gilmour hose connector

I bought the Gilmour brass garden hose connector valve online just a couple of weeks ago. I have gotten a few good uses out of it already, so I am writing this review.

First it is made out of very durable material — brass. I bought this because I didn’t want to go to the faucet to shut off the water, because I have a long hose, and it leaks around the faucet.

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blue hawk lopper

By Stephanie Lezotte

The Good

You can get this bypass lopper for under $20. The entire tool is 27 inches long, perfect for removing my neighbor’s tree branches that have steadily been creeping into my property. It features plastic grip handles that have a rubbery feel, and while I always wear gloves while doing gardening tasks, the grips feel soft enough to be used comfortably by bare hands for a short period of time.

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Rubbermaid storage shed, reviewed

By Stephanie Lezotte

When I bought my home, the previous homeowner left behind two Rubbermaid Resin Outdoor Storage Sheds. These are medium-sized two-door plastic storage units that are advertised to stand up to the elements. According to Rubbermaid, the units are water-proof, leak-proof, rot-proof, rust-proof and weather-proof. I have owned my home for almost two years and am down to only one unit. Despite this fact, I still recommend this product.

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kobalt short handle scoop

By Stephanie Lezotte

I was introduced to the Kobalt line at my local Lowe’s about two years ago and have been satisfied with their products so far. I needed a tool for shoveling mulch—a lot of it—and I was pleased to see a Kobalt product choice: the short-handled wood scoop. I already own a digging shovel, but I wanted a tool capable of moving large quantities of mulch into my wheelbarrow (see my Union Tools Wheelbarrow review). I base my review on six factors: weight, cost, design, handle, scoop, and handling.

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best riding mowers 2013 intro graphic

By Stephanie Lezotte

The year’s collection of the best riding lawnmowers is heavily represented by the European Husqvarna brand. If you’re looking to buy American, however, you’ll be happy to know that we found three American models that deserve to be ranked among the top rated and reviewed riding mowers of 2013.

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roundup plus pump N go review

By Stephanie Lezotte

“You’ll love this house. The gardens are virtually maintenance-free.” Famous last words. If by “maintenance-free” the former homeowner meant, “anything and everything will grow even if you don’t do a thing,” then now I understand his meaning. The property I bought had been unlived in for a year. This absenteeism, mixed with extremely fertile grounds that had been carefully cultivated for almost 55 years, resulted in heavy-duty weeds starting in early April that grew at an alarming rate.

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Review: Viking 912600 8-Way Heavy Duty Garden Hose Spray Nozzle

I bought this nozzle as a replacement for a previous no-name garden hose sprayer I bought from Lowes. The first one I had, which I call “Generic Unit One,” broke after the first drop. The head that let you switch the spray pattern broke in pieces. Very cheap! I thought this Viking nozzle would be [...]

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Review: Weedeater 112C 15 inch Twist and Edge corded electric string trimmer

  By Jen Jones I purchased a Weed Eater Twist and Edge 112C corded electric string trimmer from my local Walmart store. There were not many choices available, but I have been very happy with my purchase. I have not had to do any maintenance on the weed eater, other than changing the spool as [...]

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All About Locust Trees

By Julie Christensen The term “locust” can apply to several different species of trees with legume-like seed pods. Two of the most common kinds in North America are the honey locust and black locust. Honey Locust Trees Among landscaping trees, honey locust has become very common, and with good reason. The honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) [...]

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Review: Ryobi 160R corded electric leaf blower

By Jen Jones My Ryobi 160R model corded electric leaf blower came from a local lawn and garden store in Ohio. I was not planning on buying a leaf blower that day, so did not have any thoughts on what make or model I might want. I would recommend doing a little research than I [...]

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