Black & Decker | neem oil | Becca Hensley | chemicals

With spring's first kiss, the itch to get outside and whip your yard into a creative work of art can be almost irresistible. (Plus, there's that friendly little competition you've got going on with your next-door neighbor for yard of the month, which you really do deserve to win.) To give you a head start, we developed this handy guide of tools and tips to turn your yard into the eighth wonder of the world. You should probably rip out these pages and take them with you - you know, to keep your neighbor from getting the same edge. - Becca Hensley

The Tipping Point
A few useful bits of knowledge …

Save the rain Does global warming have you worried that a drought is coming? Learn the ancient art of collecting rain in barrels. Naturally soft and relatively free of contamination and chlorine (and other chemicals), rainwater could save you oodles of money. Try erecting roof barrels like the Bermudians do, or siphon it from the gutters before it runs into the storm drain.

Turn off the sprinkler Don't drench your lawn to turn it emerald green. Water less frequently and allow hydration to penetrate more deeply. Plan on giving your lawn an inch of water once a week, depending on the climate and the soil condition. One way to measure? Just wait until your grass is dry to the touch.

Go organic Toss the pesticides and all other concoctions marked with a skull and crossbones and watch your garden grow - the natural way. Lots of independent garden centers have moved to organic fertilizers, weed killers, and insect controls. Try horticultural vinegar for weeds; orange oil, neem oil, and diatomaceous earth for insects and ants; and blends of compost and agricultural by-products like cornmeal and alfalfa meal for fertilizing lawns, trees, and shrubs.

Dirt really matters Even better than conventional compost are the superstrength liquid versions created by garden stores like the Great Outdoors in Austin (www.gonursery.com). Their compost tea - active compost distilled from concentrated nutrients, dense compost, and water - is what your vegetables crave.

Dirt matters Plants thrive in healthy soil, so invest in your dirt. Rich soil is a gardener's best friend. Enrich it with compost, and never assume it's healthy enough. In other words, don't put a $10 plant in a 10-cent hole.

Marching Orders
What to do now to have the perfect flower
beds and gardens this summer

1. Devise a plan. Good gardeners are clever architects, and a well-conceived design ensures that your yard will be a sight to behold (i.e., the eighth wonder of the world we told you about).

2. Mulch as if your life depended on it. The two or three layers of mulch you apply now secure and protect your plants, enrich their environment, and beautify your beds. Use bark, compost, or even brightly colored gravel.

3. March is the prime time to plant spring and summer annuals. Depending on your gardening zone, you may begin early in the month or wait until the end. Common annuals include petunias, geraniums, heliotropes, impatiens, marigolds, and begonias.

4. For most gardening zones, March is also the month for onions. Plant them as soon as you can work the ground. Buy onion sets (these are baby onions that are about the size of a dime) and plant each with the tip of the bulb and its green shoot barely exposed. Reserve some sets in your fridge and then plant them weekly to ensure a good crop.

5. It's time to sow tomatoes, radishes, eggplants, cabbages, lettuces, and peppers indoors. You can use one-liter milk cartons; staple or tape the pouring lip and poke holes in the bottom for drainage. About five seedlings will emerge, and they can be transplanted into your warm spring garden in about a month.

6. Begin building your greenhouse for the winter. If you wait until the first frost, you'll be sorry. Plus, starting this far in advance means you can go beyond the utilitarian version and erect a structure that you'll be thrilled to spend time in. In addition to lots of shelves and plenty of floor space for plant storage, consider adding a hot tub. Imagine: you with all that greenery, soaking your cares away on cold winter nights.

Tools of the Trade
The latest inventions to keep your yard the
best-looking one on the block

Dig, cut, weed - do it all with the multitasking Hori Hori Weeder Knife, a bladed instrument that was traditionally carried by bonsai enthusiasts into the Japanese mountains to gather samples from rugged cliffs. $35. www.cleanairgardening.com

The blade of the Heart Hoe is heart-shaped for a purpose - the unique shape makes it easier to outline flower beds and borders. It'll be love at first use with this essential sod remover, hole digger, and weeder with varied cutting angles. From $20. www.hearthoe.com

Six steel tines make TheRipper your best ally in the war against weeds. Slide this sturdy tool under roots to remove them with ease. Even stubborn grass varieties like Saint Augustine and zoysia beat a swift retreat. From $30. www.hearthoe.com

Appease your green conscience and save fuel costs with the Sunlawn EM2 Cordless Electric Mower. Lightweight and powered by two 12-volt batteries, this dream machine maintains medium-size lawns the guilt-free way. $380. www.peoplepoweredmachines.com

Keep that garden well groomed with the easy-to-maneuver Cordless Dual-Action Hedge Trimmer by Black & Decker. Battery operated, it features dual-action blades that move in opposite directions to ensure professionally styled, straight, and even hedges. $70. At all major hardware stores.

Keep your feet on terra firma and reach high branches at the same time with the rechargeable

Cordless Pole Pruning Saw by Black & Decker. Comfortable to hold, this eight-inch bar-and-chain blade cuts branches up to six inches in diameter and reaches up to 14 feet overhead. From $140. At all major hardware stores.