Who said gardening is hard work?

• Position: WHAT'S NEW? - Easy Gardener Products Ltd.

Although we don't mind toiling in the topsoil while tending to our flowerbeds, vegetables, shrubs, and lawn, there's nothing easy about it, so forgive us if our skepticism was raised by a company named Easy Gardener, which claimed its products make gardening ... well ... easier. Cynicism, however, has no place in Mother Nature, so now it is we who offer our apologies to Easy Gardener Products, Ltd., of Madison, Ala.

Its 2006 lineup of tools, accessories, and fertilizers has us digging in the dirt with joyous fervor.

* Garden Defense Action Owl ($29.99) and Garden Defense Electronic Owl ($39.99) creatively control garden pests. The wind spins and bobbles the Action Owl's head to scare away intruders while three AA batteries power the Electronic Owl. When the latter creature senses threatening pests, a hoot sounds and its head bobbles. These owls offer humane and environmentally friendly protection.

* Ultra-Edge ($43.99 per roll) turns recycled plastic and wood into a sturdy, attractive border for flowerbeds. The natural finish blends well in any landscape while the 5 1/2" tall edging stops invading weeds and grass. Flexible Ultra-Edge conforms to most garden shapes and is available in 20' rolls. Each comes with five Easy Gardener Ultra-Stakes to hold edging in place.

* Bio Fabric Pegs ($2.79 per bag) are an earth friendly, bio-based alternative to metal and plastic stakes. Made from polylactide, a corn by-product, these fully biodegradable Pegs are...