Friday, May 17, 2013
Sail
Well after starting the discussion 2 weekends ago, we measured and ordered a shade sail last week along with posts and hardware. Last weekend we were determined and attempted to paint, but that was a terrible disaster with rain. At least we were able to measure again and laid everything out with stakes and string. The posts were set this Wed and the sail arrived Thu. So this weekend will be all about mounting the sail! Can't wait!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Soil Test Results & Lawn Plan
Well the soil test results came back yesterday and sure enough the forum gurus have helped me decipher the results and form a plan for the season. Pretty manageable and I'm looking forward to starting this weekend. Calcitic lime (calcium), epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), and potassium sulfate (sulfate of potash).
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Stones and Spring Cleanup
Spring cleanup was done this past week and the 15 trees were cut. Everything looks good.
Saturday, the gravel and stone deliveries came and we were able to finish re-doing the end of the garden bed with the re-curved stone retaining wall and expanded gravel area. As planned, we re-curved the end of the one bed, added a layer of stone to the entire right side of the pathway, and added to parts of the left side of the pathway. But as it turns out, a pallet of stone is more than you'd think and with still more left over, we decided to put down an edging of stone along the front of the other garden bed as well. Phew. Lots of stone moved around. Body hurts. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle, fitting the stones together nicely. As for the gravel left over after expanding the end of the path, we filled in a few spots of the driveway as planned and then just spread out the rest across the center of the driveway. The 1.5-2 yrds was definitely much more than we needed, but not a big deal. The new stuff was wet when delivered and after it dried it was covered with a coat of white dust so it really stuck out where we spread the new gravel, but I think it will blend just fine once we get a good rain and rinse it all off.
This past Thursday I was in NJ and saw all sorts of Forsythia blooming along rt 17. And this weekend, also everywhere while driving around town in EH. From the wild and rambling kind to the more upright kinds. Individual ones, and massed ones. Really pretty and definitely a nice pop of color from all the shades of brown.
Crocuses were out even more and while they looked so nice, I could see the other bulbs were not fitting up through the wire "lids" I had made. One corner was getting pushed up out of the ground by bulbs growing up underneath. So I sucked it up and decided to take on the tedious task of carefully cutting off the wires. As I was digging and snipping, I could see the hyacinths with their big flower clusters were clearly not fitting through, and while some daffs seemed to be fitting, many daffs and tulips were also stuck. Did some damage, but time will tell if I really screwed it all up.
Oh - and the weed spray last weekend did not work - at all. They're still everywhere and they don't even look the slightest bit wilted. Also saw a full fledged dandelion w 2 yellow flowers. Ugh, didn't have time this weekend but next weekend I really need to get them under control. Maybe I'll try the other spray or just go to town pulling them all out. Might need a bag of soil to fill in all those divots.
Saturday, the gravel and stone deliveries came and we were able to finish re-doing the end of the garden bed with the re-curved stone retaining wall and expanded gravel area. As planned, we re-curved the end of the one bed, added a layer of stone to the entire right side of the pathway, and added to parts of the left side of the pathway. But as it turns out, a pallet of stone is more than you'd think and with still more left over, we decided to put down an edging of stone along the front of the other garden bed as well. Phew. Lots of stone moved around. Body hurts. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle, fitting the stones together nicely. As for the gravel left over after expanding the end of the path, we filled in a few spots of the driveway as planned and then just spread out the rest across the center of the driveway. The 1.5-2 yrds was definitely much more than we needed, but not a big deal. The new stuff was wet when delivered and after it dried it was covered with a coat of white dust so it really stuck out where we spread the new gravel, but I think it will blend just fine once we get a good rain and rinse it all off.
This past Thursday I was in NJ and saw all sorts of Forsythia blooming along rt 17. And this weekend, also everywhere while driving around town in EH. From the wild and rambling kind to the more upright kinds. Individual ones, and massed ones. Really pretty and definitely a nice pop of color from all the shades of brown.
Crocuses were out even more and while they looked so nice, I could see the other bulbs were not fitting up through the wire "lids" I had made. One corner was getting pushed up out of the ground by bulbs growing up underneath. So I sucked it up and decided to take on the tedious task of carefully cutting off the wires. As I was digging and snipping, I could see the hyacinths with their big flower clusters were clearly not fitting through, and while some daffs seemed to be fitting, many daffs and tulips were also stuck. Did some damage, but time will tell if I really screwed it all up.
Oh - and the weed spray last weekend did not work - at all. They're still everywhere and they don't even look the slightest bit wilted. Also saw a full fledged dandelion w 2 yellow flowers. Ugh, didn't have time this weekend but next weekend I really need to get them under control. Maybe I'll try the other spray or just go to town pulling them all out. Might need a bag of soil to fill in all those divots.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Branches
Lopped off a good amount of dead branches from the lower portion of trees. Also marked off 15 dead trees that need to be cut down, including 2 that are one good storm away from falling over. In addition, spring clean up will get done this upcoming week. Looking forward to things looking tidier. There's so much debris everywhere from all the storms this winter.
Was able to set up part of the stone wall - but won't be able to finish until after the stone and gravel I bought this weekend gets delivered next Saturday. Really looking forward to completing it.
Saturday I pulled a bucket's worth of weeds with my tool but it left divots everywhere. Sunday I couldn't stand it and went with chemicals and sprayed the rest of them. Just too many. Hope it works.
Also took that soil sample and going to get it sent off. Can't wait to get that back and get started improving the lawn.
Oh, and crocus is finally out!
Was able to set up part of the stone wall - but won't be able to finish until after the stone and gravel I bought this weekend gets delivered next Saturday. Really looking forward to completing it.
Saturday I pulled a bucket's worth of weeds with my tool but it left divots everywhere. Sunday I couldn't stand it and went with chemicals and sprayed the rest of them. Just too many. Hope it works.
Also took that soil sample and going to get it sent off. Can't wait to get that back and get started improving the lawn.
Oh, and crocus is finally out!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
The Big Move - Part 2
Picked up a garden cart and extendable pruner/loppers for roots and overhead branches.
Finished moving the hydrangeas - phew that was more work than I thought. The cart and loppers worked really well, happy with the purchase. The transplants all received the same approx 2 cups Holly Tone as the ones last week.
Wound the excess drip hose over the preexisting hydrangeas so some are now doubled up.
Decided to skip fertilizing the boxwoods, think they're doing fine anyways. Had some Holly Tone leftover so put down another ~2 cups on the junipers. Re-read the feeding instructions and probably hadn't put down quite enough previously.
Seeing a lot of weeds popping up. Spray service should come soon.
Also put down 1 bag of milky spore Sunday - perfect bc it rained Sunday night.
Next week - move the stone edging by the pool gate? Look into gravel & stone prices.
And trim lower branches off all the trees.
Spring clean up is around the corner.
Finished moving the hydrangeas - phew that was more work than I thought. The cart and loppers worked really well, happy with the purchase. The transplants all received the same approx 2 cups Holly Tone as the ones last week.
Wound the excess drip hose over the preexisting hydrangeas so some are now doubled up.
Decided to skip fertilizing the boxwoods, think they're doing fine anyways. Had some Holly Tone leftover so put down another ~2 cups on the junipers. Re-read the feeding instructions and probably hadn't put down quite enough previously.
Seeing a lot of weeds popping up. Spray service should come soon.
Also put down 1 bag of milky spore Sunday - perfect bc it rained Sunday night.
Next week - move the stone edging by the pool gate? Look into gravel & stone prices.
And trim lower branches off all the trees.
Spring clean up is around the corner.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Big Move - Part 1
Moved 2 hydrangeas Saturday from the northeastern corner of the house (by the AC unit) over to by the left side of the driveway (next to trash can). Moved the unknown grass clump (pampas?) over to outside the gate on the left, next to the big rock with our house number - wow that was tough to dig up. Sort of divided the clump into 2. Prepped a third hole in its place to move a third hydrangea next weekend. I observed this site gets good sun around 9-10 am so hopefully this spot will be enough "morning sun, afternoon shade" for the hydrangeas.
On Sunday - prepped another 8 holes along the driveway, starting from the large pine and following the curb alongside the parking area. Next weekend I'll move over 2-3 more hydrangeas from the northeastern side of the house, as well as 5-6 from the end of the southwest side. Not quite sure about the sunlight this spot will get - looks like mostly dappled sunlight right now but I'll have to see once the trees green up. Yard looks like a mess!
Also put down fertilizer for the dwarf spruces, blue junipers, and all the hydrangeas that won't be moving. Sprinkled about 1 solo cup (2 cups) of Holly Tone around each. Skipped fert on all the boxwoods - read that they don't really need? Some of the hydrangeas are beginning to leaf up just a tiny bit!
Spring bulbs are finally starting to peak through - saw them poking out about 4 inches in NYC last week and been eagerly awaiting mine. Saw several of the "leftover" hyacinths that I had transplanted last year in front of the small boxwoods - should reposition those together in a clump later this year. Also saw some from my cages. Will need to keep an eye on whether I need to take the "lids" off but so far they seem to be fitting through ok.
Also - saw a few weeds starting already! Tested out the new weed tool and yanked out a few - works pretty well. Not sure what the weeds were. Couple were taprooted - plantain? And these clumping ones that looked like clover but weren't - oxalis?
This week - Look into garden cart, root chopper thing. Look into weed pre emergent.
Next weekend - finish transplanting the hydrangeas. Get that soil sample sent off. And maybe apply pre emergent.
On Sunday - prepped another 8 holes along the driveway, starting from the large pine and following the curb alongside the parking area. Next weekend I'll move over 2-3 more hydrangeas from the northeastern side of the house, as well as 5-6 from the end of the southwest side. Not quite sure about the sunlight this spot will get - looks like mostly dappled sunlight right now but I'll have to see once the trees green up. Yard looks like a mess!
Spring bulbs are finally starting to peak through - saw them poking out about 4 inches in NYC last week and been eagerly awaiting mine. Saw several of the "leftover" hyacinths that I had transplanted last year in front of the small boxwoods - should reposition those together in a clump later this year. Also saw some from my cages. Will need to keep an eye on whether I need to take the "lids" off but so far they seem to be fitting through ok.
Also - saw a few weeds starting already! Tested out the new weed tool and yanked out a few - works pretty well. Not sure what the weeds were. Couple were taprooted - plantain? And these clumping ones that looked like clover but weren't - oxalis?
This week - Look into garden cart, root chopper thing. Look into weed pre emergent.
Next weekend - finish transplanting the hydrangeas. Get that soil sample sent off. And maybe apply pre emergent.
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