Gardening/Maintenance Thread

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 4:44 pm

I dethatched and overseeded on Sunday.
I did the same about three weeks ago. Can already see the grass seed germinated and is starting to grow in many of the bare spots.

Are you in SWPA? I was worried I was too early. You were way ahead of me, if so

Postby **offsides** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:01 pm

I dethatched and overseeded on Sunday.
I did the same about three weeks ago. Can already see the grass seed germinated and is starting to grow in many of the bare spots.
Are you in SWPA? I was worried I was too early. You were way ahead of me, if so

Yep, live in little Washington. I talked to a guy I know in the landscaping business and he said it would be fine to do when I did, plus it has rained so much no watering necessary.

Postby **King Colby** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:08 pm

I need to do that real bad. Is spring aeration ok as well? What tools do I need to dethatch?

Last summer my yard and driveway were overhauled so the grass has been, um, neglected. Other than the spots that were dug up for drainage and I planted new.

Postby **NTP66** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 5:35 pm

You can rent a dethatcher if you’ve got a large area to tackle, or buy a dethatching rake. I usually just use a normal metal garden rake.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:07 pm

I have a rather large yard. I used a landscape rake on the three point hitch of my tractor. But yes, you can rent or just use a garden rake.

Also, spring aeration is best. You want to get it in the start of growing, not the end. Just make sure it's a plug aerator and not a slice/spike.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:11 pm

Went to Lowes today and bought lumber and accessories to build the Taj Mahal of chicken coops.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:23 pm

I've been kicking the tires on a coop as well.

I just can't see spending 500 bucks for eggs. But.. It's something to do..

Postby **NTP66** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:25 pm

My cousin built a coop last summer, and is adding chickens constantly. Three massive Great Danes and a handful of chickens.

Postby **mac5155** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:26 pm

I bought plans off Coop Expert (on Etsy). I should just do it.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:15 pm

I spent $250 on supplies. Building this one. modifying it a little, but this the basic layout.

https://blog.homedepot.com/free-plans-f ... cken-coop/

Postby **offsides** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:23 pm

Do you guys eat the chickens or just the eggs?
BTW: I have a 22 single shot derringer that my mom gave me. Her mom used it to shoot chickens in the head before chopping it off and cooking them.

Postby **AuthorTony** » Wed Mar 25, 2020 10:29 pm

I built a coop for my mom's chickens 2 years ago. Went with a shed style which makes it a lot easier to clean out.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 7:57 am

That coop actually looks pretty cool.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:20 am

At first this coop is for my youngest daughter's 4-H project, but after that we'll do meat and eggs from it. It is big enough to hold 15 hens.

They were the best coop plans I could find on the internet and it does look nice. We'll see what happens when I make it tonight and tomorrow.

Postby **offsides** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:28 pm

Since there isn't much to do, I think this old guy might go for a first tomorrow. Got both mowers out and running today. The Stabil additive seemed to work well. Changed the oil and sharpened the blades on the rider. Electric trimmer also seems fine. Tomorrow is suppose to be warm and sunny. Looking to be the first old guy in the neighborhood to cut the grass.

Oh well, I wasn't first. Old guy three houses away beat me. At least I was a good sport and waved at him.

Edit: Did a box cut on front. IMO looks pretty darn good.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:19 pm

We got half of the chicken coop built today. Made some minor modifications and had a lot of fun.

Postby **offsides** » Fri Mar 27, 2020 9:57 pm

We got half of the chicken coop built today. Made some minor modifications and had a lot of fun.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 8:45 pm

Got the chicken coop completed. Y'all friends on FB have seen the hobo shack I built.

Postby **tifosi77** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:14 pm

I planted onions last year, but none came up. Planted more onions in February, and it turns out the reason I didn't get anything last year was apparently that I planted too late in the season. So I now have a very great much of onions coming up.

Also planted nasturtiums and morning glory for some color on the patio, and also butterflies.

Postby **Freddy Rumsen** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:17 pm

Nice. All this forced time at home has given me time to plant better this year.

Postby **mac5155** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 9:53 pm

I have 36 tomato and 24 cabbage plants in seed starters now.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Sat Mar 28, 2020 10:21 pm

I have 36 tomato and 24 cabbage plants in seed starters now.

Hope you like tomatoes. I had 6 plants two years ago and had nearly 100 lbs. Probably 40% rotted too

Postby **NTP66** » Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:22 am

He can throw them at people not standing 6’ apart from him in public.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:50 am

He can throw them at people not standing 6’ apart from him in public.

That’s what the rotten ones are for

Postby **mac5155** » Sun Mar 29, 2020 9:04 pm

I’m banking on losing 10-12 but I make sauce out of them anyway. We go thru a jar or two of sauce every week. Not to mention I only bought 2 packs of seeds anyway