hOhio gardening book

hOhio gardening book
Gardening in Ohio isn't like gardening in Massachusetts or North Carolina or Oregon. So gardening books intended for a general readership fall short when it comes to telling you what to do when.
"Month-By-Month Gardening in Ohio" is different.
The book, written by Ohio nurseryman and radio-show host Denny McKeown, is intended to help Ohio gardeners do the right thing at the right time. The book is divided into sections according to plant type -- annuals and biennials, lawns, shrubs, etc. -- and each section includes a month-by-month guide to the tasks presented by each type of plant.
Each section also contains a list of common plants, along with specifics such as planting time, cultural requirements and uses for the plant. Appendices include a troubleshooting guide for pests and diseases and a glossary -- especially helpful for new gardeners.
"Month-By-Month Gardening in Ohio" is published by Cool Springs Press and is $19.99 in softcover.
New bait to kill moles
Till now, ridding a yard of moles has been a dicey proposition at best.
The best routes have been trapping them or killing off their food sources, grubs and earthworms -- a tough trade-off, since worms are highly beneficial for the soil. But Bell Laboratories recently introduced another option, a mole bait called Talpirid that it says has been proved to kill the burrowing critters.
Talpirid looks and feels like earthworms and is buried underground where the moles will chomp it up. It is mostly applied by pest controllers and lawn-care services, but one distributor, Lesco Service Center in Akron, will also sell it to individuals. Two packs of 10 baits each cost about $50.
Appliance sponge mitt
So you get the gleaming status stainless appliances, then you get the streaks, smudges and fingerprints that spoil the fun. It's enough to make you long for those '70s fridges in avocado green.
To the rescue comes the microfiber sponge mitt. Dampen with water on one side and use the mitt to wipe stainless appliances clean. Use the dry side to buff. It's washable, too. Available for $4.99 at Bed, Bath & amp; Beyond, the Great Outdoors, Williams-Sonoma and www.simplehuman.com.
Favorable conditions for termites to swarm
If there are a couple of rainy days followed by a hot one, it will be the perfect condition for termites to swarm. "This is the time when they come out of their nests and start making new colonies," said Kat McAndrew, a spokeswoman for Termidor, a termite-control product used by many pest control firms.
The best way to ease your mind about this, she said, is an annual inspection by a pest-control expert.
Multipurpose ottoman
The much-anticipated bloom of spring weather definitely makes us want to put away our flannels and set the mood of a laid-back beach house.
A great first step: "Pouf the Magic Ottoman," a seagrass square ottoman that doubles as a coffee table and footrest, for $129.
Visit www.wisteria.com or (800) 320-9757.
Cherry-blossom soap
If you didn't make it to Washington, D.C., to see the cherry blossoms this year, you can always bring the cherry blossoms home -- in a bar of soap.
Kim Downes sells her handmade 3.5-ounce bars for $5 at www.aurorabathaol.com.
The pretty-in-pink soap has an olive oil base and comes tied with a pink organza ribbon.
Many cherry blossom varieties have no scent, however, so Downes adds hyacinth to her soap.
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