Making It Easy

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-710 -- More Projects »

Much of gardening requires heavy lifting, but you don't need super-human strength to be a gardener if you lighten your load with some helpful tools. Master gardener Paul James tackles some cumbersome gardening topics, like how to avoid injury when performing routine tasks, managing weighty container plants and alleviating yard eyesores:

"I'm always on the look-out for anything whether a product or technique that helps to lighten the load," says James.

Figure A

The problem with using a wheel barrel or a cart to transfer heavy loads is that you have to be able to lift the object into the cart in the first place. And lifting heavy items can be a real risk for injury. However, the tree dolly is a great tool choice for those situations. The tree dolly moves awkwardly shaped objects that weigh hundreds of pounds with ease (figure A). The specially designed pneumatic tires won't leave tracks indented on your landscaping. Because a dolly can be expensive, consider splitting the costs with your neighbors. Another option is to rent or borrow a tree dolly from a local nursery. If you are also want to move smaller, lighter loads like topsoil, compost, or mulch, a wheel barrel might be the best choice.

Figure B

Figure C

"As many of you know, conventional wheelbarrows can be pretty unstable especially on uneven ground," says James. To avoid tipping over, look for wheel barrel that's well-balanced. This specially designed wheel barrel (figure B) has an additional tire that adds stability and allows you to haul a heavy load without the fear of tipping even on uneven ground.

An inexpensive alternative is the tarp. Just load up the tarp and drag your load (figure C). Another tip: When working in the yard, use fiberglass-handled tools to help make yard work less painful or else use smaller hand tools for more compact projects.

Figure D

Making Pots Lighter
"Moving heavy pots can be really hard on the back," says James, "but these relatively new fiberglass pots are light as a feather even when filled with soil and a plant, and they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs (figure D). They aren't cheap but they'll last forever." Even the plastic pots today look remarkably like their terra-cotta counterparts not only from a distance, but from up close, as well. "And when you need a really large pot for a shrub or small tree, plastic is perfect!"

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Figure H

Figure I

Another way to make containers weigh less, especially if you garden on balconies or rooftops is to put plastic packing peanuts in the bottom of your containers (figure E). Add about 1/3 of soil over the plastic packing peanuts and mix together with perlite (figure F). All these lightweight materials not only keep the container from getting heavy, but they also facilitate drainage. "However, it also means you might have to water a little more frequently, especially during the hot summer months," says James. And if you plan on moving your plants often, you might want to buy a plant dolly (figure G). These handy rolling stands make rearranging potted plants hassle-free.

"Moving rocks has to be one of the toughest gardening tasks of all," says James. "But there's at least one rock that's easy to move." The ultra-lightweight, plastic faux rock looks just like a real boulder even from several feet away (figure H). Not only is the faux rock easy to move, it's hollow. Use the faux rock to disguise unsightly objects or hazards in your yard like gas meters and well pumps. Place the faux rock over the object, and anchor it into place with steel pins (figure I). And in an instant, no more ugly eye sore!

Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-710
•	Making It Easy
•	Power to the Perennials
•	Worm Composting: How to Create Vermicompost
•	Mini Water Gardens

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