Expert Advice on Home Improvement

Rain barrels are a great way to save and store water for use on your lawn or garden. While commercial models are available, you can also make your own rain barrel from a plastic garbage can. Watch our video on How to Make a Rain Barrel for Your Yard to find out how. Watch this video.

It’s important to keep you lawn watered during dry weather, but timed sprinkler systems often cut on when watering isn’t needed. The Wireless Moisture Sensor from Vigorouses uses a remote sensor to monitor moisture levels in the soil. It then relays the information to the timer to prevent it from cutting on unnecessarily. Watch this video.

The TouchStart string trimmer from Ryobi features an easy to use 12-volt, battery powered, electric starting system that makes pulling cords a thing of the past. The powerful one horsepower, 30cc, 2-cycle gas engine is designed to produce lower emissions. Watch this video to find out more. Watch this video.

We’re giving away two LEHR Propane Powered Eco Trimmers ($200 value) to help you cut down on pollution while sprucing up your yard. Winner of the EPA Clean Air Excellence Award, the Eco Trimmer delivers the power and performance of a gasoline powered string trimmer without the negative environmental impact. Read on to find out how to enter. Read in full.

Summer is here, and along with it often comes a shortage of rainfall in many areas. To save water in your garden, consider investing in a few of these inexpensive gadgets to help you in your efforts. With a little attention to timing, and some careful watering, you can have a healthy garden while conserving water at the same time. Read in full.

January is National Mail Order Gardening Month. If you’ve never checked out a gardening catalog, it’s well worth the time and can open up a whole new world of possibilities. Read on to find out the advantages of ordering by catalog, tips for choosing a reputable mail order grower, and how to care for your plants when they arrive. Read in full.

Pat asks, “What is an inexpensive way to put a border around my house to avoid the damage to my stucco done by a lawn trimmer or edger?”

Your idea of a border is great, because it will create a buffer that keeps lawn equipment at a safe distance. Here are some things to consider. Read in full.

The Ames True Temper 7 in 1 Planter’s Buddy is a multipurpose tool with a stainless steel blade that’s designed to make fast work of your gardening jobs. The trowel has a serrated edge on one side, which is great for cutting open bags of fertilizer, and a sharpened straight edge on the other side for cutting sod. It also incorporates a twine cutter and notched trowel for prying up weeds. Watch this video.

Our Spring ’Stravaganza Lawn and Garden Giveaway was a big hit with over 2,000 entries! The lucky winner of a cornucopia of lawn and garden gadgets was Angela Watson of North Richland Hills, Texas. Congratulations Angela! This month we’re going all out by giving away a Cub Cadet Riding Mower worth $2,699. Enter by June 15th 2008. Who knows, you could be our next big winner! Read in full.

If you spend a lot of time gardening, you know how handy a potting bench can be. Not only does it give you a convenient place to work with your plants, it also keeps the inevitable mess that goes with it confined to one spot. Watch this video.