***Official gardening, landscape and yardwork thread***

[lewdog]

We had a 2014 gardening thread and another planting trees thread. Figured it would be better just to have a general thread to share knowledge about all things yards.

I've learned stuff about growing things here in the desert from people all around the country. Post pictures and share your knowledge!

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Are those from the Florida saplings?

No, they are the same size as when you sent them! Plumeria only grow 1-2' per year, and towards the lower end of that here in the desert.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by lewdog

No, they are the same size as when you sent them! Plumeria only grow 1-2' per year, and towards the lower end of that here in the desert.

All the plumeria are growing so fast this year. I have one of those saplings I cut fell out of the trash on to the ground. No irrigation there. And life is finding a way.

[DJ's left nut]

Mother of ****.

Pea Gravel is heavy as hell and does not spread very far. I was worried about putting more than about 1,500 lbs in the bed of the truck - that's ONE damn bobcat scoop. Covered maybe 90 sq feet of area in the stupid kids play area. I'm gonna need about 3 times that to cover the half of the damn thing I'm re-doing.

And god almighty is knocking that shit out of the truck and spreading it a chore in 90 degree heat. And the good news is that the back of my house faces south so good ol' southern sun in the summer beating down...

Gross. At least it's not terribly expensive; $80/scoop wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But it's gonna take two more of those damn bed-loads to get this done. Not even a little excited about it. And in the event we ever decide to take that play area out - well **** it, I'll just sell the house. I ain't shoveling this crap into to the back of a pickup...

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

All the plumeria are growing so fast this year. I have one of those saplings I cut fell out of the trash on to the ground. No irrigation there. And life is finding a way.

Those are so awesome looking!

The cuttings you sent me are just starting to leaf out. About 50% of them are still alive which is about right. I have plunged them in pots in a raised bed under shade cloth to attempt getting them through summer.

Thanks again!

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Mother of ****.

Pea Gravel is heavy as hell and does not spread very far. I was worried about putting more than about 1,500 lbs in the bed of the truck - that's ONE damn bobcat scoop. Covered maybe 90 sq feet of area in the stupid kids play area. I'm gonna need about 3 times that to cover the half of the damn thing I'm re-doing.

And god almighty is knocking that shit out of the truck and spreading it a chore in 90 degree heat. And the good news is that the back of my house faces south so good ol' southern sun in the summer beating down...

Gross. At least it's not terribly expensive; $80/scoop wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But it's gonna take two more of those damn bed-loads to get this done. Not even a little excited about it. And in the event we ever decide to take that play area out - well **** it, I'll just sell the house. I ain't shoveling this crap into to the back of a pickup...

Go rent a dump trailer. It's worth the money.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

My aloe needs to calm TF down before they catch an indecent exposure charge

They're super excited for spring

I've learned that these are actually octopus agave

They bloom around the 5 year mark, provide nutrients to bees and hummingbirds, then die

This pic is like a month old. I'd say they're around 15' or taller now

Taking the sawzall to them this morning before they come down on their own

[Hammock Parties]

Watch your mowers. I've seen two posts on Nextdoor just this week about people having their mowers stolen out of their yards within minutes of leaving them.

[J Diddy]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I've learned that these are actually octopus agave

They bloom around the 5 year mark, provide nutrients to bees and hummingbirds, then die

This pic is like a month old. I'd say they're around 15' or taller now

Taking the sawzall to them this morning before they come down on their own

You might have a business opportunity here. “Cool your cooch with soothing aloe.”

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I'd probably try to test the pH of the soil. I don't know what the acidity tolerance of tomatoes are, but I'm sure it's googleable.

If your pH is low, lime. If you have clay under there, organic matter is your friend. Id get into the clay as much as you're tough enough to do and mix in some 50/50 manure and something like sawdust and cedar chips. And then do your topsoil/manure whatever mix for your bed. Organic matter is your friend in clay.

I'd also plant some sort of brassica in the fall when you're done. If you can get roots to penetrate it, you'll gain a shitload of water infiltration in wet spells.

God ****ing clay.

I never did get around to testing the pH and clay is not a concern in this area. I ended up mixing into the existing soil; 6 bags of bison manure, 2 bags of compost and 3 bags of potting soil I already had. I bought a small tiller so I got it all mixed in real good.

The bed is 4' x 12' and I put in a Big Boy, a Better Boy, a husky cherry and a grape tomato plant. Plus 4 different peppers; Anaheim, hot banana, serrano and some variety of jalapeno.

Sonofabitch if these aren't the best tomato plants I've ever had. They are all getting big and bushy. Not many 'maters yet on the vines, but there will be. And then that hot banana pepper is going crazy. There are already 4 big peppers on there with more starting.

[KCUnited]

Had to go Lorena Bobbitt on them but can hopefully get a couple new ones to grow