Spring Gardening Review

Product:
Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator

Company: Mantis Garden Products

Price: $349.00

Consumer: Gardeners

The purpose of the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator is to cultivate and till a garden.

Pros: Gardening is one of the most pursued of all hobbies today. Planting seeds, watering, weeding and watching plants grow and thrive brings a great deal of pleasure to many people of all ages but, let’s face it, gardening can be hard back-breaking work…especially the part of getting new ground ready to plant. That is where the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator can help.

The exceedingly well-built Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator will last for many, many gardening seasons. The Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator is very light weight (only 20 pounds) but it works like a much larger machine.

Cons: You would normally have to assemble the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator - but the good news is there is an option to order the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator fully assembled. With this option, it couldn’t get any easier. You order the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator, it arrives, you take it out of the box and get right to the joy of gardening.

Guarantee: The guarantee on the Mantis Website reads in part: “Try any product that you buy from Mantis with no risk. If you are not completely satisfied, send it back to us within one year for a complete, no-hassle refund. All Mantis products are warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for two full years from date of purchase. During this time, we will repair or replace any defective part at no cost to you.”

Value for money: The Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator is an excellent value.

Where to buy:
Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller/Cultivator

Product: Flower Gardeners Bible

Company: Mantis Garden Products

Price: $32.95

Consumer: Gardeners

The purpose of the Flower Gardener’s Bible is to inform and educate gardeners.

Pros: The Flower Gardeners Bible is a must have for gardeners both experienced and new. Flower Gardeners Bible was written by Lewis and Nancy Hill and it is really like three books in one.

There are three parts to the Flower Gardeners Bible; Part 1: How-to and Instructional, Part 2: Design ideas and Part 3: Photographic encyclopedia. We all want beautiful, colorful gardens that will bring pleasure to us and envy to our neighbors. The Flower Gardeners Bible can help you achieve these goals.

The Flower Gardeners Bible is written in an easy style with very simple and straight forward instructions including pictures. Once your copy of the Flower Gardeners Bible arrives at your home you will read it and know what plants go where and which plants will thrive in what soil. Some plants thrive in direct sunlight but others require shade. You will know which is which after you read the Flower Gardeners Bible.

Cons: Some aspects of the Flower Gardener’s Bible may be too elementary for experienced gardeners. But this is offset by the excellent reference guide to plants, which should be useful to every gardening enthusiast.

Guarantee: The guarantee on the Mantis Website reads in part: “Try any product that you buy from Mantis with no risk. If you are not completely satisfied, send it back to us within one year for a complete, no-hassle refund. All Mantis products are warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for two full years from date of purchase. During this time, we will repair or replace any defective part at no cost to you.”

Value for money: The Flower Gardener’s Bible is an excellent value.

Where to buy: Flower Gardener’s Bible

If you have a tiny yard and would like a simple but well-maintained garden, you only need two things - determination and know-how. Here are some tips on how to keep your garden by the yard looking spruced up and glamorous.

1. Deadheading
Keep your border free from wilted flowers and dried leaves. Deadheading or removing dead flower heads will encourage the plants to produce more blooms for longer. Many perennials such as geraniums and dahlias, and some annuals benefit from having spent blooms removed

3. Pinch out tops.
Certain plants - especially foliage plants like Coleus - respond with a spurt of growth when their tops are pinched out. Pinching out makes the plant much bushier and so more blooms are produced. Fuchsias are prone to becoming leggy unless they are pinched out.

4. Fertilize lightly.
A minimal amount of fertilizer will further boost the growth of your vegetation. If you water your yard frequently, you have to fertilize it more regularly because of nutrient depletion. A fortnightly application of liquid fertilizer is sometimes more beneficial than granules as it is more readily absorbed by the leaves. Container plants will be considerably healthier with a half-strength solution of liquid fertilizer applied regularly.

5. Weed out.
This is one of the best ways to preserve the beauty of your garden by the yard. Remember, weeds compete with your plants for both nutrients and moisture. If the weeds are not close to seeding, leave them on the bed to rot down for mulch. If you must use a weedicide, try and get a wick applicator, rather than a spray. This will protect you plants from spray-drift.

6. Water them well
One good tip when it comes to watering your garden by the yard is to give it a thorough soaking once a week, making sure there is no run-off to cause erosion. Deep watering will encourage the growth of deeper roots that will be able to withstand dry spells weatherwise

7. Say no to chemicals
Chemicals are dangerous to humans and often kill the natural predators of the pest in your garden, so avoid them if possible. There are many organic alternatives that work almost as well.

With these simple tips, your garden by the yard will soon be the envy of your neighbors.