Gardening/Maintenance Thread

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 3:49 pm

That pollen has one month to leave the state, DG. Would suck to vaca there and deal with allergies the whole time.

@mac5155, I'm listening to options here too. I've researched the depths of the interwebs and have not come up with anything sound. A former coworker would buy straw in the fall, let it get wet in the winter/spring to remove any seeds (she said it would get moldy, which effectively killed the seeds - not sure how sound that is), then spread it out late spring, spray it down to remove the mold, and let it dry out. Then she would spread it over her garden to help protect from weeds. Not sure if that would work, and it seems like too much effort for a hope and a prayer. I do know that just adding straw is no good. Even though it's supposed to be free from seed, it is not.

A neighbor puts plastic down in the winter, but I've heard that's bad for the soil in the long run. Doesn't absorb as much water/sunlight and depletes it of nutrients.

If I had more time, I'd just put in raised beds everywhere and mulch everything else. Still doesn't get rid of all the weeds, but makes it a little less aggravating. I do know mulch directly on top of the garden soil is no good, as 1) the wood makes the soil more acidic and 2) the color dye runs into the soil.

I spent a little bit of time reading reviews on Preen for Gardens. I think I am going to give it a go this year and see what happens.

Postby **King Colby** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 4:27 pm

You can just use regular preen right? If you're transplanting seedlings anyway

Postby **King Colby** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 4:28 pm

BTW, started my pepper seeds yesterday. Earlier than normal but I feel like they took forever to germinate last year and I ended up with seedlings that really weren't ground-ready on 5/15 when I do my planting

I'll start my eggplant and onions as well and tomatoes will wait until end of the month

Postby **mac5155** » Mon Mar 06, 2023 6:37 pm

You can just use regular preen right? If you're transplanting seedlings anyway

I don't know what the difference is, but they have a "garden" variety at Sam's club that I'll use.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:28 am

I read up on Preen and that will not be something I use. Unless it's the one with corn meal, which may or may not be helpful.

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:58 am

Two crab apple trees coming out here soon and we'll be planting three trees in their place (one between the two old sites, and then one on either side of the old site). I'm on the fence between planting sour cherry trees and pawpaw trees. Leaning toward the cherries, but I think having pawpaws would be really neat. I'll likely go with the sour cherries though.

Also, with a redesign for our deck coming in, I'm planning on planting some hops that will trellis up to provide some strategic shade. And with installing a patio/firepit area, my old firepit area (which was literally just a hole in the ground) will get dug up and planted with some hydrangea.

Going to be a fun season.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:14 am

Another hop grower, nice! Any thoughts on which hops you will grow?

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:20 am

I don't brew anymore, so I'm more looking for a nice looking plant vs a nice tasting hop. I have no plans as far as which ones to grow. Need to do some research on that.

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 9:38 am

I can't say I really "brew" either. I get maybe one chance per year to do that. So I give a lot of mine away or just let them brown on the vine.

I did make some hop tea last year which was pretty good.

Postby **count2infinity** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:09 am

ohhhh.... maybe i'll just make some hop extracts for seltzer or something like that.

Okay, I will get good tasting ones. Apparently there's a new variety called "Teamaker" that was developed specifically for making hop tea. Neat.

Postby **mac5155** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 10:28 am

I read up on Preen and that will not be something I use. Unless it's the one with corn meal, which may or may not be helpful.

Is it because it's a herbicide? Just curious your reasoning/wouldn't mind another opinion

Postby **robbiestoupe** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:10 am

I read up on Preen and that will not be something I use. Unless it's the one with corn meal, which may or may not be helpful.
Is it because it's a herbicide? Just curious your reasoning/wouldn't mind another opinion

Yeah there were some reports that Preen is dangerous for wildlife when it gets into the water table. I try to be as eco-friendly as possible with my garden, which is probably why I have so many weeds

Postby **King Colby** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:11 am

I'm not above chemicals. But I did just buy this weed torch for $20

https://a.co/d/7uwzOsR

Postby **King Colby** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:13 am

How do I share Amazon links properly @NTP66

Postby **dodint** » Tue Mar 07, 2023 11:19 am

Worked for me.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu May 04, 2023 11:49 am

I love the lines, but after more than a decade of mowing the same exact paths with hard plastic wheels, I wish there was a rubberized wheel option for my mower to make things a little softer. My mower bounces around far too much thanks to these permanent paths.

Postby **count2infinity** » Thu May 04, 2023 11:56 am

You don't take a different path ever? I have 3 patterns that I rotate through with my yard.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu May 04, 2023 11:57 am

You don't take a different path ever? I have 3 patterns that I rotate through with my yard.

Nope, a mistake I regret making, if I'm being honest. Trying to change it up now just results in my lawn mower going over tiny ski slopes.

Postby **Kane** » Thu May 04, 2023 11:59 am

Rookie mistake bruh. I don't give a **** how the lawn looks as long as it's green, but even I rotate directions when I cut.

Postby **NTP66** » Thu May 04, 2023 12:00 pm

Wider, rubber wheels would probably be the solution. Gonna see if that's an actual 3rd party accessory for my Honda.

Postby **eddy** » Thu May 04, 2023 1:17 pm

Every once in a while, I like to let mine grow and weed wack designs onto the yard and then mow. It's usually something the kids come up with, but it's fun and adds more time to cutting which is a plus for me

Postby **King Colby** » Thu May 04, 2023 6:48 pm

I alternate horizontal, diagonal one way, vertical, diagonal the other way

Postby **Willie Kool** » Fri May 05, 2023 9:28 pm

I love the lines, but...

Need to get someone with a garden tractor and a tow behind lawn roller to hit that a few times. Only do it in the spring when the ground is still soft. Then plug aerate.

Postby **Willie Kool** » Fri May 05, 2023 9:28 pm

I alternate horizontal, diagonal one way, vertical, diagonal the other way

This is the way

Postby **NTP66** » Sat May 06, 2023 5:47 pm

I love the lines, but...
Need to get someone with a garden tractor and a tow behind lawn roller to hit that a few times. Only do it in the spring when the ground is still soft. Then plug aerate.

Appreciate it, but I just don’t see it happening. I’ll just vent about it every once in a while, but ultimately will enjoy the look.

That said, this guy’s the GOAT: