Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper Review

The Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper is a versatile and powerful tool, ideal for garden maintenance. It functions as a 3-in-1 cleaning tool, capable of being used as a garden vacuum, leaf blower, and garden mulcher. This makes it very useful for cleaning up various types of garden debris such as leaves and grass clippings in outdoor spaces like driveways, paths, and decks​​.

Key features of the Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper include:

• Powerful HP™ Brushless Motor: This high-performance motor ensures more power, longer motor life, and extended battery run-times, making it efficient for prolonged use​​.
• Increased Air Speed: The tool offers a 25% increase in air speed compared to its previous model.
• Ease of Maintenance: It features a detachable rear motor housing and a transparent upper tube, which helps in identifying and clearing blockages easily​​.
• Three-Speed Settings: These settings provide users with control over the power and speed needed for different tasks.
• Metal Mulching Blades: These blades efficiently turn garden debris into mulch, adding value to your garden waste​​.
• Large Capacity Vacuum Bag: The 45L garden vacuum bag can hold a significant amount of mulch, reducing the frequency of emptying it​​.
• Extreme Power and Speed: The tool boasts a blower speed of 252km/h and a vacuum speed of 126km/h​​.

Additionally, the tool’s weight is 4.0 kg, making it relatively easy to handle for most users​​.

In summary, the Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless Garden Vacuum and Sweeper R18XBLV20 stands out for its versatility, power, and convenience, making it a valuable tool for garden maintenance tasks.

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Budget Gardening: Cultivating Joy Amidst Australia’s Cost of Living Crisis

In today’s Australia, as many grapple with the cost of living crisis, simple pleasures like gardening can feel increasingly out of reach. With rising prices affecting everything from utilities to groceries, tightening the purse strings has become a common theme for households.

However, amidst this challenging economic backdrop, gardening can not only be an affordable hobby but also a strategic response to rising food prices. Here’s some tips on how you can cultivate a garden without digging deep into your pockets and partake in some budget gardening.

1. Start with Seeds, Not Seedlings

While it’s tempting to buy young plants ready for transplanting, starting from seeds can save you a significant amount. Seed packets often contain enough seeds for multiple seasons, and with a little patience, you’ll have a garden full of plants at a fraction of the cost. As a bonus, seeds offer a broader variety of plant options than what’s usually available as seedlings.

2. DIY Composting

Instead of buying expensive fertilisers, start composting kitchen scraps like fruit and vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Over time, these will decompose to produce rich, nourishing compost for your plants. This not only reduces waste but also bolsters your garden’s health without extra expense.

amidst this challenging economic backdrop, gardening can not only be an affordable hobby but also a strategic response to rising food prices.

3. Embrace Upcycling

Before rushing to the garden centre for pots and planters, look around your home. Old buckets, containers, wooden crates, or even worn-out boots can be repurposed into quirky plant holders. This approach not only saves money but also adds a unique touch to your garden.

4. Go for Perennials and Edibles

Perennial plants, which regrow every year, offer better value for money compared to annuals that last just one season. Additionally, consider growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. With the cost of fresh produce on the rise due to the current economic situation, cultivating edibles can offer tangible savings on grocery bills.

5. Connect with the Gardening Community

Joining local gardening clubs or online groups can open doors to a wealth of resources. Members often share seeds, cuttings, tools, and expertise. Plant swaps are a fantastic way to diversify your garden without spending, and the shared knowledge can be invaluable for troubleshooting or learning new cost-saving tips.

In today’s Australia, as many grapple with the cost of living crisis, simple pleasures like gardening can feel increasingly out of reach.

6. Water Wisely

Water bills can be a significant expense in gardening. Collect rainwater in barrels, mulch around plants to retain moisture, and water during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation. If possible, design your garden with water-wise plants, particularly natives that are adapted to Australia’s climate and require less hydration.

7. Reuse and Recycle

Before buying new, think of ways to reuse items. Old newspapers can be used as weed barriers, broken pots can become drainage material for planters, and cardboard boxes can serve as composting material. Embracing a mindset of reuse not only aligns with the sustainable spirit of gardening but also curtails expenses.

Amidst the financial pressures of Australia’s cost of living crisis, budget gardening emerges as a beacon of hope and resilience. It’s a testament to the fact that with creativity and resourcefulness, we can find pockets of joy and sustenance even in trying times. More than just a hobby, gardening can be a way of life – a declaration that even when times are tough, growth, both literal and metaphorical, remains within our grasp.

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Staying Sun Safe While Gardening

Gardening is a rewarding and therapeutic activity that many of us cherish. It connects us to nature, offers physical exercise, and often results in beautiful and productive landscapes. However, in the excitement of planting and tending, it’s easy to forget that the sun, while essential for our plants, can pose risks to us. Sunburn, heat stress, and long-term UV damage are real concerns for gardeners. Here’s how to ensure you stay sun safe while indulging in your green thumb passions.

Understanding the Risks

• Sunburn: Direct sun exposure, especially during peak hours, can lead to painful burns which, over time, can increase the risk of skin cancers.
• Heat Exhaustion: Extended periods in the sun, coupled with physical exertion, can lead to symptoms like heavy sweating, rapid pulse, dizziness, and even fainting.
• Long-term UV Exposure: Cumulative UV exposure is a significant factor in skin aging and has been linked to various skin cancers.

Tips for Staying Sun Safe

• Timings are Key: Garden during the cooler parts of the day — early morning or late afternoon. The sun’s UV radiation is most intense between 10 am and 4 pm, so it’s best to avoid outdoor tasks during these hours.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout your gardening activities. This helps maintain body temperature and replaces any fluids lost through sweating.
• Create Shaded Areas: Install structures like pergolas, umbrellas, or shade cloths in parts of the garden where you work most. This way, you can enjoy gardening with a reduced risk of sun exposure.
• Be Sun Smart Even on Cloudy Days: UV radiation can penetrate through clouds, so don’t skip on sun protection measures just because it’s overcast.
• Listen to Your Body: If you start feeling lightheaded, nauseous, or extremely fatigued, it’s time to take a break. Head indoors, hydrate, and rest.

Dress Appropriately:

• Wide-brimmed Hats: A hat with a wide brim not only shades your face but also your neck and shoulders. Choose one made of a tightly woven fabric to block UV rays.
• Long Sleeves and Pants: Lightweight, breathable, and long-sleeved shirts and pants provide more protection than tank tops or shorts. UV-protective clothing, specifically designed to block sun rays, can be especially useful.
• Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from UV radiation by wearing sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

 Use Sunscreen Religiously:

• Broad Spectrum: Always choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Aim for SPF 30 or higher.
• Application: Apply sunscreen generously 15-20 minutes before heading out and reapply every two hours — more frequently if you’re sweating.
• Lip Balm with SPF: Lips are often forgotten but equally at risk. Ensure they’re shielded with a protective lip balm.

Knowing When to Seek Help

Heat-related illnesses can escalate if not addressed. If, after heading indoors, your symptoms don’t improve or worsen — such as experiencing a throbbing headache, lack of sweat despite being hot, or rapid heartbeat — it might be a sign of heat stroke, a more severe condition. In such cases, seeking medical attention is crucial.

Building a Sun-Smart Gardening Habit

Incorporate sun safety measures into your gardening routine until they become second nature:

• Store your sunscreen next to your gardening tools as a reminder to apply it.
• Keep a dedicated gardening hat by the door.
• Set alarms to remind you to drink water or take sunshade breaks.
• opt for tools with longer handles to ensure you can work from a shaded spot.

Gardening offers immense joy and satisfaction, but it’s essential to respect the sun and its potential risks. By incorporating sun-safe practices into your gardening routine, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a vibrant garden and healthy, protected skin. After all, the key to a sustainable gardening passion lies in taking care of both the plants and the gardener.

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