Worm Composting Is Easy & Productive

Worm composting is an incredibly efficient way to convert kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Most 'Master Gardeners' consider worm castings to be the very best compost available. Your plants will thrive with this all-natural compost. Sorting out the undigested scraps can be a messy, inconvenient chore with ordinary worm composters. Yardiac offers a .Worm composting binthat automatically separates food scraps from finished compost. Simply fill the bottom tray with red wiggler worms, bedding and food scraps. As the worms finish digesting, they will migrate upward into the tray above, leaving rich castings behind. It couldn't be easier or cleaner. No mess. No unpleasant odors. In full operation, the Worm Factory houses 10,000 to 12,000 worms, consumes 5 to 8 pounds of food a day, allowing you to harvest a full tray of nutrient rich castings every month. Each Worm Factory comes with full instructions and everything you need to get started. Yardiac's worm bin is made in the U.S.A., constructed from high quality recycled plastic, with a limited 5 year warranty on materials and workmanship. It is very simple to assemble and can be stored in or outside Click here to learn more about .Worm Composting.

This Product Makes Plants Happy!

At my house we always have a two week "Sun Light" debate prior to the selection of plants for a new location. My wife always insists the new location has too much or too little sun. While we waste time analyzing "how much sunlight" the new site actually receives each day we loose valuable growing time. Recently we came across a product called the SunStick. The SunStick measures the amount of sunlight a given area receives in one day. Simply attach a Sunshine Meter to a Stem, plant it in the ground in the morning and return at the end of the day. 

Simply place in your Garden and Get Results

• The Sunstick Measures sunlight in your garden

• Sunlight color chart included
• Can be used as a plant identifier
• Accurate during the growing season

New Plant Cage is Great For Tomatoes

This plant cage is the first one that we have found that is designed to grow as your plant grow. This revolutionary multi-use tomato cage expands conforms to the growth of the tomato plant while disappearing from view. It requires no tying and can be securely fastened to a stake so that it won't blow over in a storm. It collapses flat and requires virtually no storage room. It is the smartest way to contain almost any plant that needs restraint or support. It is Made of Strong Black UV resitant Material that will last for years. We found the unit to be easy to assemble and would conforms to various heights and shapes. It's rings interlock to form a trellis system and is working great for our tomatoes. Some other uses are: Hydrangea Grape Vines Clematis Climbing Roses Most Berries Squash -Peas Cucumbers Jasmine Peony Bushes Flowering Vines

For Yardiac's Located in the Upstate

Just came across this great program and thought our local readers may have interest in this. Register now for a five-week basic gardening program, "Sowing & Growing in the Lowcountry: Fundamentals of Horticulture," that begins June 25 in the Orientation Theater at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. The class meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through July 23. The cost is $75 per person or $100 per family of two adults. This includes textbooks, handouts and a home lawn or garden soil test. This is a beginner's level home-gardening series that includes how to create garden soil, color and texture in the garden; easy annual and perennials; warm-season lawns; basic tree care; and starting a fall vegetable garden. Instructors are Mark Arena, Clemson Extension commercial horticulture agent, Jonathan Croft, Clemson Extension agriculture agent; and Amy Dabbs, Clemson Extension horticulture agent and master gardener coordinator. To register or for more information, contact the Clemson Extension office in Dorchester County at 843-563-7772.

Choosing the Best Wood for Your Home Furnishings

If you are looking for patio furniture, your head may be spinning.  There are more choices now than ever before, it seems.  Here are a few pointers that will set you on the right path:

FSC Certified means that the item you are looking at is certified by the board of the Forest Stewardship Council.  The FSC sets forth principles, criteria, and standards that span economic, social, and environmental concerns. The FSC standards represent the world’s strongest system for guiding forest management toward sustainable outcomes.

Reclaimed wood is a great alternative.  Look for this verbiage when buying any wooden item.  This phrase means that the product is made of scraps, rather than new wood.

Softwood refers to the wood from needle bearing trees.  Hardwood describes wood from trees having broad leaves.  This is not to be confused with the texture of the wood itself.

• Willow, cypress, alder and other trees with pliable branches are commonly used for bent-twig furniture. Willow is especially renewable.  When it is cut, two or more shoots will grow out of the stump of the cut piece. If you use twig furniture outdoors, spray or brush on a good quality clear exterior varnish and use the furniture only in a protected area.
• Pine is an affordable softwood that is harvested in several varieties from around the world.  It is most commonly from American forests. All are yellow with brown knots and are perfect for staining. Pressure-treated pine will last for 20 years but untreated pine has low rot-resistance. It needs to be painted, stained or sealed and stored inside in the winter.
• Tropical eucalyptus is a native of Australia and is prized for its resistance to rot and handsome attributes. It will last decades. Tropical hardwoods will safely weather to a silvery finish over time.  To preserve the original color simply treat twice a year with teak or other furniture oil.
• Roble is a golden, relatively lightweight hardwood harvested mainly from dry tropical forests in South America. It will last up to 25 years.
• Shorea, grown in Indonesia and Malaysia, is stronger and heavier than teak but because of the large quantity available, is usually priced lower. Both jarrah wood and shorea will last up for up to 50 years.
• Jarrah has a reddish or pinkish color and is harvested in Australia from government-managed forests to ensure reforestation.
• Teak is the most desired of all outdoor furniture woods for its honey brown hardwood that is highly resistant to rot and decay.  It will last more than 50 years, even if left outdoors year-round. Teak is now harvested primarily from plantations in Southeast Asia. Dwindling stocks and high consumer demand have combined to make the price of teak soar. The high price of teak has made other tropical hardwoods, such as roble, shorea, jarrah and eucalyptus popular. All of these woods are dense, durable, and stand up well to weather.
• Cedar is a North American softwood, light in color and naturally splinter free. It resists insects, mold, mildew and decay, and it weathers well. With proper care, it can last 25 years. Since cedar is a quick grower, it's a resource that renews relatively quickly.