New home-gardening items make chores easier

GLENN HAEGE, GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

Originally published September 29, 2001

The big hits at the International Hardware Show in Chicago recently were all the new products at the lawn and garden displays in McCormick Center's South Hall. Gardening is the most popular do-it-yourself activity.

At one time or another, everyone who gardens wishes that he or she had a greenhouse so that plants could be started earlier in the spring or worked with later in the fall. The trouble is that greenhouses take up a lot of room and are a fairly expensive commitment. Once you have a greenhouse, it is there for keeps.

Not any more. Gronhaus has introduced a line of greenhouses that are lightweight, tent-like structures that can be carried in a tote bag and set up in about 30 minutes. They are made from Solaron, a specially formulated woven polyethylene glazing that allows 79 percent light transmission while blocking UV rays.

"Three full-sized green houses are available," says Eric Reinsfelder, director of marketing for Gronhaus. "They range from a six-sided, gazebo-shaped, 11-foot 8-inch by 10-foot Sonnen Haus for $300, to the 10-foot by 8 and one-quarter-foot Gable Haus, which costs $400." Center heights range from 7- to 8-feet, 3-inches. They are available from the manufacturer by calling 800-317-7225 or online at www.gronhaus.com.

According to Greg Severin, one of the inventors, the greenhouses should last three to five years and permit the gardener to start working 60 days earlier in the spring and keep gardening 60 days later in the fall. If you are a gardener, $400 seems like a real bargain for an extra four months of gardening time.

Another big help for the gardener is the Garden Center by Today's Plastics, 800-258-TOYS. The Garden Center is a garden cart with a difference. It opens up to become a potting/harvesting center, complete with sink, running water and storage drawers.

The Garden Center and a companion Deluxe Barbecue Station will cost between $120 and $125, according to Eleanor Zeliner, marketing manager. They should be in better garden centers by next spring.

The best way to connect water to a Garden Center would be to use one of the drinking water safe coil hoses. The coil hoses are 25- and 50-foot hoses by companies such as Water Coil Hose, 888-443-3842, and B&G Equipment Co., 800-544-8811.

The beauties of coil hoses are that they don't kink and when you are done using them, they snap back to easily stored 18- to 24-inch coils. Coil hoses range in price from $20 to $50.

Water Coil hoses are carried by most national hardware chains. B & G's hoses are available direct at www.sprayersdirect.com, and at hardware stores and home centers.

If you would like to save money watering, Rain Drip Inc. has micro-watering kits that water plants, vegetables, even hanging plants by the drop. Drippers can be set to run at one-half to 2 gallons per hour. Starter kits retail for $35. You can find them at Lowe's and Home Depot according to Imelda Trujillo, international accounts manager.

If you aren't around to water, The Direct Root Co., 888-84-SPIKE, has developed Jelled Water Spikes. The Jell is made from a cellulose-based product that is 95 percent water. The jell trickles down the water spike into the soil. Ground bacteria eat the cellulose, releasing the water. This slow conversion provides sufficient water for a plant to stay healthy for two to three weeks according to John Vause, the company's national sales manager.

Water spikes retail between $1.49 and $1.99. If they are not at your garden center, you can get them on the Internet at www.directgroup.com.

The last two products are made from recycled materials and are good for the environment.

International Mulch Company in St. Louis introduced Rubberific Mulch, 866-936-8524. The mulch is made from old tires. It comes in redwood, cedar, weathered oak, earth tone, Caribbean blue and cypress. The colors are permanent, the mulch will not rot, blow away or attract termites like wooden and bark mulches. It also is nontoxic and retains moisture.

Rubberific Mulch is not available everywhere, but it is a great idea and I hope you will find it soon at a garden center near you.

Eco-Planters by WorldWise are planters that look like all the other clay, foam or plastic planters you see in stores. Their beauty lies in the fact that they are made from recycled plastic wrap that would ordinarily go to garbage dumps. Large Eco-Planters, smaller Notta Pots and Whiskey Barrels last practically forever, are flexible and never break. They are carried in about 10,000 garden and home centers nationwide. For the store nearest you, call WorldWise, 800-967-5394.

Glenn Haege, who writes a column for the Detroit News, also hosts "Ask the Handyman," a syndicated radio show heard on 195 stations nationwide. You can contact him via e-mail: editor@flashcom.net. Visit his Web site at www.masterhandyman.com. Volume prohibits personal answers.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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