By Marc Rapport
When spring has sprung and it’s time to spiff up the yard, make the work more fun with innovative, problem-solving products that enhance your outdoor time.
LAWN PATROL
DOUBLE PLAY
With no cord and no gas, the electric-powered WORX String Trimmer and Wheeled Edger gives you the freedom to tackle tall grass anywhere on the lawn. The variable-speed throttle gives it run time to rival gas-powered models, and the line advances at the touch of a button. $90; battery not included.
855-279-0505; worx.com
SAFE AT HOME
Remember that time you accidentally cut the extension cord in two with the hedge trimmer? Black+Decker’s new 60V Max Powercut Hedge Trimmer gives you extra freedom of movement with a battery-powered cordless tool that snips hard-to-reach branches with its 24-inch blade. Save your cords for other projects. $173.
800-231-9786; blackanddecker.com
SMARTER THAN YOUR TEENAGER?
The Landroid M Cordless Robotic Lawn Mower has a battery and a brain. Artificial-intelligence technology allows it to be programmed for intricate mowing patterns. It returns on its own to its charging station if the energy runs low, and even stops mowing when it senses rain. $1,000.
855-279-0505; worx.com
WHAT’S BUGGING YOU?
SULTAN OF SWAT
Want to be more active with your pest control? Try the Zap-It! Bug Zapper Racket. You take aim at flying insects, and the 2,000-volt grid takes them down. Use after dark with a built-in LED light, and recharge this high-tech swatter by plugging into any USB-enabled device. $20.
888-280-4331; amazon.com
ZAP ‘EM
Admit it. There’s something satisfying about the crackling sound of annoying bugs being zapped on a summer night. The chemical-free Aspecteck 40W Electronic Bug Zapper Insect Killer uses a bright UV light to draw insects in and high-voltage metal grids to, well, you know. $43.
888-280-4331; amazon.com
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
LOW-COST UPLIGHTS
Show off your spiffy landscaping even after the sun goes down with Moonrays Outdoor LED Adjustable Spotlights. The low-wattage LED metal fixtures shine bright, white light where you want it with 1-watt bulbs that last up to 100,000 hours. $21.
888-280-4331; amazon.com
BY LAND OR SEA
Make a splash with your garden pond’s fountain or just create a colorful glow with 25-watt underwater lights from IMAGE. The swivel lights angle where you choose and alternate colors—red, green, blue, yellow and white. They’re submersible, but the low-voltage transformer means they can be used on dry land, too. $15.
888-280-4331; amazon.com
Marc Rapport is a freelance writer from Columbia, South Carolina. His monthly column also appears in South Carolina Living, the statewide electric co-op magazine of the Palmetto State. Product inclusion on this page does not imply endorsement; product availability and prices are subject to change.
