| A beautiful yard is the reward of work well done, | | | | Awesome Auger |
| but what happens when the work required is | | | | Digging holes for posts and aerating your lawn is |
| beyond your capabilities? While there are | | | | much easier when you have the correct tools. |
| individuals who enjoy the muscle-straining tasks | | | | The Awesome Auger, as advertised on |
| that result in a beautiful yard, many still are not | | | | infomercials, is the right tool for many jobs. The |
| that fond of it. For many of us, the physical tasks | | | | spiral design of the blades gives the auger bit a |
| of keeping a yard beautiful and healthy can be a | | | | real bite to dig into dirt at record speed. It even |
| physical impossibility. Also, it can be especially | | | | chews right through tree roots and heavy clay |
| difficult for those with arthritis and other | | | | soil. You just need a good heavy-duty drill to back |
| conditions that, unfortunately, tend to get worse | | | | it up with some power. |
| with age. | | | | Take the Easy Way Out |
| Considering these factors, there are tools and tips | | | | There are easier ways to do things that you are |
| available that can help take the hard work out of | | | | used to doing around the yard. In addition to |
| yard work. Next time your yard needs some | | | | choosing ergonomically designed tools with long |
| maintenance; refer back to the following | | | | handles, you can also change the way that you |
| suggestions that can help take the pain and | | | | approach tasks to make them less wearing on |
| frustration out of yard work. | | | | your body. |
| Tools to Make Your Yard Work Easier | | | | Stand Up. Whenever possible, do tasks standing |
| Take advantage of tools that are designed to | | | | up. Instead of bending and standing to pick up |
| make yard work easier. Some innovations to | | | | trash around the yard, use a nail driven into the |
| keep an eye out for are tools that include longer | | | | bottom of a stick as a make-shift trash picker. |
| handles and padded handgrips. These specifications | | | | Choose gardening tools with longer handles so |
| can make yard work easier. Some of the most | | | | that you don't have to bend over to reach. |
| helpful tools that you can find on the market | | | | Use a dolly or hand truck at the store. Or better |
| include: | | | | yet, let them load it for you. Loading heavy bags |
| Steppin Edger (Hound Dog Products) | | | | of soil and mulch into your shopping cart or trunk |
| If you cannot stand that sight of a raggedy | | | | can put a strain on your back. Most gardening |
| looking lawn and overgrown garden edgings this | | | | supply stores have flatbed trucks and dollies to |
| tool could be a big help. Traditional garden edgers | | | | make it easier to load your purchases, and nearly |
| can be hard on your back, your knees and your | | | | all will happily load your purchases into your car - |
| shoulders. The Steppin Edger is specially designed | | | | or even deliver them. Make sure you arrange for |
| to use your natural walking motion to trim the | | | | help at the other end of the journey, too. |
| edges of your lawn and flower beds easily and | | | | Transport tools and supplies in a kiddie wagon. |
| more naturally, without putting a strain on your | | | | Instead of carrying everything around or running |
| muscles. The rocker blade allows you to just roll | | | | back and forth to the shed, load all the supplies |
| forward and let your weight do the hard work, | | | | you'll need into your kids' old wagon and pull it |
| and the ergonomic handle will make the job easy | | | | along with you. If you don't have one, you can |
| on your hands as well. | | | | pick one up at most stores or second hand for |
| Battery Powered Sprayer | | | | just a few dollars. It may be the most valuable |
| Many home-owners love their day lilies and irises, | | | | few dollars you ever spend. |
| but hate the thought of spraying them on a | | | | Sit down on the job. When you need to do close |
| consistent basis. The battery powered sprayer | | | | up work like weeding, using a low stool instead of |
| allows you to spray any area on your yard | | | | sitting on the ground or kneeling is a great way to |
| because it is cordless. No more dragging a cord | | | | avoid injury. By using a stool, getting up is much |
| through your yard and around corners harming | | | | easier on your back. There are some great |
| other plants in its path. The battery powered | | | | gardening stools available on the market, including |
| sprayer makes it a breeze keep flowers and | | | | some with tool caddies and ergonomic support. |
| other plants healthy and bug free. Also, the | | | | Raise the issue. Instead of bending over, try |
| battery powered sprayer has a comfortable and | | | | bringing things up to your level. Raised flower beds |
| convenient shoulder strap so no energy is wasted | | | | and container gardens are a good compromise, |
| bending down to spray, and, since the machine is | | | | and much easier on your back than ground level |
| battery powered, no energy is wasted pumping | | | | gardening. |
| the sprayer too. | | | | |