This week comes the annual Green Industry and Equipment Expo (GIE+Expo), a trade show for outdoor power equipment and related products, which starts Thursday in Louisville. We’ll be previewing interesting products on display at the three-day show, which is a joint effort of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Professional Grounds Management Society, and Professional Landcare Network (or PLANET). We also hope, given the show’s 19-acre outdoor demo area, to get our hands on some of the outdoor gear we’ll be testing over the coming year.

Among the companies we’ll be meeting with are Ariens, Honda, MTD (maker of Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, Yard Machines, and other brands), Toro, and others, and we’ll report on noteworthy findings. We’ll also check out Hardscape North America, a trade show that shares exhibit-floor space with the GIE+Expo show. While it’s mostly for professionals who build walks, retaining walls, and similar improvements, we’re bound to find some DIY products a homeowner can tackle.