August Picks for the Gardener

Author: Nancy Erdmann

Issue: August, 2011, Page 102

1. BOXED IN
If bending down to work in the garden isn’t your style, or you have little space in which to grow your favorite plants, the Knox Garden Box could provide the perfect solution. Set on 3-foot-high legs, the raised planter makes it easy to garden without stooping or kneeling. The box is made with rot- and insect-resistant lumber and comes in a variety of sizes; wheels and handles are optional. Find it at knoxgardenbox.com.

2. GARDEN TOTE
This handy helper may have a funny name, but its usefulness in the yard makes it a must-have. Made from recycled polyester, The Gardener’s Hollow Leg can hold plant clippings, freshly harvested fruit, leaf litter or garden tools. The bag comes attached to an adjustable belt and features a Velcro-closed pocket for a cell phone or iPod. Find it at Southwest Gardener, Phoenix, southwestgardener.com.

3. PLANT BUILDER
Create healthier, better-looking plants by strengthening them from within, say garden experts. JAZ Plant-Strengther is a new eco-friendly product that is said to boost a plant’s vigor. The result is flora that thrives in spite of daily stress caused by insufficient water, heat, salt buildup and disease. Purchase it, along with JAZ Rose Spray and JAZ Rebound, through Harvest for Humanity, Phoenix, harvestforhumanity.com.

HUE KNEW
Learn how to color your world (and garden) with hues and shades from nature’s palette with Contemporary Color in the Landscape: Top Designers, Inspiring Ideas, New Combinations (Timber Press). Author Andrew Wilson uses examples of award-winning landscape designs to help readers achieve gardens that best suit their individual styles.
He suggests interlacing contrasting vegetation colors to create a visually interesting landscape. Also noted are methods for highlighting specific plants by incorporating like tones in planters, outdoor furniture and design elements, as well as ways to successfully break the “rules” of color.
—LeeAnn DiSanti