MULCH, ROCK, AND TELEPHONE POLES

Mulch

It’s been a busy weekend and I’m glad I have today (SUNDAY) off! My Sunday client is in rehab, so I have Sundays off for a couple of weeks. On Friday – during the tornado threat, thunderstorms, and just overall bad weather – my boyfriend and I went to the county landfill and got a load of free mulch. Every Friday during the month of April, they give away free mulch. I typically prefer river rock, but there are a couple of gardens that I would mulch.

I wasn’t really planning on getting any mulch. It should be replaced every year. I don’t, it is just a pain. It does help in moisture and weed control. Rock does the same thing, and it doesn’t need to be replaced every year. In fact, rock also helps with erosion. Which is why I prefer rock.

It’s raining right now (Sat), so I’m not sure how much outside/yard work will get done. That’s mother nature for you!

At the landfill, they load up a front loader and dump it in the back of the truck or trailer, which ever you have. We saw people there with shovels, loading it in the back of their minivans. I guess that’s always an option. If I had done that with my little Chevy Aveo, I would’ve had to go every weekend during the month. And then, I probably wouldn’t have had enough.

My boyfriend unloaded the truck on Sunday. It didn’t take very long. I would’ve helped, but I had already taken my shower. Before he even got started, I ran to WalMart and got myself a new camera! My old one bit the dust. These pictures were taken with my cell phone. I love having options!

Telephone Poles and Rock

The telephone poles will be sunk in the ground and used as a sort of border. They’re pretty much where they’re supposed to be, maybe a little closer to the rock.

My dad used old telephone poles for the dog pens for as long as I can remember. Last summer, my boyfriend cut them off (stumps are still in the ground) and we propped them up against the camper – which is currently being used as storage. One of the posts we’re going to put close to the property line with a no trespassing sign. That leaves two more to do something with. I might put them up close the the driveway at the end of the rock footpath. Who knows!!

The telephone poles will – hopefully – help keep grass from growing into the footpath. I could’ve gone to the railroad station and gotten some railroad ties for pretty cheap, but I already have the poles. They’ll last forever!!! These poles have been in the ground since we moved into the house in 1990, and before that at the old house.

The grass in the backyard isn’t as bad as the grass in front. I’ve complained about it for years! Ever since I started doing the gardening when mom couldn’t anymore. The gardens in the back are pretty clean compared to the gardens out front.

My dad told me it’s wire grass (the people who built this house planted it). I’ve looked it up but can’t find that specific grass – but it’s horrible! It grows under sidewalks and as far down as you can dig, its roots are there. I don’t know how I’m going to totally get rid of it, but I’m determined to.

I’ll leave you with this for today…

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul”

– Alfred Austin

“I’m a dirty girl in the garden”

I saw this on a tshirt in a magazine – I love it!!! (Did you know that dirt/mud helps to keep mosquitoes and bugs away? Just slather it on exposed skin, anywhere you want…no more bugs!!!!)