Garden Decor, Gnomes, Statues & Yard Art

It’s vital to start the process of having a hassle-free garden. This article gives you that first step and helps achieve some sound understanding of what you face as a weekend gardener. Our goal is to create a garden that practically takes care of itself.

Unlike my neighbor, Fred.

Fred never found a way to escape the prison of responsibilities and hard, never-ending work required by a high-maintenance garden.

If you want to avoid Fred’s fate, you need to start by making a critical examination of the maintenance of your yard and garden.

Start by taking a stroll around your property and make note of how much time you take to tend to various areas.

• Which plants require the most care, right now?

• Are there areas that please you and take less care?

• Are there some areas that you love so much that no matter how much maintenance they take you’d not want to change them?

• Can you visualize any areas being scaled down in size, or that can be improved with a low-maintenance design or gardening technique?

• Where is the problem weeding area?

• Which is the most difficult mowing area of your lawn?

In my book: “The Weekend Gardener”- The Busy Persons’ Guide To A Beautiful Backyard Garden, I present very specific ways to combat your problem areas as you think critically about the current maintenance problems you must take into account. Take this tour with a critical eye and a notebook. Make some notes to yourself about what you see, what you imagine, and what you are currently faced with.

As you do this preliminary overview, remember it is okay to consider what you “hate” to do in regards to gardening work. We want to get rid of these areas first and foremost.

Everyone has a different take on this subject. Some hate mowing the lawn, others actually enjoy the exercise and like getting out in the sun. Some find weeding tedious, others will enjoy the process of grabbing weeds by the fistful and yanking them forcefully out of the ground. I have a cousin who has actually been found to wonder into neighbors yards yanking the critters up (much to the surprise and cheerful appreciation of his neighbors) after he had run out of them in his own yard.

So, part of your ‘yard tour’ is to make note of the areas that require work; how you feel about each one, and listing which are particularly time-consuming.

Once you’re done, take your list and make a check mark (!) next to those items that you intend to keep no matter how much maintenance they may require. Then put a question mark (?) Next to the ones you enjoy looking at, but are nonetheless high-maintenance and take too much work. Later you will discover timesaving techniques you can surely apply to many of these problem areas.

Now plan on making your aim to eliminate those areas left UNMARKED. You’ll want low maintenance ways to turn these areas into sources of pleasure, instead of drudgery. However, you can’t DO anything to lessen the strain until you first SEE the problems out there in your yard. So do this tour as a first step to achieve true joy and freedom in your gardening experience.

About the Author:

Victor K. Pryles is the author of: “The Weekend Gardener’- The Busy Person’s Guide To A Beautiful Backyard Garden. You can learn more about it at: http://creativepops.com/garden.index/ He also offers a garden-tip-a-day to his readers.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – A Better Weekend Gardening Experience

Troy-Bilt TB154E 6.5 Amp Electric Front Tine Forward Rotating Garden Tiller/Cultivator With Adjustable Tilling Width $210.96 Electric Convenience For Easy Soil Preparation No cord to pull or gas to mix, just an......

Troy-Bilt TB20CS 17-Inch 31cc 2-Cycle Gas-Powered Curved Shaft String Trimmer with Detachable Shaft $119.99 The Troy-Bilt TB20CS Curved-Shaft Gas String Trimmer makes yard work a breeze thanks to its curved design and powerful engine. Featuring an adjustable D-handle for right- or left-handed use, this trimmer is compatible with all Trimmer Plus attachments, giving you additional edging and trimming options for creating and maintaining an attractive, well-manicured lawn. The Troy-Bilt TB20CSGas String T...

Gilmour RM30 20-Inch Reel Mower with Grass Catcher $98.99 20" mowing width. 5 blade reel with ball bearings for smooth cutting. Adjustable height from 1-3" easily. Extra wide shrub/blade guard for safety. Dual wheel design for better stability. Large handle with comfort grip. Includes free grass catcher that attaches easily to back of mower. Folds for storage....

Mowing $6.48 "When Gramp takes the horses out to mow hay, little Nora comes along....A lovely way to present the wildlife hidden in a summer meadow and the care that can be taken to preserve it....Art and text work beautifully together to bring out the story's qiet drama."--Kirkus Reviews.

Mowing $16.01 This book is in Good Used condition

Garden Stake - Rosemary $21.95 Garden Stake by Kelly Gardens Art™ Art Inspired by Nature. Adorn your garden with these decorative garden stakes. White 4 ¼” tile is set into an 8 ¼” x 8 ¼” holder atop a 20” stake. All solid iron with black powder-coated finish. Generous size will stand out in your garden, or in pots on your deck or patio.

Fiskars Phone & Garden Pocket $14.95 Strap it around your waist to carry your phone, beeper, pruner, seeds, even bottled water - conveniently while you do your yard work. Padded pocket protects your phone as you work; hear-thru mesh means no more missed calls. Second pocket can hold a variety of garden tools; also features a key latch and pencil loop. Attractive and durable nylon material.

Night Mowing $10.5 This book is in New - Excellent condition

Owl with Rotating Head $34.95 Chase away garden nibblers with this life-size replica of a Great Horned Owl. So realistic looking! Head bobs and turns in gentle breezes. Startles birds and other critters who try to snack on your garden's delights. 18" tall, it's an imposing presence in your garden. Perfect for the garden, on decks, boat docks, rafters, barns, open porches, and patios. (Pole not included).

OXO Good Grips Gel™-e Fork $12.95 Comfort comes to the garden! These innovative garden tools have soft, non-slip, flexible handles for a comfortable grip. Handles have oversize holes for easy hanging. Those with the blue-tinted Gel™-e feature provide extra cushioning when you dig in hard soil.

OXO® Good Grips® Gel™-e Weeder $12.95 Comfort comes to the garden! These innovative garden tools have soft, non-slip, flexible handles for a comfortable grip. Handles have oversize holes for easy hanging. Those with the blue-tinted Gel™-e feature provide extra cushioning when you dig in hard soil.

Assembled Mantis Electric Tiller $379 Weighing only 21 pounds, the incredibly powerful but lightweight Mantis Electric Tiller / Cultivator tills even the hardest of soils. The secret is the patented Mantis serpentine tines! Use the Mantis Electric Tiller to easily break new ground when you're ready to start your garden. Once your garden is established, use the Mantis Electric Tiller to cultivate and weed. Maintaining your garden has never been easier!

Mantis Electric Tiller $349 Weighing only 21 pounds, the incredibly powerful but lightweight Mantis Electric Tiller / Cultivator tills even the hardest of soils. The secret is the patented Mantis serpentine tines! Use the Mantis Electric Tiller to easily break new ground when you're ready to start your garden. Once your garden is established, use the Mantis Electric Tiller to cultivate and weed. Maintaining your garden has never been easier!

Clock - Vegetable Trio $25.95 Garden Clock by Kelly Gardens Art™ 12 " diameter, hardwood open face clock can be used indoors or outdoors. Weather-resistant. Quartz time piece. Uses one AA battery (not included).

Loadumper6TM Cart $199 Heavy-duty, non-corrosive polyethylene tub on the Loadumper yard and garden cart has no ridges to catch materials, holds 6 cubic feet of soil or mulch. Powder-coated rust-resistant steel tube chassis. 14" memory-foam flat-free tires. Easy to assemble.

Mesh Debris Bag $15.95 Handy accessory for the Mantis Tiller. Straps conveniently to the back of the Mantis Electric Tiller handles. Holds garden debris until you can toss it away. Or, use it to carry your portable phone, hand-held clippers, or your water bottle! Made of durable red plastic mesh.

Dramm Garden Hose Guide $7.99 Removable Post Hose Guide CHAR(13) + CHAR(10) Keeps the Hose in Place Placed strategically along a flower border or vegetable bed, these guides keep the hose from becoming an unintended steamroller. These 2 piece hose guides are designed to be placed around your flower garden or grass area to guide your hose. Easily remove the post for easy and quick mowing. Quick Mowing Removable Posts Ships Quickly!

Mike McGrath's Book of Compost $9.95 During his seven years as Editor-in-Chief of Organic Gardening magazine, Mike McGrath learned quite a bit about the nature and science of composting. And he's never stopped studying, because he wants to give the best, most up-to-date information to the listeners of his nationally-syndicated Public Radio show, ""You Bet Your Garden". He offers the fruits of his labors in this illustrated guide that reveals why compost is the answer to virtually every garden question. McGrath explains why compost improves soil structure; why it provides the perfect amount of food for every plant; how it fights plant diseases more safely and effectively than any chemical fungicide; and how to make your own. This is a must-have on every gardener's bookshelf! 128 pages.

Wheel Set $59.95 Wheel Set (shown with optional Crevice Cleaner attachment) attaches to your Mantis Tiller in minutes. Lets you have the option to roll or carry your Tiller to your garden. Park your Mantis Tiller in an upright position to add fuel, or store it upright when you don't have a wall to lean it against! Wheels add stability when you use the Crevice Cleaner or Border Edger attachments. Rubber wheels make the Mantis Tiller easy to roll around your yard, over curbs, and up hills. Attaches to your Tiller in a few minutes. Wheels adjust to any of six different heights. Can be adjusted or removed in seconds.

How to Make Big Money Mowing Small Lawns $13.48 How to Make Big Money Mowing Small Lawns by Robert A. Welcome 2nd Published in 1997 by Noble Publishing Associates

Garden Wisdom $4.99 Gardening hints and tips from yesteryear. A wealth of practical information on every aspect of gardening from sowing and potting-up to weeding, mowing and pruning. Flowers, fruits, vegetables, herbs - bring out the best in your plot by making the most of age-old gardening know-how. Traditional techniques for dealing with pests and diseases organically.

The No-Work Garden $19.48 In The No-Work Garden, Bob Flowerdew shares his revolutionary approach to garden design and maintenance, showing you how to make the most of your garden with the minimum of effort. His aim is to reduce the onerous burden of chores; to that end, he encourages you to trust in nature, so that you can spend more time enjoying your garden and less time arduously digging and manicuring. He also emphasizes that if crucial tasks are done effectively, unnecessary work is avoided later—for instance, a good mulch reduces weeding and watering, and prompt pruning deters pests and diseases. With practical advice on mowing, fertilizing, and the benefits of choosing plants that thrive locally, this is an essential reference. Bob Flowerdew is Britain’s leading organic gardener; among his many books are The Complete Book of Companion Gardening and Bob Flowerdew's Organic Bible.

Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator $349 The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator's exclusive patented reversible "serpentine" tines dig deep into even the hardest soil. It's easy to start, easy to use. Let's you get into tight places where no big tiller can go.

Mantis 4-Cycle Honda-Powered Tiller $449 All the features and benefits of the 2-Cycle Mantis Tiller/Cultivator, now with a 4-Cycle Honda® engine! It's easy to start, requires no fuel mixing, and weighs only 24 pounds. Lightweight, but powerful enough to till through sod and compacted soil. It's easy to carry – to the shed, to the car, or to your neighbor who can't wait to try it! Perfect for gardeners of all ages! The Mantis 4-Cycle Honda-Powered Tiller includes a FREE Kickstand and Border Edger Attachment.

Mantis Pen Knife $12.95 Handy for the gardener, fisherman or camper. Small enough to carry around on your keyring. Includes a knife blade, scissors, nail file, tweezers, toothpick and a split-ring key attachment. Only 2¼"" long, with a white acrylic finish.

2-Cycle Tiller Handy Item Kit (SV4B) $24.95 (For tillers sold prior to January 2004). Contains 6 bottles of pre-measured 2-cycle engine oil (2.6 oz each), 1 spark plug, 2 air filter pads, 2 oz. tube of transmission grease, 1 transmission gasket, 2 tine retaining pins, combo wrench, fuel tank funnel. Everything you need "just in case".

24 Double Edge Trimmer Bar $174.95 Helps you keep your shrubs, trees and hedges shaped just the way you like them. Plus, regular trimming promotes new, healthy growth.For 2-Cycle Tiller only.

30 Single Edge Trimmer bar $169.95 Helps you keep your shrubs, trees and hedges shaped just the way you like them. Plus, regular trimming promotes new, healthy growth.For 2-Cycle Tiller only.

Aerator/Dethatcher Combination $169.95 Aerator Attachment cuts into the soil under your lawn with four sets of tempered steel "knives," to permit easy absorption of water, oxygen and nutrients. Perfect to use in compact, clay soil. Aerate before overseeding or spot seeding your lawn.Dethatcher Attachment quickly removes weeds and the tan-looking built-up "thatch" that can choke your lawn. The 60 sp ring-steel picks let you dethatch a 15" swath with a single pass.

Assembled Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator $379 The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator's exclusive patented reversible "serpentine" tines dig deep into even the hardest soil. It's easy to start, easy to use. Let's you get into tight places where no big tiller can go. Comes fully assembled.

Assembled Mantis 4-Cycle Honda-Powered Tiller $479 All the features and benefits of the 2-Cycle Mantis Tiller/Cultivator, now with a 4-Cycle Honda® engine! It's easy to start, requires no fuel mixing, and weighs only 24 pounds. Lightweight, but powerful enough to till through sod and compacted soil. It's easy to carry – to the shed, to the car, or to your neighbor who can't wait to try it! Perfect for gardeners of all ages! The Mantis 4-Cycle Honda-Powered Tiller includes a FREE Kickstand and Border Edger Attachment.

Border Edger $44.95 Makes it easy to beautify your property with sharp, clean edges around paths, flower beds and bushes. Wheel and hardened spring-steel blade attaches easily to your tiller. Cuts neat, crisp edges where your flower beds meet the lawn. Maintains a sharp edge between lawn and gardens.

2-Cycle Tiller Handy Item Kit (SV4B) $24.95 (For tillers sold prior to January 2004). Contains 6 bottles of pre-measured 2-cycle engine oil (2.6 oz each), 1 spark plug, 2 air filter pads, 2 oz. tube of transmission grease, 1 transmission gasket, 2 tine retaining pins, combo wrench, fuel tank funnel. Everything you need "just in case".

Handy Item Kit 4-Cycle Tiller (for 22cc & 35cc models) $32.95 For use with the 4-Cycle Honda-Powered Mantis Tiller/Cultivator (22cc or 31cc engine; models sold prior to May 2007) Includes: 2 bottles of premium 4 cycle engine oil (2.6 oz. ea.), 1 funnel, 1 spark plug, 1 air filter pad, 2 oz. tube of transmission grease, 1 transmission gasket, 2 tine retaining pins, and combo wrench.

24 Double Edge Trimmer Bar $174.95 Helps you keep your shrubs, trees and hedges shaped just the way you like them. Plus, regular trimming promotes new, healthy growth.For 2-Cycle Tiller only.

Handy Item Kit 4-Cycle Tiller (for 25cc; current model) $32.95 For use with the 4-Cycle Honda-Powered Mantis Tiller/Cultivator (25cc engine; current model). Includes: 2 bottles of premium 4 cycle engine oil (2.6 oz. ea.), 1 funnel, 1 spark plug, 1 air filter pad, 2 oz. tube of transmission grease, 1 transmission gasket, 2 tine retaining pins, and combo wrench.

30 Single Edge Trimmer bar $169.95 Helps you keep your shrubs, trees and hedges shaped just the way you like them. Plus, regular trimming promotes new, healthy growth.For 2-Cycle Tiller only.

Lawn Aerator $69.95 Cuts into the soil under your lawn with four sets of tempered steel "knives," to permit easy absorption of water, oxygen and nutrients. Perfect to use in compact, clay soil. Aerate before overseeding or spot seeding your lawn. Reduce soil compaction to let in air and water, which promotes the activity of beneficial soil microorganisms, and encourages healthy lawns.

Aerator/Dethatcher Combination $169.95 Aerator Attachment cuts into the soil under your lawn with four sets of tempered steel "knives," to permit easy absorption of water, oxygen and nutrients. Perfect to use in compact, clay soil. Aerate before overseeding or spot seeding your lawn.Dethatcher Attachment quickly removes weeds and the tan-looking built-up "thatch" that can choke your lawn. The 60 sp ring-steel picks let you dethatch a 15" swath with a single pass.

Lawn Dethatcher $139.95 Are weeds and crab grass a problem for you? Then you need this attachment! Quickly removes weeds and the tan-looking built-up "thatch" that can choke your lawn. The 60 spring-steel picks let you dethatch a 15" swath with a single pass. Thatch harbors insects, creates a water barrier, and prevents new grass from growing. Dethatch your lawn regularly in spring and fall, especially before feeding and fertilizing.

Assembled Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator $379 The Mantis Tiller/Cultivator's exclusive patented reversible "serpentine" tines dig deep into even the hardest soil. It's easy to start, easy to use. Let's you get into tight places where no big tiller can go. Comes fully assembled.

Mantis ComposT-Twin Compost Tumbler $12.95 Why Wait For Compost?! Unique two-chamber composting. Holds 10 bushels in each chamber. Makes compost in about 2 weeks. Easy-turn handle and gear system. FREE Compost Activator and Guide to Composting when you order. Plus free Owners video.

Crevice Cleaner $59.95 Removes dirt and debris from cracks and other hard-to-reach places, thanks to 34 tough steel bristle brushes arrayed around a sturdy wheel. Great for maintaining driveways and walks. Shown with optional wheel set attachment. Saves hours of time and backbreaking work! Quickly cuts through weeds, dirt, and debris. Easy to use. Fits on either side of the axle. Comes complete with balancing wheel and fender.