Author Teresa Odle

Teresa Odle is a professional writer and editor and author of a blog on low-water gardening in the Southwest. Teresa trained as a Master Gardener in Albuquerque, N.M., and now lives on four acres of land with her husband including a large xeric garden and a vegetable garden. The property lies along the Rio Ruidoso in southeastern New Mexico. Teresa's blog, Gardening in a Drought, won a 2016 national award for best writing in digital media from the Association for Garden Communicators (GWA). She also is a co-author of Southwest Gardening Blog and editor of African Violet Magazine. Connect with Teresa on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.

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Weeding Tools

WOLF-Garten® Interlocken DAS Crumbler and Soil Cultivator: Product Review

The WOLF-Garten® Crumbler and Soil Cultivator is a lightweight yet sturdy tool that does a good job of loosening topsoil and hoeing small weeds. It consists of a 4-tined rotary cultivator with a stirrup hoe attachment that makes it even more effective and is a welcome addition to what would’ve otherwise been “just another cultivator.” Note that the cultivator/hoe is sold separately from the handle (pole) as part of WOLF-Garten’s Interlocken® system of interchangeable tools Continue Reading →

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Reviews

Jade Cooling Towel: Product Review

If you want a scarf or towel to cool you down on hot and sunny days, the natural approach of the Jade Cooling Towel works quite well. Simply wet the towel, wring it out, and place it around your neck where it’ll keep you cool for about an hour. The jade-infused material is soft and comfortable, and there are no chemical smells, irritating seams, or bumps. However, I think it is better suited for people Continue Reading →

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Watering & Irrigation

Miracle-Gro Soaker System Kit: Product Review

This 3/8-inch soaker hose system is a simple, quick and inexpensive way to water garden beds efficiently. Available in three different lengths, the hose is easy to cut to whatever lengths you need to design a customized watering system. The connectors attach quickly without any tools and don’t leak (when properly attached). I recommend it for gardeners who need to water small edible gardens, drip water around trees, or who have more than one bed Continue Reading →

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Watering & Irrigation

DuPont Kevlar Heavy Duty Garden Hose: Product Review

I highly recommend this hose to anyone who dislikes carrying heavy rubber hoses or hates kinking. At 50 feet, it’s a good length for most yards and, at under 5 lbs, it’s lightweight enough to easily drag or carry wherever it’s needed. The easy-to-grasp collar eliminates hose twisting when connecting it to a spigot, sprinkler, or another hose, and the aluminum couplings attach firmly. While you’ll pay more for this hose than a standard garden Continue Reading →

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Reviews

Garden in Minutes Raised Bed Kit & Watering Grid: Product Review

This raised bed and the integrated watering system are so simple. You can quite literally set everything up in minutes without any tools and then enjoy the rest of your evening or weekend. It's compact enough to place in a small yard (but also available in larger sizes), comes with free seeds (always a plus in my book!) and stands up well to weather and aging (mine still looks great after a full year of Continue Reading →

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Weeding Tools

Corona DiscCULTIVATOR (LG 3634): Product Review

The DiscCULTIVATOR from Corona is a long-handled, multi-tined rotary cultivator that does a good job loosening the top layer of soil, breaking up clumps, spreading amendments and weeding around plants. For regular bed preparation and weed control, this is a terrific, flexible and ergonomic tool. It’s sturdy but lightweight, has a comfortable handle that absorbs vibration, and the tines come off and on fairly easily to give you multiple widths and tine configurations. Continue Reading →

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Reviews

Corona EdgeMASTER Lawn & Garden Edger (LG 3684): Product Review

The Corona EdgeMASTER is lightweight yet strong enough to take a lot of abuse, making it a good choice for edging in tough conditions, such as in compacted soil, heavily matted turf and through thick roots. The ComfortGEL handle makes it easier on your hands than models without the extra cushioning, and the highly ridged footrest gives you a secure footing when putting your weight on it. The tool can be rocked back and forth Continue Reading →

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Reviews

Daisy Rain Sprinkler Pots: Product Review

The Daisy Rain Sprinkler Pot is essentially a large (18-inch), terra cotta-colored flowerpot with a built-in sprinkler. It comes as a kit with all the parts you need to connect multiple pots together with flexible tubing, and even has a timer to control when and how long each pot is watered. The system works extremely well, keeping each pot perfectly watered, even through the heat of a New Mexico summer. Plus, it looks fantastic. Continue Reading →

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Wheeled

Original Little Burro Wheelbarrow Organizer: Product Review

With well-planned storage compartments and space to securely carry long-handled tools, this sturdy tray solves a common gardener’s complaint – having to lug the same tools back and forth from a shed/garage to the garden every day. The Little Burro Wheelbarrow Organizer fits neatly on top of most standard size wheelbarrows and stays put as you move the wheelbarrow around. And, contrary to what I’d expected, there’s still plenty of room to fully use the Continue Reading →

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Reviews

Earthquake® Versa Tiller Cultivator: Product Review

Don’t be fooled by the small package – this is a powerful tiller cultivator that can be operated safely and easily by most gardeners. It’s highly adjustable, with options to use 2 or 4 tines at widths of 11, 16 and 21 inches, and depths up to 11 inches. It’s reliable, starts easily and is highly maneuverable. Anyone who has a new yard or garden with soil that needs to be broken up can save Continue Reading →

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Weeding Tools

Garden Weasel Rotary Cultivator: Product Review

The Garden Weasel is used to loosen topsoil, prepare beds by mixing soil or added organic matter, and prepare bare areas of lawn for seeding. The width can be easily adjusted by removing one or two of the three tines, making it flexible enough to use in many different situations. It’s lightweight, rust-resistant and simple to use – just place the head on the ground and roll it back and forth. Continue Reading →

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Watering & Irrigation

Melnor RainCloud Smart Water Timer: Product Review

This 4-valve, smart water timer is controlled from the comfort of your home - or anywhere with internet access. Using the free app or desktop program, you can set and change watering programs for each zone independently and at any time. The control box is hard wired to your modem and the valve unit screws onto your outdoor faucet. It's easy to use, simple to set up, and works like a charm. However, since it Continue Reading →

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