More Mid-South Garden Questions

A stirrup hoe features a swiveling loop-shaped blade that cuts on both the push and pull stroke. It is designed to slice off weed seedlings just below the soil surface and is one of the most efficient hand tools available for keeping beds clean in early spring.

A sharpshooter is a narrow, long-bladed shovel designed for precise digging in confined spaces. It is the right choice for trenching, transplanting deep-rooted specimens, or digging out stubborn weeds in tight areas where a standard spade cannot maneuver easily.

The Cape Cod weed hook is a single-bladed hand tool with a curved profile that allows you to reach underneath low-growing shrubs or ground covers and slice weeds off at ground level. It is particularly useful in tight planting areas where you cannot easily get a larger tool in.

Yes. A reciprocating saw is an excellent tool for cutting through large, woody roots or removing thick dead canes from established shrubs and crepe myrtles. It makes quick work of cuts that would be slow or difficult with a pruning saw alone.

Yes. Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) is considered safe for plants, pets, and concrete surfaces. For best results, apply it before a freezing event rather than after ice has already formed, as it works by preventing ice from bonding to surfaces rather than melting established ice.

Yes. A bulb auger attachment on a power drill quickly bores uniform holes suited to 4-inch bedding plant plugs. It is significantly faster than hand digging, keeps holes consistent, and causes minimal disturbance to nearby established plants.