CAMP HILL, Pa., April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The AMES Companies, Inc. (AMES), a wholly owned subsidiary of Griffon Corporation (NYSE: GFF), announced spring 2017 tips and product recommendations to help gardeners of every skill level prepare for the upcoming planting season. Many gardeners across the country will begin preparation and clean-up as the weather begins to warm and signs of spring emerge.

"Spring is the perfect time for gardeners to plan ahead for the projects they want to accomplish throughout the year. We want to make sure that our customers are knowledgeable about what tools they need to make each project easier and to achieve success," said Stacie Pacheco, Vice President, Marketing at The AMES Companies. "AMES is known for delivering high-quality, long lasting tools and we enjoy getting the right tools in our customers' hands to help their gardening projects come to life."

Here are common spring gardening activities with tool recommendations for each:


    1. Prepare your tools. Take some time up front to plan for your spring
       gardening activities! Clean and sharpen blades and assess your projects
       list and your tool inventory to see what tools you may want to acquire
       for the coming season.
    2. Weed when the weeding is good. The younger the weed, the easier it is to
       take it down, so do your best to capitalize on good weeding conditions.
       Take heed of the old saying, "Pull when wet; hoe when dry." Use a small
       hand weeder like the AMES gel grip weeder to help twist out smaller
       tendrils, such as henbit or chickweed, or an AMES innovative stand-up
       weeder to pry up taprooted weeds, like dandelion or pigweed. In dryer
       conditions, slice off weeds below the soil line using an AMES action hoe,
       a great tool to remove weeds quickly by their roots in narrow or confined
       spaces.
    3. Revitalize your soil. Plants live by their roots, so the most important
       part of your garden is below the ground. Over the winter, your soil
       becomes hard and compact with little to no moisture. Add organic material
       like compost or manure to add moisture, giving your soil the right
       nutrients. You can also grind eggshells into a powder for a calcium boost
       and use a soil thermometer to gauge when the soil is prime for planting.
       The Ames 4-tine forged cultivator is a great tool for mixing in soil
       amendments because of its curved tines.
    4. Remove the roots. Roots rob nutrients from gardens, and spring is the
       ideal season to remove them. Do a quick check around your growing area
       and remove any roots that may have snuck in over the winter season, but
       be careful to not accidentally dig up the roots of growing plants that
       you want to keep in your garden or landscape beds. Then, patch any holes
       with mulch. The AMES 2-prong hoe will efficiently remove weeds in
       narrower spaces such as landscaped beds or gardens.
    5. Add new mulch. One to three inches of mulch will help retain your
       planting area's moisture and temperature while preventing weeds and
       diseases. There are several different types of mulch, so try to match
       your mulch to the crop, the soil type, and the weather conditions
       surrounding your garden area. A great tool to move mulch is the AMES
       10-tine bedding fork; helpful for applying new mulch to a bed or turning
       and refreshing existing mulch.

About AMES
The AMES Companies, Inc., founded in 1774, is the leading U.S. manufacturer and a global provider of long-handled tools and landscaping products for homeowners and professionals. Headquartered in Camp Hill, PA, the company manufactures and markets a wide variety of long-handled tools, wheelbarrows, cutting tools, garden hoses and hose accessories, striking tools, snow tools, decorative garden accessories and planters. AMES' brands are among the most recognized across their primary product categories. Its brand portfolio includes AMES®, True Temper®, Razor-Back® Professional Tools, Jackson® Professional Tools, Southern Patio®, UnionTools®, Dynamic Design®, Garant®, Westmix(TM), Kelso(TM), Cyclone®, Nylex® and Northcote(TM).

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-ames-companies-releases-2017-spring-gardening-tips-300438638.html

SOURCE The AMES Companies