Update on massive lawn project

[KeithInSpace]

...hire the sprinkler system out...

10-4 on that. When you see them install it, I PROMISE your thought will be, "Gee willickers, I could have NEVER done it THAT nice!"

Except you won't use "Gee willickers".

At least that's the thought that went through my head. And my wife's. And my neighbor's. And my parent's. And my brother's. And my friend's. Well, you get the point.

Install it yourself on 0.18 acres. Otherwise, hire a pro.

 

[Harry c]

Wondering how much off I could get if he leaves the stumps and I rip them with the BX. Not too worried about the pines stumps, but something tells me that hickory stump will be some work. It's got to be 60feet and about 2ft at the base.

I had a Hickory about that same size. I had a climber put it on the ground and I handled it from there. I considered digging out the stump but it was fairly close to my concrete drive. I used the BX24 to dig all the way around the stump then cut the stump off well below the surface with a chain saw. Sooner or later it'll slowly sink as the wood rots away. It's been 2 years and no settling yet. I have some other stumps that were covered before I bought the property. They needed filling once about 2 years ago. It's not much trouble to just add a little dirt. If you use sand or a sandy topsoil and fill when it sinks a couple of inches, the grass just grows right through.

 

[asylum575]

10-4 on that. When you see them install it, I PROMISE your thought will be, "Gee willickers, I could have NEVER done it THAT nice!"

Except you won't use "Gee willickers".

Keith, I'm originally from Brooklyn, NY so it may sound like
"fuggedaboutit"
I don't have the accent, so most of my neighbors thinks I grew up in the sticks.
But, your right, I installed a sprinkler system at my boat club and was not really happy with it. Knowing what I know now, even though I would plan it better, it would still take up more time than I'm willing to spend.

 

[Charlesaf3]

I haven't found any critter issue on the grass. But 3" isn't 4.5"... (not to say I don't let it get that high before mowing, I just know I don't mow often enough!)

It also really hurts the lawn to cut more than a third off at once. You'll find a lawn frequently mowed at 3" needs little in the way of anything, and certainly no poison. The taller grass has a proportionately deeper root system, so more water access. It also shades the ground, which keeps it cooler and helps prevent weed seeds from germinating.

(I assume you know about deep watering - water rarely and for a long time on developed grass)

There's a lot of good stuff out there on this. You'll find its easier, cheaper, and healthier to work with the grass rather than making it a lab experiment.

And I just wouldn't put poison down on something my kids were playing on. They regularly find "oops, we thought it was safe, until everyone who touched it got cancer"

Don't get me wrong, I deal with a lot of poisonous materials. Sometimes you have to use hazardous stuff. But it seems silly to me to use it when you don't have to.

Your lawn is beautiful by the way!

 

[KeithInSpace]

Your lawn is beautiful by the way!

Thank you very, very much. After 3 weeks solid of rain, it keeps looking better.

I had to keep the kids off the lawn for an entire WEEK because those little white pellets wouldn't melt.

I think I'll measure the grass and try to cut it a little higher. Let you know how it works out.

 

[Bigtwin]

@KeithInSpace,

Can you post pics of your deer proof garden?

 

[KeithInSpace]

Can you post pics of your deer proof garden?

Standby. Dark now...can't take pics. Perhaps I'll start a new thread for that.

 

[Bigtwin]

We're about to move into our new place and the deer are plentiful. I want a garden and need to figure out how to protect the garden without putting 10 ft fence around it

 

[KeithInSpace]

...The BX24 is busy moving fill and pulling stumps. My pickup is RWD and will get stuck if I try to bring my chipper out back. Removing the BH on the BX to move the chipper seems like a waste, because once I'm back there I'll need the BH for stumps. What to do?

Mr. Asylum 575, I forgot to mention the handy "attach a ball to your backhoe" thought. It's not perfect, but definitely a little cheaper than a second machine and works pretty good in a pinch. Should be amply sufficient for your chipper.