Gardening/Maintenance Thread

Postby **dodint** » Tue May 01, 2018 10:09 am

When building from scratch it was a nice way to mitigate the threat of various pests. I built the box and layered it with crushed rocks/brick for drainage, then laid down a screen to keep slugs and moles from burrowing up. My dog also liked to mess with the stuff we planted in the ground, probably attracted by the compost. Boxes are nice for having control over the variables like water, etc. It's a closed system, a lot less variables than planting in the ground. Generally we only plant tomatoes and basil in the ground.

We're only refreshing the top soil in the new beds so I have no idea if they took any pest control or water runoff precautions. We'll see. I told my wife if we have big burrowing pest problems I'll dig the beds up next spring and lay screens.

And yeah, they're easier to work in.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Tue May 01, 2018 10:57 am

Finally talk the wife into it and I'll be building a chicken coop this weekend.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed May 02, 2018 12:03 am

What is the benefit of raised garden beds? Easier on the back? Better root structure?

Easier to till, keeps the dogs out, and good if you are only gardening temporarily. In addition to everything dodint said

Postby **blackjack68** » Wed May 02, 2018 12:12 am

Raised beds allow the soil to get warmer earlier which jump starts your plants...and it’s easier on your back.

Good for root spread as you noted. Better drainage. Easier than amending existing soil. And, reduces access for ground pests.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Wed May 02, 2018 8:43 am

I'll add one more: good for annuals like asparagus that you don't want infiltrating your entire garden.

Postby **dodint** » Wed May 02, 2018 11:13 am

Finally talk the wife into it and I'll be building a chicken coop this weekend.

The rooster has sex with all of them.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Wed May 02, 2018 11:15 am

Well, that's perverse!

Postby **NTP66** » Thu May 03, 2018 3:55 pm

Went to mow my lawn for the first time this season yesterday, and the mower wouldn’t start at all. Long story short, I found red crystallized gunk all throughout the carb, and was unable to clean it enough to get it to run.

So, despite the fact that I turn off the fuel valve after each mow, and run the tank empty at the end of the season, Sta-Bil still caused an issue. I’m done with that **** for good.

Apparently, I needed to wait longer than 60 minutes for the carb cleaner to completely penetrate the entire carb, because I picked up my mower before the shop could look at it and the damn thing started right up when I got home.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Thu May 03, 2018 4:59 pm

Now go out and get yourself some ethanol-free gas. That's what I plan to do this weekend for my tiller.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu May 03, 2018 5:28 pm

I already have some for my generator. Now that I have a backup carb thanks to Amazon (dawned on me today that a new carb is 1/3rd the cost of having it repaired), I may just roll with the normal gas that I have and just get it in smaller batches so that it doesn’t go bad too quickly.

Postby **dodint** » Thu May 03, 2018 5:39 pm

You and Shaq both.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Mon May 07, 2018 2:15 pm

I'm in the market for an electric lawn mower. Trying to decide between Kobalt and Greenworks, or are both junk?

Postby **Beveridge** » Mon May 07, 2018 3:26 pm

I got an EGO electric mower last year and love it.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Mon May 07, 2018 4:11 pm

I got an EGO electric mower last year and love it.

That's the one I went with. Only used it once but like it so far.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Mon May 07, 2018 4:41 pm

Huh, Ryobi makes an electric riding mower: https://www.consumerreports.org/lawn-tr ... th-a-look/

$2500 though...

Postby **LITT** » Thu May 10, 2018 7:46 am

how concerned should one be about planting a tree and roots encroaching on sewer/gas line? its a black tulip magnolia. i called one call but they dont seem to be too worried.

Postby **mac5155** » Thu May 10, 2018 8:37 am

I think you'll be OK. They dont care about roots, they want to know if you're going to dig and hit the lines.

Postby **tifosi77** » Mon May 14, 2018 3:29 pm

Planting nasturtiums later today, from seeds. Please send thoughts and prayers.

Postby **Willie Kool** » Mon May 14, 2018 9:52 pm

Planting nasturtiums later today, from seeds.

I expect to see pics in the cooking thread soon...

Postby **tifosi77** » Mon May 14, 2018 11:11 pm

I have been expressly directed that these plants are to attract hummingbirds. So I bought a couple extra seed packs for myself.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue May 15, 2018 7:11 am

I have been expressly directed that these plants are to attract hummingbirds. So I bought a couple extra seed packs for myself.

Speaking of, @Willie Kool: how early should I expect to see Hummingbirds? Last year was the first year that I ever saw them, but I didn't put out the new feeder until early summer (I think).

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue May 15, 2018 8:45 am

We've had hummingbirds come already. The males will come first to inspect and deem the feeders appropriate. The females will follow once they get the green light from the males. There's the chance the birds will need to find new sources of food, so even if you put your feeder up later you can still attract the birds.

Postby **NTP66** » Tue May 15, 2018 8:48 am

Listen, robbiestoupe, I need an exact day and time so that I can watch.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue May 15, 2018 8:51 am

Postby **AuthorTony** » Tue May 15, 2018 8:52 am

We've had hummingbirds for at least 10 days. You're too late.