Robotic Gutter Cleaner?

Money Magazine featured this product in its latest issue: A robot that cleans your gutters. Climb a ladder and insert the robot, then use your remote control to clean dirt, leaves and sludge out of the gutter. You can watch a video of the robot in action here.

Is it a gimmick, or does it really work?

You can read the Consumer Reports review here. I may have to wait for robot 2.0, but if you have patience and get a rush from new technology, you may beg to differ.

Have any of you tried this product? It is manufactured by iRobot.

Planting Depth Revisited

I overheard a conversation in the grocery store the other day that reminded me of my post on planting depth.

The cashier was telling her customer, who was purchasing a Rose of Sharon, that she can't get anything to grow in her yard because it was so shady. She went on to say that her daffodils and tulips won't bloom because of the shade.

I almost piped in with, "Oh, you just planted them too deep." Luckily, I held my tongue. Novice gardeners really shouldn't give unsolicited advice about shade.

It did remind me that is important to be diligent in planting things at the right depth. I use the hand ruler on the side of my garden ruler to double check. No guesstimating for me; that's just asking for trouble.

If you don't have a ruler as part of your gardening tool kit, I strongly recommend one. You can buy the one pictured above, here.

Reuse Soda Cans

Yesterday's post showed you how to create a scoop out of an old milk jug. Today's tip is just as handy. Instead of recycling all of your old aluminum cans, rinse them out and place them in the bottom of large planters to take up some of the space. They will provide extra drainage capacity and you'll need less potting soil!

Handy, Eco-friendly Garden Tool

This simple scoop is fashioned from a half-gallon plastic milk jug. It's great for distributing fertilizer granules or potting soil in tight spaces. To craft it, make two horizontal cuts on the sides adjacent to the handle, and two forward-slanting diagonal cuts in the other sides.