A gaggle of gadgets for the garden

A cordless compadre

A chain saw is a handy item to have around the old urban ranch, but many homeowners simply don't want to put up with the gas fumes, noise and wondering if the engine is going to start or not. For lightweight work, Black & Decker (www.blackanddecker.com) has the solution with its new Cordless Chainsaw. The chain saw uses the same 18-volt battery as many other B&D cordless power tools -- thus it is interchangeable. But, with the flick of a switch, this chain saw is ready to prune large limbs or cut down small trees. One full battery charge provides enough juice to make 150 cuts through 1 1/2-inch diameter wood. This chain saw with a half-charge cut through a 4-inch diameter dogwood limb (very hard wood) in 11 seconds. The key to optimum performance is full battery power and a sharp chain, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to buy an extra battery as well as a chain. The saw's light weight (6.2 pounds) and wraparound handle make it easy to twist and turn it into different cutting positions. Keep in mind, however: This chain saw has a manual bar oiler, so the oiling button must be pushed twice after every cut to help keep the blade sharp and extend the life of the chain bar. This is a small inconvenience for such a convenient chain saw that, with its 8-inch bar, can take on almost any job too big for limb loppers and too small to bother with gassing up "Old Smoky." Does it cut like a Husqvarna? No. But if you have few trees or a small yard, do you really need a Husky? The B&D tool is available at local home improvement stores for $100, or you can buy it online at Amazon.com for the same price and free shipping.

Slime begone!

If slugs and snails are threatening to make a mess of your garden, go with a 21st century solution: Garden Safe Slug & Snail Bait by Spectrum. In the past, the usual way to deal with these slimy pests was to put out a bait containing metaldehyde. Metaldehyde was and still is an effective slug and snail killer, but because sunlight and rain reduce its effectiveness, repeated applications are necessary. Also, it is poisonous to other living things, such as birds, pets and even gardeners, thus it can't be used in the vegetable garden and must be used cautiously everywhere else. Now, however, iron phosphate baits are available. These products are deadly to snails and slugs but can be used in the vegetable garden and in areas frequented by pets, and they won't dissolve in rainy conditions. In the last few years, these new baits were mostly found in stores heavily into organic garden products, but now the iron phosphate-based Garden Safe Slug & Snail Bait is more generally available at local garden stores. A 1-pound bag retails locally for about $10 and will cover 1,000 square feet of lawn and garden space.

Wise hoses

ReelSmart Hose Reels by Hydro-Industries (www.hydro-industries.com) offer the latest innovations in tucking garden the garden hose away. Don't look for a hand crank or an electrical outlet on these nifty helpers because they are powered by water straight from the spigot, using an efficient, powerful piston and cam system to reel a hose in. An in-line regulator assures steady operation from any standard household water pressure. To maximize storage space, vinyl hoses are recommended, as rubber hoses tend to be thicker and thus take up more space. The ReelSmart Hose Reels can handle hoses of different diameters and naturally can store more of a smaller diameter hose. A push of a lever will easily reel a hose in, but the job will go a lot smoother if a quality hose is used. Cheap hoses that crimp, twist and kink can slow the operation. There are several ReelSmart models to choose from, and for gardeners who don't like tripping over their "water snake" in the yard, any of them are really handy hose-tamers.