Southern California Coastal & Inland Valleys
February, 2007
Regional Report
Tool or Gardening Product
Asparagus Fork or Big Screwdriver
A handy tool to use to pry up entire root systems of weeds or tree sprouts is the pronged "asparagus fork" that looks like a bent stick. Or you can do like my Mom did and use a big screwdriver. With either tool you can get a good 6 inches deep and then pry out the offending root.
Clever Gardening Technique
Hand Cream in the Garden
Give your hands a moisturizing treatment as you garden by lavishly spreading them with hand lotion or cream before putting on your gloves. Add extra cream under your fingernails. As you work, your hands will absorb the cream. When you remove the gloves, your hands will have benefited from the cream rather than suffered from the moisture-removing soil. In addition, the soil will be more easily washed from under your fingernails because the cream or lotion formed a barrier.
