If you thought 'seed bombs' were an impressive concept then you are going to be blow away with the subtlety of this new weapon. While seed bombs are an amazing piece of ingenuity their effectiveness compared with this piece of GG arsenal could be likened to a one-shot rifle versus a semi-automatic.

Embrace the next wave of blooming terror to hit our concrete jungles - check it out....

Posted in Community Gardening at 6:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm a big fan of clogs and My! haven't they come a long way since the Dutch thought that blocks of wood on your feet was a good idea. Today, garden clogs are far more practical but nonetheless insanely comfortable.

For years I wore an open-backed pair with a wooden sole and leather upper. Initially I was incredibly skeptical that they shouldn't instead be hung on the mantelpiece as some decorative adornment. Yet after a short test drive I was convinced that these could quite possibly be THE most comfortable shoe that I've ever worn.

My feet, after having survived years esoterically shrouded with socks and lumping boots, have relished the liberal style of clogs. The easy slip-in/ slip-off is the obvious attraction and when you find footwear is becoming burdensome in your gardening endeavours flicking them off with a twist of your toes can be quite a relief.

One of the other benefits is the aeration holes that modern garden clogs sport. Since most of these are now produced from plastic or rubberised materials they do have a tendency to make your feet more sweaty. The aeration holes provide an escape from the build-up of moisture allowing your feet to keep shoes on even in the middle of summer.

By far the greatest feature of garden clogs is their versatility in all types of weather. 'Gum-boots', 'Wellingtons' and 'Galloshers' are great in really wet weather but overkill in dry, dusty summer. The opposing garden shoe may suit the warmer months but once they get a bit of mud or water on them they're practically rendered useless. Garden clogs perform in all conditions.

Here are some of the major manufacturers and a store for these branded garden clogs;

CROCS™

CROCS™ and SLOGGERS™ need no introduction as they've almost become household brands. CROCS™, named for their similarity between a crocodile's head, are possibly Boulder, Colorado's best export.

Originally CROCS™ were made specifically as outdoor footwear but they have now crept into mainstream apparel and can be seen on people as casual wear, camping gear and as awesome garden clogs.

Their two main styles for the garden are;

Hydro - for wet weather and sandy conditions.
Endeavor - for cold climates. Complete upper layer.

SLOGGERS™

SLOGGERS™ are no sluggards in this market either. While CROCS™ have broadened their scope and market share, SLOGGERS™ have remained faithful as 'Garden Outfitters'. Their sleek styles won't break the bank and seem to offer more safety with their enclosed uppers.

Plus, their durable yet flexible EVA plastic won't damage your feet as your gardening chores contort them. With a range of fashion prints plus quite a few more styles than CROCS™ that are suitable for the garden, you're sure to find something from this maker.

NORCROSS FOOTWEAR INC.

NORCROSS are well-noted for their safety footwear being contracted to many organisations and government bodies to provide their employees with suitable, yet practical shoes and boots. This high standard seems to have been taken across into their garden clogs range as well.

Strong, tough and durable these clogs are great. The only limitation seems to be their styles.

MUCKBOOTS™

MUCKBOOTS™ are a signature brand of Norcross Footwear and aimed primarily at the gardener or those working outdoors. The brand has been tailored to offer longevity and they're manufactured from 100% Waterproof CR-Foam. While most of the other garden clogs on the market are produced using EVA rubber the CR-Foam is a similar compound to Neoprene which is used to make surfing booties.

So, while MUCKBOOTS™ may outlast the others don't expect to source them cheaply. Most styles in this brand sell for at least double the asking price of the others.

Posted in Garden Tools at 8:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

My concern has never been to create a garden that's safe for pets but one that's safe from pets. Sure, I've discussed the threat of poison plants and how they can be fatally harmful for our l'il balls of fluff and it's good to be mindful of the dangers they present to our dogs and cats, but what about the damage they can do to the garden?

Heck, they look so innocent don't they and if it wasn't for their damned cute looks I'm sure we would all be pet-free. Yet for most gardeners keeping a garden and a dog or a cat seem at complete odds with each other.

Fortunately Marty Hair from Freep.com has this great advice to offer us;

And dog-lovers must occasionally look the other way when impatiens get squashed and petunias trampled.

It's not the impatiens or the petunias I'm worried about - it's the hand-picked tulips that are just about to bloom that put me on the edge. It wouldn't be me looking the other way, let me assure you. I'd be making sure everyone else was looking the other way as I buried the little ferret....

Seriously, the two can co-exist. It won't be long before your local botanical garden announces its "Bring Your Pet Along" weekends and encourages you to leave the leash behind. Then you and your best friend can enjoy frolicking in the gardens, and don't worry about the petunias and impatiens - the resident horticulturalist is sure to "look the other way".

The best piece of advice to come out of the article was this gem;

A fence should be the first thing installed in a yard that will be home to a dog

Damned right. It will go right across the front of the garden to stop the mangy mutt from even thinking about getting its paws into my gorgeously manicured lawns.

On the other side of the coin, a fence is going to look fairly ugly so maybe I'll just go with a dog containment system that instantly pulverizes any animal - apart from birds, frogs and other natural creatures - upon impact.

Good tips Marty...

Posted in Home Garden at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)