Tips to reduce property maintenance workload

[plowhog]

I maintain two rural properties each with acreage. Mowing the lawn, brush hogging, setting sprinklers, keeping water flowing through piping and infrastructure, weed eating irrigation ditches, weed eating around fences and the pond, spraying blackberries and weeds, eradicating scotch broom, and on and on. Plus maintenance on the residence.

What are some ideas on how to reduce the maintenance workload? For example, I am thinking of adding 250 ft of yard fencing for our dog. But, I do *not* want to create more work which would be a need to weed eat under the new fencing. Are there some ways to add fencing (metal) and not create a new workload to keep it clear? How could I do that?

And, beyond just fencing, what other tips and suggestions might you have to reduce workload to maintain rural properties?

 

[rustyshakelford]

Spray fence lines with herbicide to kill everything. Don’t have to weedeat that part anymore

Brett

 

[Dftodd]

Neighbor and I worked out a schedule to keep the fence line bordering our two properties maintained. Early in the year, I will weed eat both side of the fence to knock down any tall stuff. Then either he or I will run a thin swatch of herbicide down the fence line. It leaves a 4 in strip of dirt under the fence. But it sure cuts down on the time weed eating that section.

I also got permission from the land owner next door to mow a path along the fence bordering my yard and his field. Then I poison that fence line as well. Helps keep the honey suckle and poison ivy from taking over the fence. You have initial labor up front but after that, it might be little touch up spraying every 6 weeks or so depending on what you use.

I also spray in and around the AC unit and along hard to get to areas around the house and mature trees on the property. With having over 60 trees between the front and back yard, it sure saves on the old back.

 

[RNeumann]

I’ve always had a smallish yard area that was manicured and quickly faded to ah natural. That saves me from having to maintain and manicure multiple acres.

 

[oosik]

Some of my suggestions might not work so well for you. I have about three acres of "lawn" that I mow. Actually - its meadow/field grass that over 36+ years has been mowed into submission. For the first five to seven years I faithfully watered this "lawn". It responded by remaining green a little longer into the summer but eventually it would die like all the other field grass that I do not mow. In the late fall - rainy season - the field grass would come back to life and go into winter as green as ever. So..... I figured - - save water, save mowing. I quit any and all watering - the field grass dies a normal death - no more watering, no more mowing - at least for the remainder of the year.

I don't have or need any type of pto driven rotary mower. I don't have enough brush on my 80 to have a descent weenie roast. I do have one meadow - about two acres - I use to mow with my riding lawn mower. No more - its about 6 1/2 feet high right now. The deer like to feed out in this meadow - they think they are hidden - but they aren't and I enjoy watching them out the kitchen window. I do have small patches of buck brush - but it only get two feet high at the max and there is no reason to mow these patches. I often wonder why people think that every blade of grass, every tiny stick of brush, every small tree on their property needs to be mowed down. Wow - leave something for Mother Nature to manage.

 

[Oldoak]

I would not use any kind of herbicide chemicals around dog fencing. I have read where Round-up and alike cause cancer in dogs. I would rather exercise caution than to take any chances with our best friends health.

 

[Aquamoose]

Invisible fence.

I installed it for my two dogs and it has been flawless! No fence too! Visitors were amazed that they were “polite” when they didn’t realize that they were on the other side of the “fence”.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Invisible fence.

I installed it for my two dogs and it has been flawless! No fence too! Visitors were amazed that they were “polite” when they didn’t realize that they were on the other side of the “fence”.

We have the petsafe wireless containment system and It works great too. It has about a 90’ range from the base station and we added an additional one too. No wires to bury and maintain and the dogs figured it out quick

Brett

 

[bcp]

The problem with an invisible fence is that it only works with your dogs, not "visiting" dogs.

Bruce

 

[plowhog]

Invisible fence.

Unfortunately I am fencing to keep the coyotes out and create a more safe zone for my dog. It's unfortunate I need to do this but the coyote population here has exploded and it represents a real hazard.