clint’s dandy digger. if your back protests every time you pull a weed, treat yourself to this simple panacea. $10-$50 depending on handle length, (360) 681-0101, www.clintsdandydigger.com

troy-bilt 6.5hp chipper shredder vac self propelled model. a three-in-one unit with vacuum nozzle, chipper chute, and shredder. it also has a 3-inch chipping capacity, and holds 3-bushel bags of material. about $750 at lowe’s or at www.amazon.com

felco hand pruner. from the forged aluminum alloy handles to the wire-cutting notch on most models, this is the industry standard. $25-$65, (425) 488-3263, www.felcousa.com or www.amazon.com
perennial wisdom
what to plant? when to plant it? here’s a list of books to help veteran gardeners and budding beginners — whatever the region.

  • complete idiot’s guide to landscaping (alpha, $19), illustrated by joel m. lerner
  • georgia gardener’s guide (cool springs press, $25), by walter reeves
  • the new england gardener’s book of lists (taylor trade publishing, $18), by karan davis cutler
  • pat welsh’s southern california gardening: a month-by-month guide (chronicle books, llc, $30), by pat welsh
  • taylor’s weekend gardening guides: cold climate gardening (houghton mifflin company, $14), by rebecca atwater briccetti
  • texas gardening the natural way: the complete handbook (university of texas press, $35), by howard garrett