Gardening/Maintenance Thread

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 9:34 am

Any strategies for cleaning black off white gutters that don't involve a ladder and a scrub brush?

Postby **NTP66** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:20 am

Simple Green and a pressure washer.

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:31 am

Ha. I must have some really dirty gutters. Because simple green didn't work. I've tried it, and ZEP. It did a little bit, but not completely removed it.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:21 pm

Bleach works like a charm on my vinyl (white) trim. Not great for the plants below the siding...

Postby **MWB** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:59 pm

I’m sure this is somewhere previously in the thread, but I’m too lazy to look. Anyone have good suggestions for how to make a raised bed? What wood should I use? We’ll use it mostly for herbs and maybe some tomato and pepper plants. Depth?

Postby **King Colby** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 4:31 pm

I’m sure this is somewhere previously in the thread, but I’m too lazy to look. Anyone have good suggestions for how to make a raised bed? What wood should I use? We’ll use it mostly for herbs and maybe some tomato and pepper plants. Depth?

You need at least 12" of depth for both peppers and tomatoes to root, but you should also be burying about 1/2 of your tomato starter plant, and a couple inches of your pepper stem when you plant, so account for that as well. Probably 18-24" minimum.

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:37 pm

As for wood, cedar is best. There's a lot of debate whether to use pressure treated or not. Personally, I would not.

Postby **MWB** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 11:25 pm

Thanks. Been reading the pressure vs non debate. Cedar would be nice, but pricey.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:02 am

I had to replace our over the oven Microwave.

Biggest PITA I've ever dealt with.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 9:04 am

I was thrilled to pay my electrician $75 to hang up our microwave. It took him like 2 hours.

Postby **King Colby** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:05 am

I used pressure treated pine to build garden boxes for my deck but sealed and lined the inside. They're about 18" deep and both tomatoes and peppers have done very well in them. I also put them on casters so I can move them under the covered portion of the deck during the winter. 0 for 2 on actually doing that though.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:08 am

Yeah, I'd rather pay someone to do that sort of thing. For instance, we replaced our garage door opener last year. Lowe's had installation for like $50 or something. I could probably do it, but it would take 3 times as long and probably not work right. The installer was done in an hour and the work was warrantied.

I really get the DIY mindset, but I would rather leave it to the pros.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:11 am

I am debating on DIYing a rectangular fire pit. I want a really solid one. Was thinking of doing a cement footer and brick, then putting stone veneer on the outside and fire brick inside. It'll probably be like $500.. but it'll last forever.

Postby **King Colby** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:29 am

Sounds awesome. My current one was constructed in 10 minutes out of leftover flat rocks from a retaining wall I had replaced. I dont even know if it's safe. I put vent holes in I guess

Postby **MWB** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:48 pm

Did a round fire pit a couple weeks ago with retaining wall stones. No cement footer, so certainly not “really solid,” but turned out well.

Postby **MWB** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:49 pm

Went with pine for the raised bed. Know it won’t last more than five years or so, but I’m okay with that.

Postby **offsides** » Wed Apr 01, 2020 11:09 pm

Having a new dishwasher installed tomorrow that I got at Home Depot. Delivery and installation is $129 and haul away of the old one is $25. Sounded OK to me. I'm too old for that stuff anymore.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:48 am

Having a new dishwasher installed tomorrow that I got at Home Depot. Delivery and installation is $129 and haul away of the old one is $25. Sounded OK to me. I'm too old for that stuff anymore.

I don't blame you. That's one of the appliances I'd install myself, but the fact that I'd have to then deal with how to get rid of the old unit... worth it to just pay somebody else to do it all.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 9:59 am

Went with pine for the raised bed. Know it won’t last more than five years or so, but I’m okay with that.

You can coat it in linseed oil, that may help a little bit.

Postby **MWB** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:02 am

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 10:30 pm

Some new arrivals to my flock finally arrived today.

Postby **blackjack68** » Thu Apr 02, 2020 11:45 pm

Watching the peep show are ya?

Postby **NTP66** » Sat Apr 04, 2020 8:56 pm

Bought an AeroGarden Harvest today with a few pod kits to grow tomatoes, lettuce, and herbs.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:27 pm

Some new arrivals to my flock finally arrived today.

Nice

Postby **skullman80** » Sat Apr 04, 2020 9:28 pm

Cut our grass on Friday....that started a trend on our block haha.