Essentials For The Gardening Shed by Rebecca Kolls (NAPSA)—Theright tool can help make any job easier and the garden is no exception. More than 91 million households gardened in aa Pd 2005, the most ever, according to the National Gardening Association. Gardening is an incredibly enjoyable activity, but if you don’t want to end up sore, blistered or itching, it’s important to be properly prepared before you begin. Here are some essential items that I keep in my garden shed: * Gardener’s First-Aid Kit— The most important thing in my shed is my first-aid kit for common garden emergencies including sunburn, bug bites, cuts, and poison ivy, oak or sumac. Every gardener I know dreads poison ivy because the itch can last for weeks. A tiny brush against one of these plants can cause a whole lot of itch, but it doesn’t have to with the help of one of my favorite products, CorTArID Poison Ivy Care Treatment Kit. It can be used to defend against an outbreak, help to prevent spreading andtreat an itchy reaction. * Gardening Gloves—While I believe in getting my hands dirty, nothing beats a great pair of high-quality leather gardening gloves. The right gloves can protect hands from thorns, an unexpected bee or spider, sharp twigs or sticks andblistering. Shovels/Spade & Trowel— A good shovel is the difference between making your garden work easier and giving you a backache. Lookfor one with a long handle (to take pressure off of your back) and flat ledge, which creates a surface for your foot. A trowel is a must. Find one with a wide, curved blade that fits com- fortably in your hand. * ietoee ik a Before digging in the garden, be sure you havetheright tools. Pruners—Pruning, deadheading (picking the dead flowers off of plants) and trimming plants goes on all year long. Look for “bypass” pruners that make a clean cut on the plant without crushingor tearingit. * Wheelbarrows and Carts— Toting things around the garden can become a chore. Save yourself a backacheandfind a lightweight yet sturdy andsteady cart to help with heavy work. Watering Essentials—A good hose hasa %-inch opening,is reinforced with a mesh layer and is kink resistant. It should handle 50 pounds per square inch of water pressure. Cost usually reflects quality, so spend the extra. For areas your hose can’t reach, invest in a sturdy watering can. With tools like these, gardening will truly be a pleasure, so get out there and “Get Your Hands Dirty.” Rebecca Kolls, a master gar- dener, is host of HGTV’s nationally syndicated gardening series “Rebecca’s Garden.”
