What are you doing to prepare for next season?

Just Dahlia · Sep 25, 2009, 03:11 PM

Even though my season isn't finished yet, I'm already preparing for next and I have tons of ideas and questions.

I planted some blueberry bushes a couple weeks ago and now I'm looking for a good spot to put my Blackberry (hopefully thornless) vines.

I'm going to transplant my strawberries this weekend, so I can actually get enough to make jam next year.

Anybody else doing anything? It's going to be a long winter, start planning now.

Just Dahlia · Oct 14, 2009, 06:55 PM

It ended up no big deal, we are used to it at least once a year. I have glued together many pots. This one I will attempt to glue together, but use for something else since my plant was root bound.

How am I going to get it's twin out of the other pot? Don't want to break it.

The concrete pot got a chip, but the stairs are OK

I bailed 40 gallons on water out of the garden and 1/3 drained the pond of mucky water. Then re-filled. I think all the fish are still there.

I have 5 bags of debree and a stack of stuff from my Pampas Grass (sp) and now I will go cleanse my self and tend to wounds.
Pampas Grass is nasty.. DO NOT ever plant it!

KUXJ...I have a picture that I have yet to find from 15 years ago of our yard. All there was, was grass. We bought it because it was huge and we wanted a pool. We never could afford it until I was 40, but until that time DH wanted to plant a tree in the middle of the yard and I would never let him, thinking that some day I was going to get a pool and have to kill that tree. I was right.

No plants died and if you don't praise my efforts again, it will be sad.

I work hard and it's nice to think that someone thinks it looks nice. We have done everything on our own (except the pool) and my son even helped with that. (he needed a summer job)

Just Dahlia · Oct 17, 2009, 08:12 PM

I watched the pond lady and she looks young, so I'm going with "Thank You"

DH removed all the white picket fence today (that fell down in the storm) and replaced it with that 'new fangled' black iron, 3 feet tall stuff. It looks great and we don't have to worry about a dog jumping over it. (G-d rest his soul, Winston (the jumper) is no longer with us) The dogs are little and have no desire to escape. Not sure what was up with Winnie, but he always tried.

I couldn't help myself when we went to get the fencing. They have 'ba$tard plants that are not good for the average eye and priced at 1/2 or lower off. I bought 2 more Blackberrys and a red Dahlia (not dinner plate) and another Dahlia (not sure what color) but I know that I can grow them and they come back, so I'm good.

I transplanted my poor broken Palm in another pot (bigger) funny story, but no time for that now, and it is now in the front yard

I still am going to glue the old pot together and put it in the back, because it was such a beautiful pot and I am anal.

Just Dahlia · Oct 18, 2009, 10:06 PM

Do you use a special epoxy for pottery?

No, just Gorilla glue. It holds them together very well. This will be the first time I am doing it without a plant in the pot. I had 2 queen Palm blow over last year and the year before and had to glue the pieces back on while the plant was in the pot. Not a very good effor but the broken glued side is backed up against some grasses, so you can't see where the repair was made.

Today I spent the glorious weather day planting 3 shrubs (for hedge) in the dog yard behind the spa where the fence blew down. After I planted them I couldn't help changing things and shaped the whole back yard into a semi circle for easier mowing and it looks great. I have to pick up bark Monday when I get off work to finish up and I still have to staple the mow strip in.

My funny story about the pot was...
We went to Costco to see if they had any big pots, got out early to beat the rush. As we entered the store, I told DH that I needed one about the size of the one I had in the front.

and then realized that I could use the one in the front, I never planted anything in in. I looked at DH and said "we can go home now" We still looked at the pots and they had wonderful giant ones for $50.00, but we left saving the 50 and then spent it on hedge bushes instead.

I burned a lot of dead pampas grass yesterday and reduced my Green bin pick-up. Worried for a little while that the fire Dept would come (smoke) but no Hot Firemen showed up

also no Fine

DH went to play poker last night and pulled a hamstring,(

) so he sat and iced all day, but keep me company.

The dogs love the new fence!

KUXJ · Oct 19, 2009, 12:05 AM

I usually have a bottle of that glue around also, I don't know 'bout you, but I usually end up with it on my fingers, an then half to use something like finger nail polish remover or gas to remove it.

Yes it finally was a sunny day here too. Started raining Thursday morning 'bout 5am, and didn't finally stop until this morning (Sunday) around 11am, total rain 3.86"

You were guided by providence to improve your yard, can't wait to see the new layout!
Do you get the bark in bags or do you have a truck, and load it?

Now how did you ever have a container that you didn't have something planted in it?

We're always making shopping lists for when we go, but 10% of the time we'll end up leaving it at home, well, its good you had the money for the bushes, We like when it works out like that to.

All it takes is one neighbor. Do like I do when I burn, and put some potatoes in the fire, and if the fire co. does show up I tell 'em I'm having a B-B-Q.

Still your fortunate, I can only imagine how strict they are where your at.

What! Was DH going for an inside straight?

Had one of those once, their no fun

Always helps to raise the bonding quotient.

Yay! for the pooches.

Just Dahlia · Oct 19, 2009, 08:10 AM

Oh and I forgot...
I saved all the worms I found and put them in my new compost bin.

Just Dahlia · Oct 19, 2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KUXJ

I usually have a bottle of that glue around also, I don't know 'bout you, but I usually end up with it on my fingers, an then half to use something like finger nail polish remover or gas to remove it.

Yes, I'm going to attempt to use gloves this time

Yes it finally was a sunny day here too. Started raining Thursday morning 'bout 5am, and didn't finally stop until this morning (Sunday) around 11am, total rain 3.86"

You were guided by providence to improve your yard, can't wait to see the new layout!
Do you get the bark in bags or do you have a truck, and load it?

We got rid of our truck for gas price purposes, so I get it in bags now, but the most I get is 4 at a time.

All it takes is one neighbor. Do like I do when I burn, and put some potatoes in the fire, and if the fire co. does show up I tell 'em I'm having a B-B-Q.

Still your fortunate, I can only imagine how strict they are where your at.

Almost everyone has fire pits, portable and in ground or Chimanias, I think they are allowed since they are sold everywhere. So I just burn the stuff in the portable one. I save the small pieces for the table fire pit.
Although in some months of winter there are 'No burn days' So when it's cold and we want a fire in the fireplace, we have to check.
.

I'm not trimming my roses till February, but have you ever heard of using a wire brush lightly on the root ball to allow more sun to the plant

One of the rose experts around here does that and I can't seem to find anything about it, so I haven't tried it yet. I asked this question last year, but got no responses.

Edit: It's been raining all morning, so I won't be able to get my bark down today, plus my house is probably now filled with mud from the pups.

KUXJ · Oct 19, 2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

I saved all the worms I found and put them in my new compost bin.

Have I got the composter for you!! Only $249bucks. Sawer on "Ask This Old House"

Rotating Sphere Composter with Base

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Dahlia

I'm not trimming my roses till February, That's what I told J_9 in her post

but have you ever heard of using a wire brush lightly on the root ball to allow more sun to the plant

One of the rose experts around here does that and I can't seem to find anything about it, so I haven't tried it yet.
Can't say that I have, It is a muti-purpose tool

Usually used for cleaning tools. Is this hearsay? or can you contact him to ask why he uses it.
I can't picture him using a 4" angle grinder, but maybe a small brass brush, like a toothbrush. I could accept the reason that it would clean out, and at the same time stimulate the root system.

I asked this question last year, but got no responses.

I wasn't here last year.

I'll keep lookin'

Edit: It's been raining all morning, so I won't be able to get my bark down today, plus my house is probably now filled with mud from the pups.
I'm still trying to break out of my cabin fever from last week



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