	Starting Perennial Gardening

	Flower Gardening

	Shade Gardening

Cordless Tiller - Having a small garden tiller is very beneficial for a home gardener.  However, sometimes the cord prevents you from working far from an outlet with electric models or the noise of the gas engine makes it hard to use early in the morning when the neighbors are sleeping. But with a cordless tiller you can use it anytime and anywhere you choose!

The Benefits of a Cordless Tiller

While it may not be the tiller you would choose for big jobs, a cordless tiller can be a great help in the yard. The nice thing about a cordless tiller is they are generally small enough that they can get in to tight areas of the yard that a larger tiller might have trouble with.  Plus they are lightweight so you can easily get them where you need them. Not to mention quiet so you don't have to worry about disturbing the neighbors.

A cordless tiller is a great way to loosen the soil in flower beds before you plant in the spring. You can also use them to remove small weeds. They don't work the best with large weeds, but they will loosen them enough that you can easily pull them by hand.  People who own a cordless tiller also use them to help reseed patches of lawn. They are great for removing the dead grass and breaking up the soil enough to plant new seed.

The Cons of a Cordless Tiller

There are a lot of reasons to own a cordless tiller, and of course there are a few disadvantages to owning one. The main issue being battery life. Consumers seem too have an issue about how fast the batteries drain on a cordless tiller. For the most part, the batteries last around an hour, but recharge time can take longer.  Although there is no doubt that the battery will drain quickly, you need to keep in mind that a cordless tiller is not made to do projects that a larger or corded tiller will do. That being said, you can get quite a bit of tilling done in an hour. A cordless tiller is made for small jobs in tight spaces. You will get a lot of good use from it, but you need to remember the capabilities and limitations.

A cordless tiller can be a good investment if you are looking for a small tiller that will allow you to work in small places and in areas where you don't have access to power. Could a cordless tiller be right for you?

Buy a cordless tiller:

	Black & Decker LGC120 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Garden Cultivator/Tiller

	Black & Decker GC818 18-Volt Cordless Electric Garden Cultivator

	Black & Decker GC818B 18 Volt Cordless Garden Cultivator - Bare Tool (No Battery Or Charger)

Compost Tea - We have all heard of garden compost, but compost tea? That is right - compost tea. This liquid is a byproduct of making compost and it is rich in nutrients and very beneficial for your garden. If you have ever moved a compost pile, perhaps you have noticed how rich the soil is underneath. This is because of compost tea.

Compost Tea - What Is It?

When organic material breaks down, it releases fluid and when this fluid is part of the composting process it is called compost tea. This liquid is very high in nutrients and is beneficial for all plants.

While garden compost is used to enrich the soil and benefits plants in this manner, compost tea can be watered in or applied directly to the foliage of plants.  In fact, compost tea can help fight foliage diseases and it allows the nutrients to be absorbed quicker by the plant.

Wow - compost tea is like a superfood for plants! So how do you get compost tea? Well, you can purchase ready made compost tea from garden centers or online. You can also make your own compost tea. It isn't a hard process at all. We will cover the basics here, but if you want step by step with pictures check out finegardening.com for a great tutorial.

Now there are a few compost tumblers, such as the Envirocycle composter, that have a collection area for compost tea and that makes it very easy for gardeners to collect and use this valuable resource.

The Basics of Making Compost Tea

Making compost tea is almost like making the tea you drink, but on a larger scale. First of all you will need a 5 gallon bucket and a cloth bag. Fill the cloth bag with a couple of shovels full of compost. Fill the bucket with 5 gallons of water and put the cloth bag of compost in it. Let the bucket sit for about a week and you will have nutrient rich compost tea.

You can also make compost tea in this manner without putting the compost in a bag. Just put the compost directly into the water and then strain the mixture when you are through.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While this is the way that compost tea has been made for years, you need to be aware that bacteria will grow in the mixture. Now bacteria is beneficial for the compost and plants, but it can be harmful to humans. So, to produce 'safe' compost tea, you will want to add oxygen to the process. This can be done by using a simple aquarium air pump and running two or three lines of aquarium tubing with a bubbler on the end of each tube into the bucket. The oxygen will encourage the growth of good bacteria and discourage the grown of the bad.

More about compost tea:

	FloraBlend Vegan Compost Tea (0.5-1-1) - QT

	Compost

	Bu's Brew Biodynamic Compost Tea Bags

	Compost Tea Making: For Organic Healthier Vegetables, Flowers, Orchards, Vineyards, Lawns

Planting a Fall Garden - Did you know that you can continue to harvest delicious home grown vegetables up until the first frost? That is right, by planting a fall garden you can enjoy fresh produce when traditional gardens have stopped producing.

What is a Fall Garden

A fall garden is just the same as a summer garden, but you just plant it later in the year. When you grow a traditional vegetable garden, you plant it in the spring after the threat of frost is passed.  With a fall garden, you plan your garden so the plants are ready for harvest before the first frost hits.

So, how do you know how to time your garden? Well, the first step is to find out when the first frost generally hits your area. You can get this information from your local garden center, extension office, or by reading the Farmer's Almanac.

After you have an idea when the frost will hit, it is time to decide what plants you will put in your garden. Find seeds with a fairly short growing season, often times they will have early in the name. Most seed packets will have the days to maturity listed on the back.

Just a note: You will probably want to buy the seeds for your fall garden in the early spring when seeds are plentiful at garden centers.  Many stores will shift their products to fall/winter by mid-summer so finding seeds later will be a challenge.

What to Plant in a Fall Garden

Many people get hung up on what to plant in their fall garden. Well, you can plant almost anything that you would grow in a traditional garden! The nice thing about a fall garden is you can grow two crops of many vegetables. For instance, corn is a crop that produces for a few weeks and then it is done. The remaining ears of corn are too tough and old to be delicious. But, if you plant corn in your fall garden, you can enjoy corn on the cob for a longer period of time.

Your only limit with a fall garden is the time of the first frost. However, if you know the approximate date of the typical first frost and you check the maturity dates on your seed packets everything will be fine. Check those seed packets closely though. You don't want to plant a crop with a 90 day maturity on July 31 when your first frost is October 1!

Planting Your Fall Garden

There is really nothing special about planting a fall garden. It is just like planting your traditional garden, you are just doing it later in the year.  One thing you will need to pay close attention to is water. When you plant a spring garden, the weather is cooler and there is usually plenty of rain.  However, when you plant mid-summer the temperatures are higher and the climate is generally drier. As a result, you need to make sure your seed beds don't dry out while trying to sprout.

One way to ensure that your fall garden gets a good start is to till the soil to create a good planting bed. Then thoroughly wet down the area and wait about 24 hours before planting. Doing this will make sure that the entire planting depth is moist, just like it is in the spring.

After your plants have broke through the ground and are about two to three inches tall, put plenty of mulch around them. The addition of mulch will help keep the ground cooler and retain moisture for healthier plants.

Take care of your fall garden just like you do your traditional garden and it will reward you will delicious produce long after your neighbors have given up on their gardens. A fall garden is a great way to enjoy home grown produce longer!

Find out more about all gardens including planting a fall garden:

	Fiskars 9424 Garden Bucket Caddy

	Home Vegetable Gardening

	Picnic Time 5-Piece Garden Tool Set With Tote And Folding Seat

Hand Held Cultivator - A hand held cultivator is one garden tool that should be in every gardeners tool chest. Why you ask? Because a hand cultivator is an all purpose garden tool that can help you accomplish so many different garden tasks.  In fact, you may find that you use your hand held cultivator so much you will wonder how you ever gardened without it!

Using a Hand Held Cultivator

Before we can discuss how to use a hand held cultivator, lets take a look at what a cultivator is. According to Dictionary.com the definition of cultivator is:

cul·ti·va·tor - [kuhl-tuh-vey-ter] –noun

1.  a person or thing that cultivates.
2.  an implement drawn between rows of growing plants to loosen the earth and destroy weeds.

According to this definition, a cultivator can either be a person or a thing that breaks up the soil and helps to remove weeds. Of course you can be a manual cultivator simply by pulling weeds, but having a tool like a hand held cultivator makes working in the garden so much easier!

You can find a hand held cultivator with both short and long handles. Personally, I have one of each. The cultivator with a short handle is great when you are working around small plants or planting in small spaces. Of course, using a hand cultivator with a short handle requires you to get down on the ground which may not be the easiest thing to do for many people.

That is why a hand cultivator with a long handle is such a wonderful garden tool.  My long handled cultivator is my favorite garden tool, in fact I wrote about it here.  This is the tool I reach for every time I work in the yard.  This hand held cultivator is perfect to smooth the soil after planting, pulling leaves and other debris off planting beds in the spring, and of course to help with weeding and cultivating.  A hand held cultivator can also be used to mix fertilizer and compost into the soil.

A hand held cultivator is one garden tool I would never want to be without.  It is the perfect, multi-purpose garden tool. Do you have one?

Buy a hand held cultivator:

	Black & Decker LGC120 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Garden Cultivator/Tiller

	Radius Garden 103 Ergonomic Aluminum Hand Cultivator

	Yard Butler TT-4T Hand Garden Tiller

Envirocycle Composter - As home composting grows in popularity, people are looking for ways to make compost in an easy and mess free way. The Envirocycle composter is the perfect answer. This sturdy compost tumbler is the perfect way to make your own quality compost. In fact, the Envirocycle composter is so easy to use that even your children can get involved!

What Makes the Envirocycle Composter Great

The Evirocycle composter is a favorite among consumers for many reasons.  But probably the number one reason that people love this garden composter is because it is so easy to use! You simply put your garden waste, kitchen scraps, etc. in the bin and give it a spin.  Spinning the composter is easy as well, in fact many users give the job of spinning the Envirocycle composter to their children. That way the kids are involved in the process.

Just a note - in my opinion the composter should always be spun after adding new material. That way it gets mixed in with the waste that is already breaking down which will help the new material start decaying as well. Spinning after each addition is just a good way to keep the process going!

Inside the Envirocycle composter are eight rollers that ensure that your compost ingredients are mixed thoroughly each time you spin.  You don't have to worry about using a turning fork or compost aerator with this compost maker!

Another great thing about the Envirocycle composter is it comes pre-assembled! No searching for tools or trying to match part A to part B, just put it in the backyard and you are ready to go!

The Envirocycle composter will hold up to 7 cubic feet of organic material, which is usually adequate for most homeowners. However, some people do buy two compost tumblers so one can be 'cooking' and the other one to add fresh material to. After the first one is done with the garden compost, let the other composter cook and start adding your organic material to the bin that you emptied. Using this method you will always have a good supply of compost on hand!

The two bin method above is the optimal way to create your compost. But if you don't want two bins, you can stop adding material to your Envirocycle composter once it is full and collect any additional waste in a compost pile. You can then move the waste to the compost tumbler once your first batch is finished. The waste will start to break down in the compost pile so you will have a head start on the next batch! While your compost is cooking, spin the Envirocycle composter three times per week and you should have healthy garden compost in about four to six weeks.

Compost Tea

The Envirocycle composter has been on the market for more than 20 years, and it is still a favorite among consumers. This compost bin will not only help you make healthy garden compost, but this backyard composter was the first commercially available compost bin to collect compost tea.

So what is compost tea? Well, it is the liquid that drains off the compost as it decays. In traditional compost piles, this liquid drains directly into the ground. This is the reason that the soil where a compost pile was located is always so rich and healthy! Compost tea can be used when you water your plants. It is like mixing fertilizer in with your water. In fact, using compost tea can replace water soluble fertilizers that you normally use.

The Envirocycle composter is created in a way that the compost tea drains into the base.  The base of the composter will hold just under four gallons of compost tea. The base of the composter is removable so you can easily pour the compost tea into another container.

The Envirocycle composter is a great product that will help you make great compost! Almost all consumers who have an Envirocycle composter say they would buy another one. The people who use it know it is one of the best compost tumblers around!

Buy an Envirocycle composter:

	Envirocycle Original Composter Black

	Envirocycle Mini Composter Tan

	Good Ideas CompostCycle 49 Gallon Resin Compost Tumbler Black, Black

Low Maintenance Landscape - Life seems to get busier and busier. With work, family, and other obligations sometimes it is hard to find the time to even get outside to push the lawn mower! However, it is possible to have a beautiful yard without all the time consuming chores. You just need to create a low maintenance landscape.

A low maintenance landscape does not mean that there is an absence of plants or lawn. In fact, it is quite the opposite. You just need to create a landscape that is less labor intensive. With careful planning, you can have a beautiful low maintenance landscape that you can virtually sit back and enjoy with very little effort on your part.

Low Maintenance Landscape Tips

There are several things you can easily do to create a low maintenance landscape. Here are a few of the best and simplest things that can help make your low maintenance landscape a reality.

Automate Watering

One of the most time consuming garden tasks is watering.  However, if you automate your irrigation duties you can cut a large amount of maintenance time. Installing a sprinkling system that is controlled by a timer is a huge time saver. There are many types of sprinkler systems that you can use in your landscape. The most obvious is a watering system for lawns, but you can also have a system that will effectively irrigate your garden and flower beds as well. With a good watering system you are well on your way to a low maintenance landscape.

Better Weed Control

Another time intensive gardening task is weeding.  No one likes to see weeds in their yard, and it takes time every week to keep the weeds at bay. But there are measures you can take to keep the weeds down to a minimum, which is important in a low maintenance landscape. Here are three effective weed prevention methods that can be used alone or in combination with each other for maximum effect.

First of all, there is weed barrier fabric. This material is available at most home and garden centers and usually comes on a roll. You simply spread the fabric over the bare ground and cut slits or holes for the plants. This fabric allows water to penetrate, but prevents light from reaching the soil so weed seeds have difficulty germinating.

Next, there is mulch. Mulch is generally shredded bark or another organic material. This material is effective as a weed barrier when it is spread three to five inches thick over the soil.  Just a note, because mulch is organic it will break down and eventually become a part of the soil so it will need to be replaced every year.

Another effective weed control method is the use of a pre-emergent herbicide.  Pre-emergent herbicides create an invisible barrier that prevents weed seeds from germinating. Pre-emergent should be put down after you have finished planting and working the soil in the spring. You will then spread the powdered pre-emergent and let it be. You will find that the weeds in your yard will be greatly reduced by using this herbicide.  For best results, use two or more of these methods together.

By changing the way you water and control weeds in your yard you can significantly reduce the amount of time you spend on in your yard each week.  Then your yard will be on its way to becoming a low maintenance landscape. It is time to enjoy your yard, not dread it.

Learn More About Low Maintenance Landscape:

	Easy-Care Landscape Plans: 41 Low-Maintenance Landscape Designs

	The New Low-Maintenance Garden: How to Have a Beautiful, Productive Garden and the Time to Enjoy It

	Live Dwarf Red Ixora Economical 6 Pack Starter Plugs

	Imperial Solar Post Light

Cheap Garden Tools - You are strolling through the garden center and you realize you need a new garden trowel. So you head on over to the garden tool aisle and there you find an entire set of hand tools for the garden for dirt cheap. We are talking cheap garden tools that include a trowel, transplanter and a small cultivator for around five bucks! So do you buy it? No way!

A Quality Garden Trowel

Why Not Get Cheap Garden Tools?

There are so many reasons not to skimp and get cheap garden tools that it is hard to know where to start! But what it really boils down to is you are not really saving any money at all when you choose cheap garden tools. In fact, you will end up spending more over the years if you don't buy quality to start.

Let me explain. When I first started gardening I thought I was getting a great bargain when I purchased an inexpensive gardening tool set. However, the very first time I used the garden trowel I hit a rock and broke the blade of the small shovel. I had only owned this shovel for a little more than an hour! As I looked closer, I noticed that the blades were not metal, but a heavy plastic or composite material that was not strong enough to dig through hard soil.

I went back to the garden center and purchase a small shovel like the one pictured.  Sure, this small garden trowel cost twice what the entire cheap garden tools set cost. But, I have had that trusty trowel for almost 20 years now. I use it all the time in my gardening and it never fails me.

So which do you think is the better bargain - the cheap garden tools that cost around five dollars for three tools that will break quickly, or ten dollars for a single garden trowel that has lasted two decades?

So, what do you want to look for so you don't end up with cheap garden tools? First of all, make sure the blades and tines are metal, not plastic or a composite material.  My favorite garden trowel is made of one piece of aluminum alloy with a cushioned comfort grip. The nice thing about using aluminum is the fact that this trowel will not rust like cheap garden tools will.  In fact, many times I have searched for my trowel only to find it had been outside in a snow or rain storm for a week, yet there is no sign of rust!

You can buy garden tools that are made of stainless steel or other metals, however many of them will bend or twist when you are trying to dig through tough dirt. The Corona Clipper brand of garden tools (which is the brand I use) have been made for both hard work and comfort. This is the brand that you will find used in many nurseries and landscape companies. Not only do they make quality garden trowels, but they also have a line of pruners and other garden tools as well.

You don't skimp on your big garden tools such as tillers, lawn mowers, and edgers, so why would you skimp on the small tools that you will use for planting and weeding? Buying cheap garden tools will not save you money. They will just create frustration and make the work harder. Save some money and your back - don't buy cheap garden tools!

Don't Buy Cheap Garden Tools - Buy Quality and Save!

	Fiskars 7067 3-Piece Softouch Garden Tool Set

	Toysmith 2296 Kid's 3-Piece Garden Tool Set

	Japanese Hori Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool With Stainless Steel Blade & Sheath

	Picnic Time 5-Piece Garden Tool Set With Tote And Folding Seat

Cordless Lawn Edger - Have you driven around town, admiring yards and noticed there is a little something that makes some yards stand out from the rest? They don't necessarily have something more than the rest, they just look neater. That difference is a nicely mowed and edged lawn. Your lawn can stand out as well, you just need to go a step further than using a lawn mower by using a cordless lawn edger!

What Does a Cordless Lawn Edger Do?

Have you noticed how the grass seems to creep out along the driveway and sidewalks?  Even when you mow, that little fringe of grass just looks untidy.  With a cordless lawn edger you can quickly get rid of that mess looking fringe and have a nice, neat edge to your lawn. It is amazing the difference it makes!

Now some people might think it is an extra step that will take a long time. Not true! Edging your lawn takes just a few minutes. Of course it depends on how much lawn you have that borders sidewalks and pathways, but the extra time it takes to use a cordless lawn edger is well worth it.

Professional lawn care companies generally use a cordless lawn edger to give the lawns they care for that finished look. They know how much having a nicely edged lawn adds to the look of the landscape so they make sure it is part of the service.

Where Can You Find a Cordless Lawn Edger?

Now before you head out and buy a cordless lawn edger, take a look at your string trimmer.  Most string trimmers convert into a lawn edger very simply. So take a look at your trimmer first to see if you have a model that converts.

If you don't have a trimmer that will double as a lawn edger, you can purchase a cordless lawn edger at most home and garden stores or online. However, it is tough to find a cordless lawn edger, but you can find electric lawn edgers that are not cordless. Unlike string trimmers that you may be using far away from an outlet, most of the time you will use a lawn edger close to the house so using a corded lawn edger should not be a problem.

Yes, a cordless lawn edger is a great tool that will help make your yard look like you hired professionals.

Buy a Cordless Lawn Edger:

	Black & Decker LE750 Edge Hog 2-1/4 HP Electric Landscape Edger

	Black & Decker NST2118 12-Inch 18-Volt Ni-Cd Cordless Electric GrassHog String Trimmer/Edger

	Black & Decker LST220 12-Inch 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless GrassHog Trimmer/Edger

	WORX GT WG150.1 10-Inch 18-Volt 2-In-1 Cordless Electric Grass Trimmer/Edger

Weed Eater String Trimmer - One of the more popular power garden tools is a Weed Eater string trimmer. This tool allows you to keep the weeds and long grass along fence line trimmed neatly so you always have a great looking yard!

How to Choose A Weed Eater String Trimmer

One thing you need to remember when choosing a Weed Eater string trimmer is the fact that even though Weed Eater is a brand of trimmer, it has become a generic name to describe one of these tools. No doubt you have heard people say they need to get the Weed Eater out, and there is a good chance they have a different brand!

That being said, the Weed Eater string trimmer did set the standard for string trimmers - that is why their name is now the one we use to describe all grass trimmers!

You can get a Weed Eater string trimmer in both gas and electric models. It is a matter of preference, but your choice should be influenced on what you will be using the trimmer for. If you have a very large yard or you plan to use it away from home, you will definitely want to get a gas Weed Eater string trimmer. You do not want to be tethered to an extension cord!

However, you can choose to go with a cordless model. Just make sure you have a place to charge it when needed or carry an extra charged battery with you.

One of the nice things about a Weed Eater string trimmer is the fact that they have the Tap-N-Go feature for advancing the line. This is a great feature that will allow you to feed more string anytime you need to. This is great for those times when the line gets caught in a tangle of weeds and breaks!

Using a Weed Eater String trimmer will allow you to keep your yard looking great. It will help you get the long grass and weeds that grow along fences and under shrubs.

Most trimmers can also be used as a lawn edger. This makes the Weed Eater string trimmer a great multipurpose garden tool.  It is a simple switch to convert the trimmer to an edger. Using a lawn edger gives your yard that extra touch that makes it stand out from the rest!

Buy A Weed Eater String Trimmer:

	Weed Eater 952701594 0.065-Inch-by-200-Foot Bulk Round String Trimmer Line

	Poulan/Weed Eater 952711602 Centrex RH 0.065-Inch Replacement Spool for RTE115

	Weed Eater 952-701663 String Trimmer Spool for XT110/112/114/115 .065-Inch

	Weed Eater RTE115C 15-Inch 4.5 Amp Twist-N-Edge Electric String Trimmer