Dollar stores growing selection of spring things

We're not out of the winter woods yet but spring is on the horizon and those of us who've had it up to our chins with cold and snow can't wait. Neither can dollar stores it seems. They've begun to stock everything from Easter baskets to gardening gloves.

99-Cent Only Stores are advertising the following gardening products for under a buck:

Pruning Shears

Gardening tools, including cultivators, trowels and forks

Jobe's plant food spikes, pkg. of 30

Ceramic planters

Garden tool organizer



They're also still selling the plastic garden hose nozzles but I'd give these a miss, 'cause they don't work properly for very long. After two or three uses, you'll start getting more water on yourself than on the plants your aiming at.

Making something spring-like is a good way to help chase away the remaining days of winter blahs. I always appreciate the Dollar Tree's free printable projects sheets. This time, its instructions for making five different grapevine wreaths.

To help you make the house spring-ready, check out the Dollar Tree's assortment of cleaning supplies:

Glass cleaner, 33 oz.

Comet Cleanser, 25 oz.

Air Wick Spray, 8 oz.

Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Soap Pads

Spic & Span All Purpose Cleaner, 15.8 oz.

Sterilite Over sized Dustpans

Two-pair Package of Latex Gloves

Sunbeam 3-way light bulbs

I'm pretty sure you're not gonna find these products anywhere else for a buck each.

Family Dollar has some good deals on spring cleaning supplies, too:

Get a 10 quart. dishpan or a 12 quart pail for only $1.50 each.

Ten plastic hangers or three heavy-duty plastic hangers are $1.25 each.

Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Large Scour Pad, Stainless Steel Scourer 2-pack of Heavy Duty Scrub Sponge, $1 each

Sylvania 4-pack Double Life Light Bulbs 40, 60, 75 or 100 Watts, $1.75 each

Air Wick Aerosol Air Freshener, 8 oz., $1

Renuzit Adjustable Air Freshener, assorted scents, 7.5 oz., $1

Most dollar stores have a good selection of Easter chocolate, baskets, crafts and stuffed toys for only $1 and, if your kids like Peeps, Dollar Tree has packs of ten for a buck. They also have 3 oz. Palmer Lil' Crispy Bunnies, for $1.

My local dollar store, Dollarama, has Easter items up to $2, including delicious German chocolate. For that money you can get a large 12.34 oz. hollow chocolate foil-wrapped bunny, variety packs with one smaller bunny and 6 eggs or 8-pack bite-sized chocolate chicks or bunnies.

Grab 'em up when you see them because last minute shoppers are likely to be disappointed.

Marlene Alexander is a freelance writer and dollar store diva. She writes tips and ideas for home decorating using only items from the dollar store.