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5 Essential Garden Tools for the New Homeowner

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Fri, Jun, 28, 2019 @ 14:06 PM

Sold HomeWe recently had a young couple move in next door to us. They moved from a one bedroom apartment, into a home with an established front and back yard they need to maintain. Of course, me being the tool geek I am, I started talking to them about what tools they need to take care of their property. Having trees, shrubs, lawn and flowers, I came up with a list of essential tools that would help them maintain their new property. Top of my list for our new neighbors; a pair of loppers, hand pruners, folding saw, rake and shovel. Why these tools? Keep reading to find out and share you suggestions in the comments.

Maintaining the Established Yard

So you buy a home with a landscaped front and back yard. With some nice trees, a lawn, plenty of shrubs and flowers that eventually will need pruning and maintenance. With my new neighbor just getting started with a new home and a new baby on the way, buying power tools can be expensive.  Also noisy tools can startle a baby or wake them up from their nap. And let's face it, no one ever wants to make that mistake! I'd also highly recommend saving the power lawn mower for a time when mom takes the baby out for a walk or runs to the store.

Screen Shot 2019-06-28 at 10.54.25 AM

The Essential Tools

With my young neighbors in mind I put together this list of helpful hand tools that can get the job done for them. They are admittedly new to the caring for the yard, and it's not something they necessarily find joy in doing. So the tools I selected, were designed to help make the tasks easier and getting the job done quickly.

DualLINK™ Bypass Lopper - these loppers provide assistance with making cuts. It has a compound lever that amplifies the amount of force, requiring less effort to get through a cut. Think of a lifting a heavy weight tied to a with a series of pulleys. One pulley puts 100% of the weight on you. Add more pulleys and the task becomes much easier. That's what DualLINK provides. They also have ComfortGEL® grips and a ShockGaurd™ bumper system so you won't feel sore the next day.

SL 4264-in use_

FlexDIAL® Bypass Pruner - I chose this hand pruner for a couple reasons. The adjustable dial allows them to both use the tool and get a custom fit for their hand size. He can use them on the widest setting to prune back branches and stems up to 3/4 in. And she can use them with a lower setting to go out, and cut some roses to bring in the house. When the baby gets older and wants to go help in the garden, setting FlexDIAL to 1 can be a great tool they can use too. Supervised of course!

BP 4214-In Use_2

RazorTOOTH Saw® - 8 in Folding Saw - This is one of the most helpful tools for any household. It makes quick work of larger limbs and branches, with a well-designed blade, that helps keep the cutting channel free of saw dust and pulp. Just a few pull strokes is all it takes to complete a cut. They also come in handy for going camping, out on the trails and for cutting off the bottom of the Christmas tree before you bring it inside.

RS-7255-in-use

Spring Brace Rake - Since my neighbor will be cutting his own lawn, a rake is essential to help rake up the grass clippings that don't make it in the catcher. The magnolia leaves that fall in the summer here can also clutter the lawn quickly in between mowings so this will help keep things tidy.

Corona Spring Brace Rake


#2 Round Point Shovel - Inevitably, once you're in a new home for a while, you're going to want to make some personal changes to make your landscape reflect your personality and tastes. That's when you start looking at the shrub that was planted long before you moved in and think it's time to be replaced with something else. Having a shovel to dig up, plant or remove a plant, is work most every new homeowner will want to do.

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What More Could You Use?

So far my neighbor has appreciated my suggestion and I've seen them out using some of their new tools already. I told him that if he ever has a need for something else, I know a guy who might have the right tool for the job. For those who have recently moved into a new home, tell us in the comments what you found to be your essential tools for maintaining your landscape and garden!

 

 

Topics: gardening, Landscaping, plants, tools, shrubs

What's Growing in Your Garden & Landscape?

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Fri, Jul, 25, 2014 @ 12:07 PM

Hydrangea on Corona Tools PlantchatFrom azaleas to zucchinis and everything in between, homeowners have planted a wide variety of plants species in most every possible zone. Plants reflect our personal preferences for color, depth and texture in our landscapes and each yard is unique. As plant lovers, a hybrid tea rose can provide immense joy for one, while the smell of a blooming gardenia shrub greets another happy gardener. Sharing personal plant choices, successes and inspiring others is how gardeners connect with each other and it's our topic on this week's plantchat!  We'll also have a Corona Tools prize package in store for the most active participant during the live chat!

You're Invited to Tweet 

Join @CoronaTools and plant lovers from all over the Twittersphere for the topic, What's Growing in Your Garden? The live chat begins Monday, July 28, 2014 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST, were we come together with green industry experts and fellow horticultural tweeps each week to discuss all things related to plants and horticulture, since 2014.

Discussion Overview 

Our discussion is a free forum format for everyone to share what they are growing in their gardens and landscape.  We'll have some questions for participants including;

Plant Choices - Share what types of plants you have selected for your landscape and why you choose them.

Hits and Misses - Discuss what plants you've had great success with and those you haven't.

Plant Favorites - Show off your favorite plants, flowers, trees and shrubs by tweeting pictures of plants that bring you joy.

Indoor Plants - Bringing nature indoors adds warmth, beauty and fresher air that says "welcome" to homeowners and guests.

Sources of Inspiration - Where do you get your planting inspiration from to try new plants and planting techniques 

Join the Conversation

Plantchat logo on Corona ToolsDon’t miss out on this exciting topic and join the conversation via Twitter. Just sign into #plantchat with your Twitter ID and you can follow the conversation and share with the community. Be sure to add the hastag to all your tweets or join us in the plantchat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live event, you can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7 that will be posted following the live chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion. 

About Plantchat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Plantchat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries.  Register now to get weekly updates of upcoming chats, links to transcripts, chat reminders and more!  Register now on the GILN website!

Topics: #Plantchat, gardening, GILN, plants

Benefits of Companion Planting in the Garden

Posted by Chris Sabbarese on Mon, Jun, 16, 2014 @ 10:06 AM

Corona Tools Hydrangea on PlantchatNative Americans discovered centuries ago, the tremendous benefits of planting certain together.  It became known as 3 Sisters which benefited the plants and the soil, creating a symbiotic relationship. They realized that this method led to healthier plants, soil and ultimately, bigger and better crops. This week we will talk about this technique and all about companion planting on #plantchat!

BONUS GIVEAWAY: During the live chat, the most active participant will win a set of Corona ComfortGEL garden hand tools!  Tune into the live chat for details!

You're Invited to Tweet 

Join @CoronaTools and #plantchat co-partner, Aaron Kinsman, of Rodale Institute @RodaleInstitute for this week's topic, Benefits of Companion Planting. The live chat begins Monday, June 16, 2014 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST, were we come together with green industry experts and fellow horticultural tweeps each week to discuss all things related to plants and horticulture, since 2014.

Discussion Overview 

3 Sisters Method - Hear how the method was used by early Native Americans and why this practice is still being used today in organic gardens.

Benefits of Companion Planting - Explore the tremendous benefits that happen when paring certain plants together.

Plant Selection - Discover what plants make great companions, yield bigger and better crops, prevent insect damage, and improve the soil

Importance of Companion Planting - Understand what makes companion planting so important for organic gardening.

Tips and Resources - Get the latest tips and information from the Rodale Institute for achieve growing success in the time honored tradition of companion planting.

Join the Conversation

Plantchat logo on Corona ToolsDon’t miss out on this exciting topic and join the conversation via Twitter. Just sign into #plantchat with your Twitter ID and you can follow the conversation and share with the community. Be sure to add the hastag to all your tweets or join us in the plantchat room on Tweetchat.  They will automatically add it for you and it's easy to watch the conversation as it happens!

If you do miss the live event, you can still access the Storify recap, accessible 24/7 that will be posted following the live chat. The transcript includes all the information and links shared during the discussion. 

About Plantchat

Connect and share with the green industry leaders live on Twitter and 24/7 to learn and share about hot topics in the green industry. Now plantchat is part of the Green Industry Leaders Network (GILN) presented by Corona and its partners.  We are an alliance of professional organizations who are advancing the horticulture, tree care, and landscaping industries.  Register now to get weekly updates of upcoming chats, links to transcripts, chat reminders and more!  Register now on the GILN website!

Topics: #Plantchat, gardening, GILN, plants, organic, pest management

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