Landscaping Projects

[casts_by_fly]

looking good!

 

I've just about got all of my grass grown back in.  The side yard (pictures above) looks great and is getting weekly cuts now.  I'm keeping it around 2-2.5" and liking that length.  The pool grass is doing well with the manual reel mower this summer.  I was thinking about doing some leveling today to start the process.  I bet it needs a couple yards of soil/sand to do it all and it has to be wheel barrowed from the driveway (about 40 yards) so that's going to be fun...  The rest of the grass that was torn up from machines and dogs during construction is all green now aside from one part that doesn't get sunlight.  Its got a dense shade mix and its growing, it just takes a little longer.  

[casts_by_fly]

next big project finished- fresh mulch out front.  We've converted all of the mulch in the back to river rock.  Now we just have the front landscaping in black mulch.  It took 2 full yards (1 ton in weight terms) and I could have used another half yard.  the bit not covered though is out of sight so I'm not that worried.

 

Next up is a couple tons of topsoil and sand to start leveling out the yard in places.  I think if I tried to do it all it would take ~10 tons but I'm not going that far.  Small bites...

[Jar11591]

Slow but steady progress. Got about half the area filled with stone. Gonna need another 7 yards or so. Between work, fishing, and obligations my girlfriend makes for me it’s been slow going on this project. It’s almost complete though. Next will be dealing with the woodchuck situation after they completely took out our garden. 

[gim]

At some point, probably in July, I'm gonna have to re-stain my deck.  I don't know if that's considered a landscaping project or not.  Lord knows I did enough projects last year here right after I moved.

 

I moved last May and the house I live in now has a much bigger deck than my last house, so I anticipate it taking longer.  I will post before and after photos when I get around to it.  I need the weather to cooperate too.  I refuse to do it when its scalding hot out and I obviously can't do it in the rain either.

[casts_by_fly]

18 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Slow but steady progress. Got about half the area filled with stone. Gonna need another 7 yards or so. Between work, fishing, and obligations my girlfriend makes for me it’s been slow going on this project. It’s almost complete though. Next will be dealing with the woodchuck situation after they completely took out our garden. 

 

I too had a groundhog situation.  We don't have many but last year's litter must have done well because this year we have more than a couple around.  A small one from this year's young has decided to dig in my front grass.  I caught him out there Friday and he ran into some landscape rocks to hide and wouldn't come out.  I tried poking him with a stick to get him moving but still no.  If he keeps digging I will have to poke him with a very sharp pointy stick moving quickly.

 

15 minutes ago, gimruis said:

At some point, probably in July, I'm gonna have to re-stain my deck.  I don't know if that's considered a landscaping project or not.  Lord knows I did enough projects last year here right after I moved.

 

I moved last May and the house I live in now has a much bigger deck than my last house, so I anticipate it taking longer.  I will post before and after photos when I get around to it.  I need the weather to cooperate too.  I refuse to do it when its scalding hot out and I obviously can't do it in the rain either.

 

 

Count it!  My buddy in Atlanta just did/has been doing his deck for a couple weeks.  He replaced some boards/beams and then stained it all to match.  He works himself so that's slow.  Then atlanta weather...

[gim]

27 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

He replaced some boards/beams and then stained it all to match. 

The wood on my deck is in good shape.  Don't need to replace any boards.  Just need a new surface coat.  Already have the stain and pressure washer.  I just need to find the time to do it with the right outdoor conditions.

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

Slow but steady progress. Got about half the area filled with stone. Gonna need another 7 yards or so. Between work, fishing, and obligations my girlfriend makes for me it’s been slow going on this project. It’s almost complete though. Next will be dealing with the woodchuck situation after they completely took out our garden. 

 

2 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I too had a groundhog situation.  We don't have many but last year's litter must have done well because this year we have more than a couple around.  A small one from this year's young has decided to dig in my front grass.  I caught him out there Friday and he ran into some landscape rocks to hide and wouldn't come out.  I tried poking him with a stick to get him moving but still no.  If he keeps digging I will have to poke him with a very sharp pointy stick moving quickly.

 

 

 

Count it!  My buddy in Atlanta just did/has been doing his deck for a couple weeks.  He replaced some boards/beams and then stained it all to match.  He works himself so that's slow.  Then atlanta weather...

Got groundhogs? 
 

[Jar11591]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

 

Got groundhogs? 
 

Is there an extra charge for out of state pest removal? 

[TnRiver46]

6 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Is there an extra charge for out of state pest removal? 

Absolutely ! 

[casts_by_fly]

32 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

 

Got groundhogs? 
 

 

Sure, come sort him out.  Just make sure you bring a rod and some spinnerbaits.  

[TnRiver46]

They will walk into a cage trap with apples, it just sometimes takes longer than we think it should . Get the trap good and flat where it won’t wobble when they walk in. 

[casts_by_fly]

35 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

They will walk into a cage trap with apples, it just sometimes takes longer than we think it should . Get the trap good and flat where it won’t wobble when they walk in. 

I trapped a bunch in box traps growing up. My girlfriend‘s mom had a garden backing up against a patch of briars/woods and would have a dozen there every year. Apples and carrots were the usual bait. Every now and then you’d come up with a possum or skunk. 
 

if it comes to it with this one, that’s what I’ll do. I can relocate him to the WMA at the bottom of the hill. 

[TnRiver46]

2 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I trapped a bunch in box traps growing up. My girlfriend‘s mom had a garden backing up against a patch of briars/woods and would have a dozen there every year. Apples and carrots were the usual bait. Every now and then you’d come up with a possum or skunk. 
 

if it comes to it with this one, that’s what I’ll do. I can relocate him to the WMA at the bottom of the hill. 

Just don’t put him in a sedan because they will poo all in it hahaha

[TnRiver46]

@Jar11591 and @casts_by_fly, what you waiting on? I’m up 1 already today 

[casts_by_fly]

that's a tiny one.  it only counts half...

[TnRiver46]

14 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

that's a tiny one.  it only counts half...

They grow…… that’s number 3 from that house 

[casts_by_fly]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

They grow…… that’s number 3 from that house 

 

I guess they all pay the same no matter what size.  

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I guess they all pay the same no matter what size.  

We do offer some discounts when there are 5-6 skunks in a single trap hahaha 

[casts_by_fly]

37 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

We do offer some discounts when there are 5-6 skunks in a single trap hahaha 

Don't tempt me with a good time!  seriously though, I'd like to see how that gets handled.  Throw a disposable and heavy blanket over the trap?

[TnRiver46]

@casts_by_fly, rule number one no throwing things at caged skunks. I have some videos I’ve posted in the trapping thread. Gently, slowly, then even more slowly, put some towels over the trap. Also the traps I set for skunk are already wrapped with a thick camo tarp so they are already somewhat covered up when you get there for pickup. Handle with care, no sudden moves. If the skunk stomps it’s front feet, go sit in the truck for 15 minutes and try again 

[Jar11591]

@TnRiver46 I’ve seen at least 2 big fast bass turds. They got fat from eating all out vegetable and herbs apparently. Looking into traps but NYS has laws against wildlife relocation. May have to get the pellet gun out, against my girlfriends wishes. 

[gim]

6 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

May have to get the pellet gun out, against my girlfriends wishes. 

Tell the GF is she wants plant life vegetable herbs and flowers, the culprits have to go.  You can't have both.  I use a pellet rifle with a suppressor on it.  Its very quiet, but powerful.  It sounds like someone opening a can of beer or soda.  Use the pointed pellets too.

 

Some men run their house and some men run AROUND their house.  You decide lol

[TnRiver46]

7 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

@TnRiver46 I’ve seen at least 2 big fast bass turds. They got fat from eating all out vegetable and herbs apparently. Looking into traps but NYS has laws against wildlife relocation. May have to get the pellet gun out, against my girlfriends wishes. 

Yeah I don’t think any states want joe homeowner to relocate any wildlife, but I have a special permit. You can trap it then euthanize I would bet, it’s the relocate they don’t like 

[Jar11591]

Girlfriend told me “do what you have to do, I just don’t want to know about it”. I think she wouldn’t be as dramatic if one of our dogs didn’t just kill a baby bunny right in front of her. Left her a little traumatized so she doesn’t want any more loss of animal life lol but the garden we’ve worked hard on, growing everything from seed starting in March was completely destroyed by these fat bass turds so this means war! 

[TnRiver46]

Nobody wants loss of life, but it’s part of life