Lucy

We have a duck and she's a little bit famous!   Lucy can be found at our North Dodge store.

Mulch

Homeowners looking for garden mulch ideas have plenty of materials to choose from. Visually pleasing colors, material differences and also sizing variations are just a few of the items to consider when searching for garden mulch. Ideas for incorporating the substances into the landscape also vary from ornamental to functional.Using garden mulch provides significant protection to plants that might be wilting and suffering from heat stress. Soil covered with mulch does not lose as much moisture to evaporation as soil left bare. In the heat of the day, a layer of mulch offers the added benefit of keeping the soil cooler. Mulch is also a good idea for the gardener intending to decrease the growth of undesirable weeds. The layer physically bars weed seeds’ access to the soil while at the same time eliminating the sunlight required for seed germination and weed plant growth.  Gardeners may choose between two basic types of garden mulch: organic or inorganic substances. Organic mulches include wood bark or straw, while inorganic materials may refer to river rocks and plastic coverings. 

Organic

Wood bark, grass clippings, straw and leaves are common organic mulches. Over time, organic mulch discolors due to sun exposure and also breaks down. Grass clippings break down quickly and need to be reapplied often. Wood bark nuggets break down a lot slower and may serve as a soil cover for more than one year. Organic mulches offer the advantage of insulating soil against temperature changes and offering nutrients during decomposition. While organic mulches are more functional than ornamental in the long run, they can present some problems within the landscape. When including organic garden mulch ideas in the overall landscaping setup, gardeners need to stay away from walnut wood. This wood can kill plants. Organic mulches are susceptible to fungal growth. Homemade mulches from diseased plants can spread disease-causing organisms to other — still healthy — plants. Using organic mulch from reputable sources is a good solution that prevents the spread of plant diseases.

Inorganic

River rocks, gravel and plastic mulches provide long-lived soil protection. Plastic sheeting discourages the spread of weeds, while rocks or gravel offer visually pleasing garden mulch ideas for landscapes that incorporate larger rock formations into a yard’s decor. Basic black plastic may increase the soil’s temperature by as much as 8 degrees Fahrenheit, which helps with early spring plant growth.
Inorganic mulch is not without complications. Gardeners should avoid limestone rocks, which increase the pH level of the soil. Lime is a well-known soil conditioner, and limestone rocks alter the soil sufficiently to inhibit the health of plants that prefer a low pH. Additionally, during the summer months the soil temperature increase of black plastic mulch may damage plant roots. In this instance, the mulch may need to be removed or exchanged with a different kind that stabilizes the soil temperature but does not contribute to the heat buildup.

Gardening? The right tools can make all the difference.

Having the right gardening tools is all the difference between efficient and pleasurable work or backbreaking and frustrating work!

Gloves

The gloves should be thick enough to protect your hands and fingers from thorns, sticks, rocks and other pointed debris but not so thick that you can’t easily make a fist or grip objects.

Garden Hose

Water is needed to set landscape stone, water in new plants, mix fertilizer, maintain plants and clean tools. Because the hose gets so much use, it is no place to scrimp on cost. Buy a high-quality hose that does not crimp.

Shovels & Spades

Both are long-handled work tools to be used while standing, but a shovel is wider, making it more efficient for turning large amounts of ground or removing old mulch or debris from beds.

Hand Trowel

A hand trowel is for turning small areas of soil and removing weeds. It is the primary tool used when planting flowers and small plants..

Rakes

A long-handled rake is used to remove brush and debris from areas before preparing new beds or installing hardscape. Long-handled rakes come in two basic varieties: a hard metal rake and a leaf rake.

Garden Hoe

A garden hoe is used to create rows for planting, remove weeds from gardens and to loosen soil around your landscape so that the plants receive water freely.

Knee Board

Knee boards are cushions that fit underneath your knees to make gardening work more comfortable. They are available in simple, one-piece Styrofoam or in vinyl-covered pads, some with handles on the side to assist you with rising.

Wheelbarrow or Cart

Much of gardening involves transporting dirt, mulch, plants or debris to an area of your yard or away from an area of your yard.  A wheelbarrow or cart will save you energy and strength and reducing the amount of trips necessary to transport the items to the desired location

Looking for a (Easter) Big Green Egg

This won't fit in an Easter basket, but would be a great Easter treat!

It's Green. It's Spring. It's St Patrick's Day

ACE Rewards

Ace Members Receive Exclusive Benefits

Did you know, that for more than 85 years Ace Hardware has been known as the helpful hardware store all across America? Family’s know when shopping at Ace they can count on receiving the help needed finding the items on their list to complete your weekend “to-do” list.

In 2012 Ace ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Home Improvement Stores for the Sixth Consecutive Year.” according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Isn’t it time you shopped your local Ace Hardware store?

On January 3. 2013 Ace Hardware announced the launch of Instant Saving,the program is exclusively for Ace Rewards members that allows them to receive valuable discounts instantly, right at the register.

No longer will Ace Rewards members need to redeem rebates through the mail and wait four to six weeks for those rebates to be processed. Ace’s most valuable customers can now receive Instant Savings on their purchases right at the checkout.

Instant Saving is just one of the benefits of being an Ace Rewards member. The program is FREE and will continue to give exclusive member benefits such as 10 points for every $1 spent, a $5 Reward for every 2,500 points earned. Money saving coupons and sale reminders, along with helpful tips and content.

What is a SKOY?

Recommend to me by Mary Davis (North Dodge location), I immediately thought, how cute are these? I’m going to give the SKOY cloths a try instead of paper towels and sponges.  I suspect I will use them mostly  in the kitchen or for cleaning up faces and grubby little hands, but did some research and read they also work well in the bathroom both to clean the room and to clean body parts. :)

Another great feature of the SKOY cloth is that because it dries quickly, it’s not a breeding ground for bacteria.  If you toss your wet SKOY in the microwave for a minute or two, you will keep it germ-free. It can also go safely through your dishwasher or your washer and dryer (or outside to dry on a clothesline – hint, hint).

After many, many uses (perhaps even up to a year or more), when your SKOY has finished it’s cleaning life cycle, it can be composted, though it will also break down in a landfill.  SKOY cloths are another great way to kick the paper towel habit once and for all.