Spring yard work: bring it on.

• Position: WHAT'S NEW? - Gardening tools from Black & Decker

What we hate about spring is all the yard work that needs to be done. What we love about spring is doing that yard work with a new set of Black & Decker tools--each year the Towson, Md., company always seems to come up with a series of innovative products that make life easier for homeowners. The 18-Volt Rechargeable Lawn Care Center is this season's winning entry.

It includes a 22" Hedge Trimmer (for bushes and shrubs), 12" String Trimmer (for lawns), and Hard Surface Sweeper (for all messes). Now, I know what you're thinking. Gas-powered units produce unpleasant emissions and need tuneups, but they provide lots of power. Likewise, electric units require long, heavy-duty extension cords that can be a hassle, but they provide lots of power: Battery-powered units, meanwhile, although lightweight (about six pounds each) run out of juice quickly and produce hardly any power.

Au contraire. The NiCad batteries charge in as little as three hours without a memory effect--meaning they charge fully every time. Besides having plenty of giddyap, these engineering marvels are designed to handle a half-acre lot in no time. Not only that, there are no pullcords.

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