TopPicks Index

Top 3 Folding Pruning Saws - Portable Power for Pruning
For all the special garden pruning tools available, sometimes nothing beats the common old saw. The reason for buying a special garden pruning saw is that these are designed with sticky, gummy plants in mind. Your shop saw will probably just get stuck and/or bind if used to cut branches. There are convenient folding saws that tuck into your gardening bag to have ready whenever the need arises. Here are some things to look for in a folding pruning saw and some saws of note.

Top 6 Pruning Shears - An Old-Fashioned, but Reliable Gardening Tool
Every homeowner seems to have a pair of pruning shears in their tool shed. Garden shears have fallen out of favor because shearing leave ragged edges when they cut and that's not good for plants. But when you have a lot of shrubs to trim, nothing beats a gardeing shear. Shears are also excellent for cutting back perennials and grasses after their initial bloom period. Here's what to look for in gardening shears.

Top 6 Loppers - Tree and Shrub Pruning Tools for Medium Sized Branches
Loppers are a step up from hand pruners. Loppers are basically hand pruners with long handles. While the longer handles will give you added reach to prune higher branches, that's not their true advantage. The handles on loppers give you leverage, so you can pruner can handle larger branches; up to 2" in diameter, depending on the lopper. Here's what to look for when shopping for a lopper and some notable products.

Top 5 Pole Tree Pruners - No Branch is Out of Your Pruning Reach
Sometimes there's a damaged branch, just out of reach. Or maybe you need to open the canopy or snip off crossing branches. It's frustrating when there's a branch you can't get to it. Ladders are fine, but pruning requires stability and balance. Some clever person came up with pole pruners. How brilliant to attach a long handle to a saw blade. Here's some advice and suggestions on what to look for in pole tree pruners.

Top 8 Greenhouse Kits - Choosing the Greenhouse for You
It’s so tempting. The idea of a greenhouse means gardening year round, a warm sunny spot to garden in February. Tropical plants that survive the winter... Greenhouses are the ultimate fantasy for gardeners, but they’re also a big responsibility. One night without heat and all of your plants and seedlings could be goners. Your greenhouse will need heat, water, benches, venting, electricity. And that’s just for starters. Here are some greenhouse kits and their pros and cons.

Top 3 Cold Frames - A Good, Easy Way to Harden Off Seedlings
Cold frames are structures that insulate young plants when temperatures drop, but allow them to acclimate to the outdoor air and the strength of the sun's light slowly. You could create a cold from bales of hay and an old blanket, but these cold frame kits have brought science and convenience to the craft of cold frames.

Top 7 Leaf Blowers, Vacuums, Shredders - Even Rakes
Cleaning up fallen leaves is an inevitable garden chore for most of us. New leaf vacuums, blowers and improved lawn rakes can make the job easier. The following are top picks of leaf pick-up tools.

Top 8 Books Worth Adding to Your Gardening Library
Next to actualy working in their gardens, gardeners love to read and learn more about gardening. There are dozens of new gardening books each year. The following garden book reviews can help you find some of interest to you and your gardening needs.