Too much work !!

[RSKY]

I got my tractor as a retirement gift for myself in 2011. A bright shiny new Kioti CK20S hydro. The first two years I had it I did much landscaping in my front and back yards. Dirt dug out to put a trailer storage area in the back was moved a bucket at a time to become flower filled landscaping in the front. I was in my late fifties when I did all this.

Now I'm seventy years old. And on my second dump truck of mulch to cover all this landscaping. Yep, two single axle dump truck loads of dark brown mulch. And I'm not finished yet. Go thru and pull out the unwanted weeds and vegetation. Use Roundup on the small stuff. Dump a scoop of mulch and rake it out even. Then down on hands and knees to uncover the smaller Hosta and other plants. Repeat. Repeat again. And repeat the process again. I'm afraid I may have to spend some of my kids inheritance to hire this done the next time.

But it looks good.

RSKY

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

What? No pics? .....

 

[drssg]

It doesn't get any easier.

My sister hired someone to mulch the landscaping around her house, because she had some hip issues and was finding it difficult.

She felt rather embarrassed when the guy that showed up was older than her.

 

[oosik]

I know exactly how you feel -RSKY. I traded up to a larger tractor - able to do larger projects. I'm 82 now and I would like to be able to relax a little more.

I'm right in the middle of a rather large project. Using the tractor and grapple to tear down two old homestead structures. Using the tractor is not the tough part.

The old homesteader NEVER saw a nail or spike he didn't like. I have now swept this area four times with my metal detector. I get a bucket of nails and spikes each time. Scruffing up old nails and spikes - not easy, not fun.

The poor R-1 tires on the M6040 quiver and shake each time I go into this old building area. So far - no flats.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Mulch does look good but it's getting expensive to replace every few years. As you say, even with a tractor to move it around, there is still a lot of effort required to rake it out.

My wife and I have been mulching our front yard for over a decade. We're in our 70's now and the work is getting harder for us to manage. A couple of years ago, we started converting sections of the yard to hardscape. We put down landscape cloth and covered it with various types of decorative stone. The tractor makes it easy to move and put down the stone and once done, it's maintenance free.

For a little added decoration, I pulled some large stones from other locations around the property and placed them in the hardscaped areas.

We still use some mulch it areas around the hardscape, but it's a little less each year.

 

[dadohead]

INow I'm seventy years old. And on my second dump truck of mulch to cover all this landscaping. Yep, two single axle dump truck loads of dark brown mulch. And I'm not finished yet. Go thru and pull out the unwanted weeds and vegetation. Use Roundup on the small stuff. Dump a scoop of mulch and rake it out even. Then down on hands and knees to uncover the smaller Hosta and other plants. Repeat. Repeat again. And repeat the process again.

Ha! We're doing the exact same thing! Second load of dark brown oak mulch coming today. Wife and I are 65 and 66. Weeks like this still beat having to go to the gym and walk!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I used crushed limestone when I landscaped around my barn. The new home, I'll do the same. I'm 47 and already see mulching as the name of my existence as I age

 

[Diggin It]

I won't use wood mulch. Doesn't last and draws bugs, regardless of what anybody says.

I'd like to use rubber mulch in a couple of areas, but I can't get it delivered in bulk and bags are too expensive at stores .... around $10 each.

 

[kenmac]

Well, I'm not your age, but I use to have no problem grabbing a shovel and digging a trench for anything, like a drainage pipe, etc,. Well, as I get older, I figured I'd get some help. So like you, I spent some of my kids inheritance, and purchased a mini excavator to dig those trenches and other needs !

 

[MossRoad]

I got my tractor as a retirement gift for myself in 2011. A bright shiny new Kioti CK20S hydro. The first two years I had it I did much landscaping in my front and back yards. Dirt dug out to put a trailer storage area in the back was moved a bucket at a time to become flower filled landscaping in the front. I was in my late fifties when I did all this.

Now I'm seventy years old. And on my second dump truck of mulch to cover all this landscaping. Yep, two single axle dump truck loads of dark brown mulch. And I'm not finished yet. Go thru and pull out the unwanted weeds and vegetation. Use Roundup on the small stuff. Dump a scoop of mulch and rake it out even. Then down on hands and knees to uncover the smaller Hosta and other plants. Repeat. Repeat again. And repeat the process again. I'm afraid I may have to spend some of my kids inheritance to hire this done the next time.

But it looks good.

RSKY

Similar issues... I was 40 when I bought my machine. Now I'm 63. You'd think in 23 years we'd get these landscaping projects done!

 

[oldballs]

You guys wait till you are over ninety as I am.......living alone......doing all the indoor and outdoor chores.......

Thanks be to God I can still take care of things and myself. My two Kubotas, Case and attachments help me get by from day to day.......but it ain't easy. I'd love to be 89 YO again. I don't use the axe, the mattock, the shovels, the hoe etc much anymore and quit shoveling snow.

Took 2 one hour naps today and not going outside in this 88 degree heat for nuttin.

Yet, two weeks ago, I fell two dead pines and burned the slash from several wind storms....

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Thomas]

I got my tractor as a retirement gift for myself in 2011. A bright shiny new Kioti CK20S hydro. The first two years I had it I did much landscaping in my front and back yards. Dirt dug out to put a trailer storage area in the back was moved a bucket at a time to become flower filled landscaping in the front. I was in my late fifties when I did all this.

Now I'm seventy years old. And on my second dump truck of mulch to cover all this landscaping. Yep, two single axle dump truck loads of dark brown mulch. And I'm not finished yet. Go thru and pull out the unwanted weeds and vegetation. Use Roundup on the small stuff. Dump a scoop of mulch and rake it out even. Then down on hands and knees to uncover the smaller Hosta and other plants. Repeat. Repeat again. And repeat the process again. I'm afraid I may have to spend some of my kids inheritance to hire this done the next time.

But it looks good.

RSKY

Once being retire sometimes one has towonder how the got the thing I want to list done and still work 40+ hour job.

 

[5030]

next month, I'm 75 and if any of you want to come here to the farm and help me cut, rake and bale hay, come on... I'll even pay you 15 bucks an hour and my wife will feed you as well and I provide the beverages, just not any alcoholic. really, it's 100 % tractor work and the tractor that runs the bailer is climate controlled, has an air ride seat and a killer FM radio as well. PM me if interested....

 

[oosik]

RISKY - a lot of us would consider you as still a "YOUNG-ONE". I live alone, try to take good care of myself and not do anything too stupid.

I take less chances - now that I'm alone out here. Things that I use to jump right on - now are just a minor irritant and left for Mother Nature to handle.

Be careful - be safe - live long.

 

[RSKY]

RISKY - a lot of us would consider you as still a "YOUNG-ONE". I live alone, try to take good care of myself and not do anything too stupid.

I take less chances - now that I'm alone out here. Things that I use to jump right on - now are just a minor irritant and left for Mother Nature to handle.

Be careful - be safe - live long.

Good advice.

Now that half load of mulch remaining is on hold. We started painting the master bedroom last week when it was so hot and have run into problems. Gotta cut, paint, and install NEW baseboards. Old ones in terrible shape. One year old granddaughter sick and we're keeping her all week. Two other grands here for three days also. And I've GOT to get the eleven posts pounded into the ground to install fence sections for the pole type green beans in the garden.

Time to prioritize and not start another job until all these complete.

RSKY

 

[oosik]

Well - yesterday I got all the old homestead buildings ( 2 ) torn down - scooped up - moved to my winter burn pile. I MADE IT without picking up any nails in the tractor tires. This fall when it cools down - more sweeps with the metal detector to get any last nails/spikes.

I'm going to borrow the neighbors pto rototiller and scuff up the old homestead building area. Bring up the last of the nails/spikes.

No matter what I do. This area will always be a NO GO area for the tractor in the future. It's simply unbelievable how many nails/spikes I've found so far. He must have dropped 2 or 3 for every one he hammered in to these old buildings. I've never seen so many square shanked spikes and nails.

 

[Snobdds]

Well I went into the office at 7, and worked until 5:30, yesterday.

Then went home and mowed the lawn for two hours.

Watered all the flowers for the misses since she is out of town on Business.

Took a business call at 8 for a client in Singapore.

Took the dog for a walk at 9.

Had dinner at 9:45.

Went to bed at 11.

My schedule is like this most days...

 

[scootr]

next month, I'm 75 and if any of you want to come here to the farm and help me cut, rake and bale hay, come on... I'll even pay you 15 bucks an hour and my wife will feed you as well and I provide the beverages, just not any alcoholic. really, it's 100 % tractor work and the tractor that runs the bailer is climate controlled, has an air ride seat and a killer FM radio as well. PM me if interested....

I'm on my way - just don't tell my wife or dog.

 

[ponytug]

Well - yesterday I got all the old homestead buildings ( 2 ) torn down - scooped up - moved to my winter burn pile. I MADE IT without picking up any nails in the tractor tires. This fall when it cools down - more sweeps with the metal detector to get any last nails/spikes.

I'm going to borrow the neighbors pto rototiller and scuff up the old homestead building area. Bring up the last of the nails/spikes.

No matter what I do. This area will always be a NO GO area for the tractor in the future. It's simply unbelievable how many nails/spikes I've found so far. He must have dropped 2 or 3 for every one he hammered in to these old buildings. I've never seen so many square shanked spikes and nails.

Speaking from experience, even rototilling isn't going to get them all. At least fifty years later, I'm still picking up loose nails from construction here, and that doesn't count the three or four times a year that I run a magnetic sweeper over the area. (Livestock in the area.)

I wonder if the prior barns burned down before being rebuilt. Any history of an older trading post on the site? (Would have been a great site next to the lake...)

All the best,

Peter

 

[Oaktree]

A couple of years ago, we started converting sections of the yard to hardscape. We put down landscape cloth and covered it with various types of decorative stone. The tractor makes it easy to move and put down the stone and once done, it's maintenance free.

No such thing as maintenance free. How long before dust (windblown or piggybacking on rain/snow) starts to accumulate and wind-blown seeds take root? It'll happen.
To me, lawn is about the lowest maintenance. I'm not talking about a fancy manicured "city" lawn with only certain types of grass, I mean what we call "north country green" around here...a mix of grass, dandelions, clover, various wildflowers and whatever else grows there. Keep it mowed, and it looks fine from 10+' away.