A “Senior” Moment

Look at how meticulous these three trees are pruned -

I’ve been walking by this house for weeks now and noticed early on how meticulous the yard is maintained. A big fenced in veggie garden, well manicured lawn, nice shrubs and flower beds and oodles of bird houses and other lawn decorations carefully placed throughout, not gaudy looking. 

So, I was not surprised to see an elderly man atop a step ladder trimming these trees the other morning. He certainly has an eye for details, as the three trees look identical, evenly trimmed without a branch out of place -

I was further convinced of his meticulous eye yesterday, when I watched him fetch his trash barrel from the curb and proceed to wash and rinse out the inside. I mean c’mon, NOT many people do this, there’s just a handful of US 😉

He could very well be my doppelgänger!

I asked if he needed any help but he politely declined but I made sure to compliment his work…

Never Ending Lawn Upkeep!

We've had a couple of gorgeous days recently - today and yesterday, perfect!

Yesterday was about puttering in the yard; weeding, edging, pruning, trimming and ended with some front yard sitting, relaxing taking in the blue sky and enjoying the fruits of my labor -

Today, I mowed my lawn after work.  It really didn't need to be mowed and could have gone a couple more days before really needing it.  However, I'm headed to Chicago mid week, and it would have definitely been too long by the time I return. Truth be told, it's gonna need to be cut when I get back...

Luv the look and smell of a fresh cut lawn; MY fresh cut lawn!

#Blessed

Same But Different

So, I'm changing it up this spring\summer to see if I can get better results and opted to go with a different 4-step lawn fertilizer product, Jonathan Green.

For years now I've always bought Scott's 4-step. Although it's worked fine for the most part, I was always a tad disappointed in the end results, which certainly could have been my fault when I applied each step.

Anyway, we'll see if this products does any better.  It was a tad cheaper, guessing because you're not paying for the "Scott's" name.

I picked up the 15,000 square foot bags last Tuesday morning, then went home and applied step-1 to my entire lawn.  Step-1 is a fertilizer that is also to prevent crabgrass from germinating, as well as it kills existing crabgrass too.  Hoping I applied it at the correct time and hoping the snow and rainy days we've had will help soak this product into the soil so it can start working.

I'll apply step-2 when the dandelions, clover and other weeds start actively growing.

Fingers crossed.

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho

I spent yesterday afternoon in the yard, taking care of chores.

I did a bit of tree limb pruning, raking and mowing!

Although, the lawn is brown and beat up in spots from the lack of rain we've had, I still like how it looks when it's freshly cut.  Especially now with the leaves falling it doesn't stay clean for very long.  Since we've had our for frost, the leaves will begin to turn and start dropping even faster.

I piled the trailer even higher with the limbs I cut!  It's a good full load now, tied down and ready to be taken to the town recycle center -

For those keeping track, like me but of course, this was the 20th lawn cutting of the season!

** UPDATE: ** We took the trailer to the town recycle center this afternoon and ALL was dumped; it's gone!

Dry As A Bone Around These Parts!

UGH!  Look at my lawn, brown, dried up and brittle!

I don't recall when we last had a good rain but I can tell you that we've not had any measurable rainfall in September and here it is the 16th.

Everything is bone dry, even in my gardens not a single earthworm to be found.  On the positive side, I don't need to mow it nearly as much.

Weeders Needed

Even rooftop lawns in the big city, about 20+ stories up, have to deal with the dreaded dandelions!

Pesky little buggers -

Guess What Time It Is!

Saturday morning is errand day and this morning was no different, as I made 6 separate stops, and back home before 10AM!

Today was a good day in terms of most of the people I encountered were pleasant.  Must be something in the air because I found it unusual but it was a welcome change.  Regardless, I loathe most people, so the less I need to see and interact with them the better!

I picked up the following at one of my stops.  Seems I have my work cut out for me - 

I will be heading out shortly to get the lime spread.  I really should have my soil tested but until then I'm hoping the lime will help reduce the moss that's creeping in everywhere.

I'll put the Scotts Step1 fertilizer down in the next week or two.

And were off, happy spring!

Rakey Rakey!

I spent several hours this past Sunday afternoon, and again after work yesterday, raking my front yard, and I have the blisters to prove it too!  I didn't rake the entire lawn, you can tell in the picture below where I raked.  Basically under the trees: the oak trees!

My goal was to rake and remove as many acorns as possible! There are a ton of acorns this year, as compared to last! Could it indicate a tough winter ahead, hmmm?!?!

Now there is some old weather folklore about an overproduction of acorns leading to a harsh winter ahead. The problem is the cycle just doesn't work out all the time and there is little correlation. Some years we have tons of acorns and we have a mild winter, then other years few acorns and a harsh winter

We'll see come spring 2024 if there was a correlation this year.

I've filled my green landscape barrel twice.  Not all acorns but believe me there are oodles of them in there!

What I am trying to avoid is the acorns taking root in my lawn, which has already begun.  Many have already started rooting, see below pic example, into the soil and the raking helps rip them out.  If not removed now they'll be harder to remove later and come spring there will be little oaks popping up all over the lawn, no no no!

Also, removing the acorns now helps keep the chipmunks and squirrels from foraging and digging up the lawn, as well as the deer coming to feed on them and pooping all over, which there are several loads out there now, UGH!

Water Water Everywhere and Not A Drop to Drink

Oh my poor brown lawn, alas.

We've not had much rain to speak of these last couple of months.  That and it being so darn hot and humid have been a perfect combination for deadness.

Good news is I don't need to cut it that often...

Mulch Mulch Baby!

I bought this pair of mulching blade this spring and have installed on the ride mower.  I'm going to give these a try in concert with not bagging the clippings.  We've been in the house for 20 years now and up until this point 99% of the grass cutting has been bagged.  Hoping to see an improvement in the lawn, as the clipping break down and add additional nutrients.

I've cut the lawn about a 6 times now with this blade on and so far so good.  No clumps of grass in the lawn but I'm also trying to cut it sooner rather than later for that reason.

Lawn Thatching - Done!

It's really hard to tell in these pics but I spent hours de-thatching my lawn.  Although, in some pics it doesn't look like much was done, however, the amount of thatch I pulled and picked up is quote amazing.  Hoping the proof is in the end-results, when the warm weather finally arrives and stays and the lawn starts to grow.

Front lawn - 

Side Lawn -

Side Lawn - 

Pile of thatch! Important to note that this is NOT all of it.  Several tracker bags full went directly into the compost pile, as well as several bags were spread in and around the garlic that is starting to poke through the soil.  This will help keep the moisture in and the weeds out -

Fertilizer, Scott's Step-1 is the next task...

Take A Little Off The Top!

Well, it's that time of year again, pruning time!

In an effort to keep our weeping cherry tree in check so it doesn't get too squirrelie and out of control, I spend several hours trimming and pruning, from top to bottom and everything in between.  When done it always looks nice and neat, ready for the fall.

Before -

After -

TA-DA!

And Off We Go...

Took advantage of a day off work to head over to my folks place for an afternoon of yard cleanup.  My awesome neighbor, and BFF, offered to help so I jumped at the chance.

We loaded both of our mowers onto his perfect fit trailer and off we went -

Charlie's Place before -

Charlie's Place after - 

Took us about 4-hour to mow the entire lawn, both cutting the grass and at the same time sucking up the leaves. Although, drab coloring with winter upon us, our worked made a difference; the lawn looks so much better.  Hoping this improves it's curb appeal.

We loaded the mowers back onto the trailer, tidied up using the leaf blower then headed into neighboring Dedham for lunch.  A new place named Roadworthy, founded in 2016, and inspired by wacky food trucks and eccentric mobile street vendors.  Roadworthy is the outlandish destination for fun and delicious foods.  The steak & cheese egg rolls were terrific!

Two thumbs up for lunch and yard work!

2017 Spring Yard Improvements Underway

I figured it was time to address the bare spots in the front yard and take advantage of the spring showers.   This area was home to two spruce that we took down back in the fall of 2015.  They were getting too big, both tall and in circumference, and growing up into the electrical and cable wires running to the house and taking up too much area, so down they came.

Before -

(3) yards of loam delivered, which worked out to 15 heaping wheelbarrows full, and a sore back -

 (15) wheelbarrow loads piled -

 Raked smooth and level and Pennington grass seed sowed -

C'mon spring rains and grass sprouts!!

Smile Trixie!

It's been a hot, humid and very dry summer here in New England.

I down in the "dumps"!  Just look at what it's done to our front lawn, burnt up something terrible.

Good news is there hasn't been a need to mow the grass.

If given the choice I'd rather have it golf course green with the need to mow every week.

The Banquet Beer

We sure could use some long overdue rain.  It's dry as a bone here, as you can see by my burnt up front lawn, alas.

On the positive side, I'm hydrating myself...

Augusta Eat Your Heart Out!

Our lawn looks incredible this Spring!

A nice dark green.

It's loving the weather this Spring.  Also, the fertilizer and TLC it's been receiving.

You can see from the picture below, see red arrow, the approximate property line.  I set the spreader to only spread the fertilizer on our side and as you can see, what a difference it makes!

Here's a nice picture of the Maple trees we planted some 15 or so years ago.  They were babies back then, no thicker than your arm.  However, today they're monsters and doing great.  I'm still loving the red green red green placement.

Darn it!

Darn snowplow driver!

We made it through the entire winter without and damage to the lawn.  Of course, I put away the driveway markers, we have a spring snow storm and there goes a strip of lawn.  Ripped up by the plow, UGH!

It's a good thing I don't pay him.  I think I'll bring this up the next time we're over his house (every Friday night) drinking his beer and eating the pizza he buys for us all.

The nerve, right!

A Little Trim

Oh, did I mention that I mowed our lawn on December 26, the day after Christmas?!

Yup I did!

Crazy right?!

Who'd-a-thunk that here in New England someone could actually mow their lawn in December!

#ivegotissuesiknow

"Green" Thumb Perhaps?!

The sod I put down on the two bare spots, from where Emilie's swing-set sat, is doing terrific.  Nice deep dark green.  It's liking and responding to the nightly hand watering it's receiving.  I'll also give myself a pat on the back for the prep I did before installing, which was to turn the soil with a shovel, mixing in some rich chicken and rabbit infused compost!

Now if we could get a good soaking from Mother Nature the rest of the lawn might green up some so there's not as much of a contrast.