CamLok hooks Archives - Garage Tailors

Garage Storage Solutions for the Avid Gardener

March 13, 2018 by Rick Scully

This year the March Equinox is March 20^th, 2018 at 12:15pm EDT. There are two Equinoxes each year – one in September and one in March. The March Equinox is the day of the year where the sun shines directly on the equator as it moves to shine on the northern hemisphere for the summer. On this day, the length of the day is nearly equal to the length of the night.

Besides March 20^th being the Equinox, it’s also the time of year that the gardeners are itching to get out and into the yard. In fact, if you’re a fanatical gardener, you’re probably already out in the green house aka the garage tinkering with seeds, soil and saplings that you’ve been nurturing all winter long.

Workspace in the Garage

You’ve pulled out your workspace so you can work with your potting soil and get those seeds planted so your saplings will be ready. In the larger garages with fewer storage requirements, you may actually have the back corner of the garage available for an L-shaped workbench made to measure.

If you’ve gone with garage cabinets, you may have opted for the workbench option which is built-in with drawers or cabinets below the workspace. A stainless steel work surface is typical of the workbench option with garage cabinet storage systems today.

Now, if space is at a premium in the garage for whatever reason, a made to measure fold down workspace which folds out from the wall and then tucks away when you’re done is one way to build a working area into the garage. Another space saver is a roll out workbench which can be tucked under a storage platform until it’s needed and then stored under the platform when you’re done working.

Not only are all of these workbench / workspace options available for the gardener but also the handy person of the house, the auto enthusiast and the arts & crafts enthusiast. What makes it complete is a space for all the gardening tools.

The Slatwall Organization System for Gardening Tools

If you already have a slatwall organization system then you’re probably already using it for winter shovels, ice scrapers, snow blowers, salt and much more to survive the icy, snowing and sometimes wet winter weather. But, once March Equinox comes around, the gardener of the family might just get the itch to switch all of those tools out for trowels, hoes, garden shovels, rakes and much more.

With the StoreWall slatwall organization system, the materials are so durable and modular that swapping out winter tools for garden tools is easy to do. The weatherproof commercial grade thermoplastic means that the slatwall will remain mold and mildew free. Water and ice will not cause the wall to wear or crack.

Then, with a wide variety of accessory hooks, shelves and baskets, the slatwall becomes invaluable for storing everything the gardener needs. There are modular baskets or shelves to store fertilizer, soil, wood chips and seeds. And, there are numerous types of large and small hooks secured with Camlok^TMtechnology so that the hooks won’t slip or slide. In fact, with the hooks locked into place, they are strong enough to hang the typical lawn mower so the average garden tools will not pose a problem for the StoreWall slatwall system.

Off Season Storage for Tools

During the off season, the gardening tools can be stored out of reach on the overhead platform or shelf. Since they don’t need to be easily accessible during the winter, it makes sense to store them up and out of the way. Switching them out for winter shovels and other tools needed to weather the ice and snow makes sense.

Now that the March Equinox has arrived, the avid gardener will be anxious to pull out the gardening tools and store the winter tools away onto the overhead shelving. Re-arranging the hooks and shelves on the slatwall makes it possible to accommodate the various shapes and sizes of the garden tools which would not necessarily match the configuration needed to hang the winter shovels and tools.

Go Green with Garage Cabinets to Store Vermicompost Bins

The average person may not be thinking worm composting but the gardener who’s thinking green and wanting to have some rich organic fertilizer to work with as early in the season as possible may be adding vermicomposters to the storage area in the garage where the blue bin, green bin and garbage bins are located.

Vermicomposters take the organic wastes such as orange peels, coffee grounds, egg shells and much more to get worms living in the composter to turn our organic wastes into fertilizer. All winter while we’ve been eating, the gardener in the family has been dumping all that organic waste into the vermicomposter for fresh fertilizer to use as soon as the March Equinox is in sight.

A variety of options for dedicating a space for compost, green bin, blue bin and garbage are available including platforms, shelves, cabinets and hooks.

Garage Renovations which Meets the Diversity of Your Family’s Lifestyles

Regardless of what makes your family members passionate for the weekends, a good garage renovation solution will accommodate outdoor adventurers to athletes to car enthusiasts to avid gardeners and so much more. Consult with one of our garage renovation specialists today to find out how your garage can fit all these lifestyles.

Garden Days are Here Again: Are You Ready?

April 18, 2017 by Rick Scully

Smells of fresh wet soil and the sight of green peeking out from the ground have arrived again. It’s spring! And, it’s time to start preparing the garden again. It’s time to dust off the garden tools and pick up seedlings as well as annuals from the local garden centre.

Not only are gardens relaxing for many home owners, but they add curb appeal and value to the home. The most avid gardeners among us have already been nurturing their own seeds since early March in anticipation of the big planting weekend in spring.

Get the Essential Garden Tools

It’s time to take inventory and make sure we’re ready for the season. Maybe, there was a tool or two that you could have used last season. Here’s a checklist of some of the essential garden tools that every horticulturalist to novice gardener should have available.

Garden Gloves with Nitrile Palms

The ideal garden gloves should be form fitting and thin enough so you can feel everything you’re touching. A nitrile coated palm makes the glove waterproof in the palm area and thin enough for dexterity and delicate handling of plants and soil.

Hand Trowel or Hori Hori Trowel

The hand trowel allows the gardener to get into small spaces and move soil around. The Japanese Hori Hori Trowel is a step up from the standard hand trowel by including a measure so that plants are placed at the correct depth into the soil. It also comes with a serrated edge along one side to cut roots in order to untangle a plant from its neighbours so it can be moved to another part of the garden.

The Spade

The spade is an essential tool for moving larger clumps of soil. It`s longer handle and square top allows the gardener to place their foot on the spade and break tougher ground. Some of the best spades will cut through roots to release larger plants for transplanting to other parts of the garden. There are different types of spades including border spades, digging spades and transplant spades but if this is your first spade, try owning a digging spade to start.

The Rake

Removing fallen leaves and other debris that have fallen onto the ground is a key task to maintain the health of a garden. A good rake will come in handy throughout the season and especially at the end of the season when it`s time to clean up after the trees in the yard.

The Garden Fork

The garden fork is an essential tool for turning over the soil in a garden. It mixes the nutrients in the soil making it a more suitable growing environment for plants. It also turns over any dead plant materials so this mulch will decay and provide additional nutrients to the garden.

The Hoe

The hoe is an old favourite. It’s used to shape the soil in the garden. It can be used to hill the soil around a row of plants while removing dead roots and weeds from the garden. At harvest time, the hoe is used to dig up root crops such as potatoes, carrots and other tubers.

The Long Hose with a Rain Wand

Water gives life to every garden. Using a long hose with a rain wand attachment makes it possible to water the garden in a way that simulates rain. The water arcs and drops onto the plant and soil gently like rain. Choose a good rain wand attachment head. It will allow you to adjust the pressure of the water to suit your garden.

The Wheelbarrow

Move heavy bags of compost and fertilizer using a wheelbarrow. A lot of people also use wheelbarrows to transport their garden tools and large trays of annuals to the correct spot in the garden. It’s a handy tool that will save your back.

When to Start Planting & Finding Your Frost-Free Date

So, now that the tools are ready, you can probably barely contain yourself from getting out to the garden to start working on it. How do you know when to start planting?

As soon as the ground is workable, it’s time to start planting. Test the soil by picking up a handful and give it a squeeze. It should fall apart easily. If it doesn’t, it’s a little too wet to work with. In the early days, you can turn soil and work with dormant perennials, shrubs and trees. In addition, cold drop vegetables such as peas, spinach and onions are workable at this time of year.

Use the Farmer’s Almanac to find your frost free date. This year, the frost free date is May 4^th around the Greater Toronto Area.

After this date, there are many annuals that you can plant because they can withstand a small frost or two. But, wait 2 to 3 weeks after your frost free date to be on the safe side for many of your plants. Discuss your planting intentions with your local garden centre and get advice. A lot depends on how the season progresses and occasionally, we can all be surprised by a sudden overnight frost.

If there’s an anticipated overnight frost, you can protect your garden. Dig out some old blankets or burlap sacs to cover your plants and give them some protection from the potential frost. Use bricks or rocks to secure the edges of your coverings. In the morning, remove the coverings, especially when the sun comes out. Avoid having your plants suffocate under the coverings on a warm sunny day.

Store Your Lawn & Garden Tools Easily and Safely

When using your garage wall for storing garden tools, you’ll want to move your winter tools to the back of the garage and the garden tools to the front near the garage door where it’s easier to access. Wall organization systems makes it easy to hang and store all your tools including wheelbarrows and even heavy lawn mowers. The camlock hooks plus proper mounting of your slatwall system are the secret to a well organized and secure wall storage system. Instead fighting through a shed full of stuff to dig out a single trowel or hand tool, it’s all visibly easy to find and use .

Besides protecting your best garden tools from rust and dampness, the garage wall organization system gives the gardener in the family peace of mind that tools won’t become bent or misshapen. Enjoy your gardening and cherish your gardening tools this spring with a little re-organization or small garage renovation project!

Top Ten Garage Faux Pas

December 18, 2012 by Rick Scully

There are a myriad of reasons to organize your garage with customized storage systems from Garage Tailors Garage. There’s the obvious convenience of being able to use your garage for what it was intended – parking your car – particularly on those snowy mornings when you’ve got better things to do than scrape off snow and ice in minus 30 temperatures while waiting for it to warm up.

Then there’s the satisfaction of having a designated space for everything from tires to gardening equipment, camping gear, bikes and power tools. That means finding what you need when you need it. This can be accomplished with customized overhead storage shelves suspended from the ceiling, on slatwall outfitted with CamLok™ hooks or by installing Hercke, Onex or CTECH cabinet systems. A Garage Tailors Garage renovation will ensure your perfect garage and most likely mean you’ve got the nicest garage in your neighbourhood.

But one of the main reasons to consider a garage renovation is to avoid the ten most common garage faux pas that are easily avoided, usually in only two days, with one of our custom designed transformations.

The rake between the eyes – a danger when rakes don’t have a designated space to hang on the wall.

The rollerskate/skateboard underfoot slide – a common hazard for parents of active, occasionally sloppy children.

The excess tool inventory – the rapid multiplying of shovels, rakes and brooms that is a consequence of being unable to find what you need, when you need it.

The old paint-can-on-the-head spill – from perilously storing paint in hard to reach places.

The flat tire – because the cardboard box that housed your nails got damp and soggy and fell apart.

The dust pit– caused by pitted, unfinished concrete garage floors.

The scratch and dent – a consequence of squeezing your car into a cluttered, messy space.

The wall bump – occurs after stumbling around in a poorly lit garage.

The broken thing – obliterated when the ladder that leaned against the wall crashed down on it. But at least it was only stuff.

The broken promise – happens after you’re unable to find the tent and cooking stove you said your neighbours could borrow for the long weekend.

Let us help you avoid these and many other garage pitfalls and make your life easier. At Garage Tailors Garage, our garage renovations are designed to maximize storage and organize your belongings efficiently.

Our renovations can be completed in as few as two days so that your life isn’t disrupted.

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