670 rolls of sod, a rake & a 10 year old son???

[KiotiJohn]

Hey Junkman, I was just wondering where you've been. I haven't seen a lot from you lately.
Just down the street from me is a small sod business. They keep a fine mister on the sod when they don't get it out quickly, and I've noticed it can be around for several days that way.
I hope your friend realizes that the ground is going to have to be somewhat broken up for the roots to be able to penetrate well, and that the ground should be watered well before laying it. We use mostly St. Augustine grass around this area, and I usually just cut up sod and plug it as it will fill in the areas pretty quickly. Saves a lot of money and time and works great. Of course, he's already got it coming and he's going to have a heck of a job getting it in.
LWFrisk I hope your prognosis is good and that you find full recovery in a hurry. Having worked critical care oncology and stem cell, I can imagine what you're going through. Sounds like you have the right attitude: Stay strong as possible, stay busy and work hard. Best of luck, John

 

[LWFrisk]

Junkman

I don't think that particular mountain has a name, just part of the Cuyamachas. I is just north of my home, maybe a half mile away. I am attaching a photo of my son on a John Deere 425 and a load of vinyl fencing. The valley and mountain behind him is called Eagle Peak. It is the mountain the Cedar Firestorm 2003 came racing down last fall. It looked like lava jumping and tumbling down. It is probably two to three miles away and it took less than 15 minutes to get here. We love where we live as there are only a couple of houses between us and the Cuyamacha National Forest and will never be more populated than it is now. We call it "our little bit of heaven" The fire burned around both sides of us including the brown mountain you asked about.

We are 35 miles north east of San Diego. High desert about 3300 feet above sea level. Snowed here twice in the past 7 years, gets up to 105 degrees in the summer. I was born and raised in Iowa, so I love the temperature, a little of both extremes.

Leo in San Diego

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Morning Bob,

It looks like your bud is in for a lesson in living. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But like Leo said, it's just work, and work is what we do.

If he's as green as you say this will be an adventure of a lifetime for the boy. If we could just each get a dime for every time this story will be told you and me could supplement our Social Security a plenty.

I just hope they accept it and embrace it for what it is. It would be nice if the father has a stubborn streak that keeps him moving long after the body has submitted unaminonous vote after unaminonous vote for quitting. That the son sees it and learns that one can do what seems impossible if one just keeps one's head down.

The kid might cuss his dad under his breath at the time. But one day the son will face an obstacle and just about the moment he's ready to admit defeat he'll remember that darn lawn and he'll make another attempt to overcome.

It's funny how a parent can affect a kid.

When I took off the end of my right thumb with the table saw fluting my deck my first response was to dial 9-1-1.

Then I remembered the time working with my dad and he split his little finger. It looked like he'd laid his hand down and hit the little finger lengthwise with a cleaver.

I wanted to vomit when he showed me. He calmly walked over to the water tap and washed it off. Then we wrapped it with some rags and took him to the hospital. A couple of hours later we were back working.

Then there was the time my grandpa lost three of four fingers to a buzz saw cutting cordwood. He walked out to the road and hitched a ride to the hospital.

There's a family tradition of not giving in to pain.

So I put all the tools away and climbed into my sixty nine chevy one ton and drove myself to the hospital. And like my father, went back to fluting decking a couple of hours later.

I hope it works well for them. They succeed in getting the sod down and it almost kills them doing so.

Hard work is a hussey. But worth every dime you have to pay her.

 

[Junkman]

Harv...... I never thought of loosing fingers as being hereditary!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Mogombus]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yes, and you must remember, "Green side up!"
Cliff )</font>

Doh! So that was my problem... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Molerj]

Why did I do it myself? I wanted it done my way, because I could
Hi LW, I like your way of thinking. I bet ol Dad outworked the youngen too! But like others said, he will grow up knowing what it means to work hard & do a job that he is proud of when he is done. (I think he may know that already) Good job, & I hope you enjoy your house & yard for many yrs. to come. Good luck.

 

[RMAL]

Awesome job LWFrisk.A hard working man can get the job done.I can see you are not afraid of work.Projects should not be judged right or wrong as everyone has their own reasons.My 80yr old neighbor is breaking up his concrete drive with a sledghammer and wheelbarrow(I wound not do it that way)but who am to say,he has his health and more $$ in the bank then I have.Mr. Frisks best of heath to you and your family.
Al

 

[imported_OWDouglas]

It may take him a while, but next year at this time him and his 11 year old son will enjoy playing catch on THIER lawn. A good sense of pride doing it yourself when others laugh.

 

[RMAL]

Very good opinion OWD ,growing up I pushed a non-gas -reel lawn mower....built character ..not excuses,

Al

 

[Grassgod]

I own a landscape company. I started in 93' prior to that I woked for a large landscape company. Depending on the temperature outside, Sod will last no more then 3 days rolled up at 75 degrees max. deduct a day to that per 10 degrees in increase of temp. If you roll the sod out somewhere other then were you intend it to be will give you an extra day or 2 of life to the sod. You also need to pre feed the sod prior to laying the sod with starter fertilizer. the sod has to be smooth with at least 1" of loose soil under it. Pre moistening the siol is a bonus but not crusial. I install new lawns very often, if installed properly it will be the best lawn on the block. You will need a sod knife to cut rounded corners & around the patio. when you cut them, flip the sod over & cut the dirt side first.
Best of luck.