bunchofgrapes: (Adm Nelson - Getting too old for this)
bunchofgrapes ([personal profile] bunchofgrapes) wrote2007-05-25 05:29 pm
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Work would have been so much easier

So I decided to take today mostly off (still had to do a little work stuff) because I was getting this ginormous delivery of mulch (24 bags) and composted manure (12 bags) and I wanted to get the bulk of it down now instead of later. I live in an end-unit townhouse that's a bit older and is on a lot more land than the newer townhouses, which is a big reason why I haven't bought something else. I have a pretty good size backyard, side yard and front yard with a lot of beds. Anyway, everything was delivered around 10:30 this morning so soon after, I got started. I emptied all 12 bags of composted manure immediately. That was the easy part.

The mulch is in these 85 lb bags and I had to move most of it from the back yard to the front yard (I am so not getting on the treadmill later). After hauling a few bags the old fashioned way (carrying them), I remembered the combo step ladder, two-wheeler and used that to haul two bags at a time to the front yard. Except for a brief break where a friend stopped by to fix my wireless problem with my work computer (yay! Brett), I worked straight through until 4pm when I absolutely had to stop because I was about to pass out. When I finally got to the shower, I was covered in dirt. I mean it was caked on. Nasty.

And today was warm--83 degrees and humid. Luckily there was a slight breeze but that didn't deter the Virginia state birds (gnats) from attacking. I kept having to stop because the little bastards were flying into my eyes and up my nose--until I got smart and used this stuff from Smith and Hawken. It's this herbal liquid called Bug Off and it really does work! Anyway, all of the mulch is down in the front and side beds but I still have a to do in the back yard. Oh, well.

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to move tomorrow. But my yard looks fabulous!

[identity profile] tos-lover.livejournal.com 2007-05-26 04:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I got a whole load of cocoa bean mulch in for my herb garden, and I was amazed at how delicious it still smells. The cats don't like it much though.

cocoa bean mulch

[identity profile] badkarma-one.livejournal.com 2007-06-06 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you have dogs? Because cocoa bean mulch can be deadly if they ingest any.

Re: cocoa bean mulch

[identity profile] tos-lover.livejournal.com 2007-06-07 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Nope. I did my homework and got it expressly because my cats use my herb garden as their loo and as much as I love them I have a problem with them pooping and peeing on stuff I cook with. It's harmless to them, and they don't like it. Dogs love it, but no dogs have any access to my back garden. Promise.

Re: cocoa bean mulch

[identity profile] badkarma-one.livejournal.com 2007-06-07 09:25 am (UTC)(link)
I'd think I'd have a problem with cats using my veggie garden as their personal care area, too.

We don't see too many cats in our yard now that we put up a 6-ft privacy fence. Our neighborhood is much quieter now that our four dogs can't see all the activity in the surrounding yards, and it makes a nice microclimate for our roses. The roses in the back yard bloomed a full week before the roses in the front yard because of it.

Our dogs, however -- let's just say roses or no roses, they go where they wanna. I use a ton of plastic grocery bags throughout the week. Our veggies are safe -- we have three tomato plants in pots as well as two red bell pepper plants (mainly for our parrots, who love red bell peppers).