As usual, getting around to making much progress is taking longer than hoped (the story of my life!). I have, however, mulched the front bean w/ pine straw and as a means of counting bales for future reference - I kept all the orange strings that go around each bale and counted them up at the end so I know for future reference how many bales are needed to cover each area. (I'm pretty smart - aren't I?)
So, here goes:
verdant kidney bean = 30 bales
Not sure how that works using the common mulch math of 1 bale should cover X sq ft at 3 inches or whatever, but I think it's pretty dead on since I counted 60 orange strins and there are two strings per bail.
New city ordinances now require that commercial buildings (apts - not sure about offices) NOT have any pinestraw w/in 10 feet of them because of a residential fire somewhere. So, maybe next year I'll order the bags for everything - even though they're more expensive than having the truck come out, the loose mulch is a lot harder to work with. So, we'll see about next year. Here's hoping I have no fire until then.
I plan to count strings/bags for all the rest of the mulching that I have to do, so I'll update w/ a summary when I finish.
Also was thinking today that I should build up some kind of edge along my driveway shade bed to prevent erosion - maybe using loosely stacked rocks like my mom has but with a gravel pit underneath as foundation for drainage. That idea, of course, is decades down on my to-do list, but it seems like a good idea to me.
Also, planning on purging my shade bed of things that aren't doing that well and perhaps relocating elsewhere and just sticking w/ things that working. I've lost a LOT of stuff to voles - there are dern vole holes all over the place sadly. I might spring for some permatill to get rid of them - wish I had used that stuff to begin with when I created the bed - not sure how much it costs, but given all the plants I've lost, it kind of sucks. I guess one could think of permatill as insurance - although frankly, I now know that I have voles so my likelihood of needing the permatill is 100% unlike w/ insurance. So, it might be a good investment. I could amend as I add new stuff I guess. I'd like to get rid of things like hostas that for the most part don't seem to be doing that well there - maybe mostly because of voles - and use more stuff that seems to be surviving or thriving for some reason - like the taxus, the rhodeas - which desperately need to be divided - and ferns - which are doing okay so far and absorb leaves well. I'd also like more aspidistra - those would have lived if not for the voles I think. My objective will be to keep those things that don't absorb leaves well to a minimum - maybe just a few of the heucheras which still seem to be living! Okay, more later!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Mulch Mania 2010
Last year I ordered mulch - both straw bales and triple shredded from Family Home & Garden and mulched the whole yard to keep the weeds down. However, I apparently didn't record how many bales/bags I bought anywhere! I remember that I did some measuring and it came out about right - I think I might have had a few extra bales at the end.
This year I'm ready to mulch again and I did another measuring effort using a long 100' tape measure I bought - however, I did very rough measurements and when I added them all up and did my mulch math, the numbers didn't make any sense. So, either my mulch math is wrong or my measuring was wrong or both.
So, I decided to back into how to much to order based on how much I spent last year - which Quicken was able to tell me thankfully. I plan to keep track of how many bales I spread where and then record that here for future reference.
My mulch assumptions were that one 2 cu ft bag of mulch covers 11.85 sq ft (this was based on what I read in perennials for dummies - that 1 cu yard covers 160 sq ft). The lady from FHG told me that one bale of pine straw covers 40-45 sq ft. Hopefully, that's about right.
Anyway, I'll report back how many I end up using of what so I can make this process less time consuming in the future and stop being such a time waster!!
This year I'm ready to mulch again and I did another measuring effort using a long 100' tape measure I bought - however, I did very rough measurements and when I added them all up and did my mulch math, the numbers didn't make any sense. So, either my mulch math is wrong or my measuring was wrong or both.
So, I decided to back into how to much to order based on how much I spent last year - which Quicken was able to tell me thankfully. I plan to keep track of how many bales I spread where and then record that here for future reference.
My mulch assumptions were that one 2 cu ft bag of mulch covers 11.85 sq ft (this was based on what I read in perennials for dummies - that 1 cu yard covers 160 sq ft). The lady from FHG told me that one bale of pine straw covers 40-45 sq ft. Hopefully, that's about right.
Anyway, I'll report back how many I end up using of what so I can make this process less time consuming in the future and stop being such a time waster!!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
9/13/2009
I'm posting this after the fact, BUT I believe I fertilized the yard this day w/ WOW Plus using the exact same instructions I recorded in here earlier in the year! Exact date isn't so important, but that it was actually complete!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
6/28/2009 - Mite Control, Planting update
For the record, I sprayed all the foundation shrubs today w/ All-Seasons dormant oil to control for mealybugs and mites. I seem to have a bad case of both and I've already lost one - no make that two - japanese hollies to mites/mealys. The remaining 3 0r so are under attack. I can tell from the leaf drop and twig die-off. My camellia, piers japonica prelude, and aucuba also have damage so I sprayed those as well. The piers japonica especially has been badly affected - it's leaves from last year are all stipled w/ yellow dots. I sure hope this helps. I'm going to apply a little bit more cause I ran out.
I applied it at 5 T./gallon of water or 2.5 fl oz/gallon using the handy-dandy ortho sprayer. I got down low and tried to spray toward the undersize of the leaves. It wasn't nearly as bad spraying or as difficult to apply as I'd envisioned. I feel badly that I've procrastinated this long and won't put it off as long once I get some more. The label seems to imply that I should apply monthly. So, I think I'll put a reminder on the old calendar and come end of July I will treat them again and maybe again in August. Mites tend to get worse in the summer - not sure about mealys - and it's hard to know if they've been treated. I promise to myself to keep a closer eye on them! I need to inspect the hollies near the end of the driveway and maybe spray those, too.
In other news, I finally planted my two aspidstra big bubbas - or whatever they'll called as well as the fatsia. They were all getting kind of pot bound but I took care to free the roots and disentangle them before moving them. I also moved a bear's breeches that I bought last year that wasn't doing so hot. I think it was eaten up by voles, but then resprouted and it did have small leaves. So, I dug it all up and separated all the root parts out and planted them down in the former magnolia bed. Will be interesting to see how they do there. That area has morning sun and some sun into the afternoon, but not much hot afternoon sun. I hope they take off. They are supposed to get 4-6' feet wide as a clump. They didn't seem to get getting that big in the shade, so I think moving them was a good idea. I still have one more in the shade that maybe I should move as well. It doesn't seem to be thriving either. It's leaves are big, but it's not growing that fast. The label says part sun-light shade I think, so this new location might be better. We'll see... The fatsia, which is supposed to like deep shade, is in a spot where it will get an hour or so of full to partial afternoon sun. Maybe a bad idea? I'm keeping an eye on it and if it starts burning I'm going to try moving it under the dogwood where the the rhodie used to be. I think it will like that spot, though I will need to keep in mind that if I plant more shrubs behind carissas that it's view could be blocked, so I'd have to locate w/ an eye toward that.
Also, last weekend I planted a bunch of impatiens and they are doing okay. In a second, I'm going to try doing surgery on my rain barrel to see if I can fix it so a real spigot can be attached and then I can use the soaker hose w/ the rain barrel. I hope I don't ruin it!
Also, I dug up that spice shrub that I got at a master gardener something or other a while back and planted out. It's been there a few years. Since it can take full sun to partial shade I decided to try putting it at the edge of the house on the side where the hose bib is. It's supposed to be a rounded mound shape when it gets full sun up to 6' wide. So, we'll see how it grows there. I'm experimenting! I think this is how gardeners and many others in life get things done. Get some info and then make a guess. If it doesn't work, then try something else. I think many things come down to a process of trial and error which you can sometimes limit w/ research on the front end, so that's what I did. We'll see how it goes!
I applied it at 5 T./gallon of water or 2.5 fl oz/gallon using the handy-dandy ortho sprayer. I got down low and tried to spray toward the undersize of the leaves. It wasn't nearly as bad spraying or as difficult to apply as I'd envisioned. I feel badly that I've procrastinated this long and won't put it off as long once I get some more. The label seems to imply that I should apply monthly. So, I think I'll put a reminder on the old calendar and come end of July I will treat them again and maybe again in August. Mites tend to get worse in the summer - not sure about mealys - and it's hard to know if they've been treated. I promise to myself to keep a closer eye on them! I need to inspect the hollies near the end of the driveway and maybe spray those, too.
In other news, I finally planted my two aspidstra big bubbas - or whatever they'll called as well as the fatsia. They were all getting kind of pot bound but I took care to free the roots and disentangle them before moving them. I also moved a bear's breeches that I bought last year that wasn't doing so hot. I think it was eaten up by voles, but then resprouted and it did have small leaves. So, I dug it all up and separated all the root parts out and planted them down in the former magnolia bed. Will be interesting to see how they do there. That area has morning sun and some sun into the afternoon, but not much hot afternoon sun. I hope they take off. They are supposed to get 4-6' feet wide as a clump. They didn't seem to get getting that big in the shade, so I think moving them was a good idea. I still have one more in the shade that maybe I should move as well. It doesn't seem to be thriving either. It's leaves are big, but it's not growing that fast. The label says part sun-light shade I think, so this new location might be better. We'll see... The fatsia, which is supposed to like deep shade, is in a spot where it will get an hour or so of full to partial afternoon sun. Maybe a bad idea? I'm keeping an eye on it and if it starts burning I'm going to try moving it under the dogwood where the the rhodie used to be. I think it will like that spot, though I will need to keep in mind that if I plant more shrubs behind carissas that it's view could be blocked, so I'd have to locate w/ an eye toward that.
Also, last weekend I planted a bunch of impatiens and they are doing okay. In a second, I'm going to try doing surgery on my rain barrel to see if I can fix it so a real spigot can be attached and then I can use the soaker hose w/ the rain barrel. I hope I don't ruin it!
Also, I dug up that spice shrub that I got at a master gardener something or other a while back and planted out. It's been there a few years. Since it can take full sun to partial shade I decided to try putting it at the edge of the house on the side where the hose bib is. It's supposed to be a rounded mound shape when it gets full sun up to 6' wide. So, we'll see how it grows there. I'm experimenting! I think this is how gardeners and many others in life get things done. Get some info and then make a guess. If it doesn't work, then try something else. I think many things come down to a process of trial and error which you can sometimes limit w/ research on the front end, so that's what I did. We'll see how it goes!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
5/28/2009 Update
Okay, the castor oil thing doesn't seem to be working as far as I can tell. There are still little vole holes everywhere and new ones everyday. I think I will reapply when I get around to it since I already bought it.
Also, yesterday I found two small Oakleaf Hydrangeas growing near the area where I walk Woody in the woods. I probably never noticed them before because they just started blooming - very beautiful w/ large, cone shaped flower clusters and gorgeous oversized oak shaped leaves.
I'm thinking of digging one of them up and planting it in the yard. =:0 I know this is a no-no. But I can give it a good home where it will be loved and appreciated!! Who is going to appreciate it planted there in a dumping grounds where it very will may get plowed over. I'm actually saving it - like stray dog!
They are native plants I believe, but I've never seen them growing in the wild before. It's in an area where people dump stuff - so maybe someone dumped it or maybe it's just a volunteer. They supposedly can take more sun than the other hygrangeas (macrophylla) and can also tolerate a lot less moisture w/o wilting - which my other one does all summer long during the heat. Will be interesting to see if it lives if I take it. They like well drained soil, so that could be a problem. Maybe I can add some sand into the soil along w/ some rocks to keep the voles out.
I still have more plants to get into the ground from PDN and more mulching to do. I've been sick - so that hasn't exactly helped. Haven't started on the wall either!
There was something else I was going to post about, but I seem to keep having senior moments. It really is all downhill after 35 isn't it? Sux.
Also, yesterday I found two small Oakleaf Hydrangeas growing near the area where I walk Woody in the woods. I probably never noticed them before because they just started blooming - very beautiful w/ large, cone shaped flower clusters and gorgeous oversized oak shaped leaves.
I'm thinking of digging one of them up and planting it in the yard. =:0 I know this is a no-no. But I can give it a good home where it will be loved and appreciated!! Who is going to appreciate it planted there in a dumping grounds where it very will may get plowed over. I'm actually saving it - like stray dog!
They are native plants I believe, but I've never seen them growing in the wild before. It's in an area where people dump stuff - so maybe someone dumped it or maybe it's just a volunteer. They supposedly can take more sun than the other hygrangeas (macrophylla) and can also tolerate a lot less moisture w/o wilting - which my other one does all summer long during the heat. Will be interesting to see if it lives if I take it. They like well drained soil, so that could be a problem. Maybe I can add some sand into the soil along w/ some rocks to keep the voles out.
I still have more plants to get into the ground from PDN and more mulching to do. I've been sick - so that hasn't exactly helped. Haven't started on the wall either!
There was something else I was going to post about, but I seem to keep having senior moments. It really is all downhill after 35 isn't it? Sux.
Monday, May 18, 2009
5/18/2009 For the record...
I worked a bit more today on clearing debris off the rear hill in the backyard where the azaleas are. I also dragged out the backpack sprayer and sprayed RoundUp on the back hill, the location of the patio to be, the verdant kidney bean, along the side of the house that's a total mess, along the shade bed, as well as the driveway area. Trying hard to keep the weeds to a minimum this year. We'll see how that goes!
Need to find some cardboard and get to mulching under the areas where I will someday put more shrubs in the front yard (as if I didn't already have enough areas ready to go in the backyard I suppose). Maybe I should start back in there in the Fall w/ more shrubs? Probably best to finish the wall and patio first and then plant. Wonder how many years that will take??
Need to find some cardboard and get to mulching under the areas where I will someday put more shrubs in the front yard (as if I didn't already have enough areas ready to go in the backyard I suppose). Maybe I should start back in there in the Fall w/ more shrubs? Probably best to finish the wall and patio first and then plant. Wonder how many years that will take??
Sunday, May 17, 2009
5/17/2009 - Castor Oil Application / New Plants
Yesterday I spent the afternoon putting in a bunch of new shade plants I bought at the Plant Delights Open House - some more ferns, pulmonaria, a new Farfugium (sp?), brunnera macrophylla, a new aspidistra, and others. I planted everything using my hopefully vole-proof planting methods - rocks in the bottom of the hole, chicken wire cages around the inside of the hole, etc. It takes a couple years for most of these shade perennials to look nice, so I decided to step up my plant acquisitions this year so I can enjoy all the plants sooner. I also estimate that I lose maybe 1 out of 3 plants I buy to voles and in the past dog urine. I'm resolved to be more dedicated to my vole-proof cages - even though I do believe I've had some of my cages infiltrated by voles in the past. Some of my ferns that are NOT in cages are absolutely gorgeous now and I'll be so sad if they are killed by voles.
Anyhow, I finally applied some castor oil to the perimeter of my planting area and I drenched the vole holes per the instructions on the bottle. I sure hope it works! When I have a chance to get back out there (it rained today) I will try covering all the many, many vole holes w/ compost and then see if any of them reappear as a means of monitoring vole activity. Strange thing about voles is that you never really see them - so I'm blindly assuming that's what I have. I could try the apple shingle trick and see if the apple gets eaten - that's supposed to be the definitive vole test. We shall see!
Still haven't finished my mulch application! Hurry up! The weeds are a comin!
Anyhow, I finally applied some castor oil to the perimeter of my planting area and I drenched the vole holes per the instructions on the bottle. I sure hope it works! When I have a chance to get back out there (it rained today) I will try covering all the many, many vole holes w/ compost and then see if any of them reappear as a means of monitoring vole activity. Strange thing about voles is that you never really see them - so I'm blindly assuming that's what I have. I could try the apple shingle trick and see if the apple gets eaten - that's supposed to be the definitive vole test. We shall see!
Still haven't finished my mulch application! Hurry up! The weeds are a comin!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)