Spring yard work: bring it on

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.

The Hedge Trimmers 7/16" cut capacity easily trims mature hedges (up to 1,200 square feet per charge). Dual-action blades move in opposite directions to improve cut quality while reducing vibration. The String Trimmer, meanwhile, has a gear-driven design to provide additional torque and the Automatic Feed Spool advances the cutting line without bumping. Moreover, the Groom 'N' Edge feature converts the Trimmer to a maintenance edger with a flip-down guide for use along sidewalks and driveways. Finally, the Surface Sweeper's blowing tube, which has the capacity to clear lawn clippings and yard debris in a matter of minutes, contains a built-in scraper for loosening wet garbage off hard surfaces.

All three units can be purchased separately for $79.99, $99.99, and $69.99, respectively, or as part of the Lawn Care Center for $199.99. For the nearest Black & Decker retailer, visit www. BlackandDecker.com.

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