Yardening (#4)- in 2014

Take note Japanese Maple lovers there is some good news over here from Davidsan
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1340075/

Is anyone using "WiltPruf"?? Is it too late to start using it now? All the protective snow cover is gone and we're in a deep freeze. Didn't get a chance to put down the bales of straw that I usually use and now they're all frozen.

Roses, this is what the Wilt-Pruf website says: "Spray Wilt-Pruf® anytime as long as the spray does not freeze on the foliage while spraying. Allow two or three hours for drying time in daylight (not necessarily sunlight). Wilt-Pruf® is a film forming polymer and needs ultraviolet
daylight rays in order for the spray to set up or polymerize. Wilt-Pruf® Concentrate and Ready-To-Use Trigger Sprayers are not damaged by freezing or thawing when stored.
Always stir or shake well before using, just as you would with paint. An electric drill with a mixer attachment can be used to thoroughly stir a container." www.wiltpruf.com

Thanks, Happy. My concern is whether or not I'm too late since they recommend the first application in December and then another one later.

My read, Roses, is that you aren't too late -- but you need to wait until it warms up so there is a long enough period above freezing for the Wilt-Pruf to dry (3 hours?).

Looks like we'll be getting that weather this weekend!! Just ordered more WiltPruf from Amazon.com. Hope I get it on time.

I took a walk around to see if there was any obvious signs of damage from the cold. Nothing was covered up or protected from the cold (except for the bay tree, which was brought indoors).

My biggest surprise was how many plants still had most of their leaves intact.

-abelia 'Kaleidoscope,' planted in October/November
-yellow Knockout rose, planted in October/November
-Confederate jasmine, planted in October/November
-one-year-old leatherleaf viburnum 'Allegheny' (which is supposedly semi-evergreen in our area)
-native honeysuckle
-oakleaf hydrangea
-all of the heuchera, including the one in a hanging basket
-the parsley in a container!

I completely forgot to protect Kent Beauty ornamental oregano in a small container. I don't think it survived... it's looking pretty sad right now. I guess I just need to buy another one next year.

I hope everything survives, SSG! :-)

ss--

My little bay you gave me is outside---I kind of forgot about it...
The leaves all look shriveled up. I threw a pile of straw over it--but it may be too late.
Do you think the roots would re-grow a new top? I can bring it in tomorrow--
and cut it back.

Thanks, G.

Gita, I have plenty more in case you want another bay cutting in the spring.

I can't believe how luscious the winter weeds are looking right now. I think I have some weeding to do this weekend!

Yeah, you're right, the weeds are really happy for some reason. When our son was over for Christmas we were standing out at the end of the front porch and he was looking at my mint growing beside the foot of the porch steps. He said "Oooh look, Pineapple sage!", grabbed a leaf and ate it... the only problem is, I'm not growing Pineapple sage! LOL!!!!!! I have no idea what leaf he ate, but it didn't kill him, so I guess that's ok. < =/ Now I HAVE to keep teasing him about being a weed-eater. =)

ROFLOL

Heeheee, just thinking about my little weedeater, then I saw this morning's Hortiscope:

"0000: Today's Hortiscope: Looking to make some healthy changes to your diet? Your houseplants can provide inspiration; all they need is a little nutrition and plenty of water to stay healthy."

Looking to make some healthy changes in your diet? Just eat the weeds in your garden! =)

hahaha

FLASH!!!!

We, at HD, got in about 15 Black & Decker grass trimmers/edgers.

These were originally $99. and they arrived already yellow-tagged at $59.
They are cordless and come with 2 battery packs--which each would sell
for $40 separately. We have those too.
You also get a spool with line, of course. These are straight shaft.

One of the more Sr. men in our Garden (Glenn) speculated that these will, most likely,
go down in price again--b/c he said--"Why would they send us this many???

I almost bought one that same day--but will wait to see if Glenn is right.

What a deal!!!! Check out your HD and see if they also got these in.
Look for the yellow tag on the racking. $59.

Gita

Thanks, Gita...if we go out today we will check our HD. We already have one but there's such a large area that needs to get whacked here, that it would be great to have one each.

Some of us in the community are working very hard to get the sludge dumping stopped before it starts. our group has put our plight on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/NoSludge

Lots of phone calls to be made, signs to put in place, signatures to gather and money to be collected. Who knew I'd always be so busy in retirement.

By the way, I'm also involved with the spreadsheet in allthingsplants.com for the Atlas glove co-op if anyone is interested in their garden gloves and thermal gloves.

Thanks for letting us know about the ATP co-op -- I would buy, except I overstocked a few years ago and am good on gloves for a looong time.

Gita: Thanks for the heads up. Any idea what the model number is of the Black & Decker grass trimmers/edgers? There seem to be a huge range of them.

I'm actually looking for something to mow my lawn this season. I like the idea of a weedeater rather than a push mower.

Happy--
Just look for a yellow tag on the side of the shelf with $59 on it.

There may be many models--but they will not have a yellow (clearance) tag in front of it.

IF they have it--and your store may not--you will find it.
G.

Thanks -- just hoping you knew. I don't go to HD all that often....

HD is a favourite date place for DH and me. (Hmmm... HD... DH. I think I see a pattern here.) ;) Early morning iHop breakfast, then several hours at HD spending waayyyy too much money. What better day can ya have!? < =)

Sadly, I'm not in the market for any new equipment for yard maintenance, but thank you for the heads-up Gita. :)

I actually would love some advice on a weedeater. In the past I've paid someone to cut my lawn for me, but this year I want to invest in a weedeater and do it myself--save money in the long run. The guy who cut my lawn last year recommended Echo brand to me. Of course, I know *nothing* about weedeaters, or what is going to be easy for me to use, but not fall apart on me after just a few lawn-cuttings.

Anyone have any suggestions about this?

One thing you'll have to ask yourself is: Do I want gas powered, or electric powered? How pesky would you find it to constantly have a cord "in the way", that you'll need to flip out of the way frequently? How confident are you at the prospect of the proper gas/oil mix for a gas-powered weed-eater? If you don't expect the cord to be a problem, and you don't want to spend more $$ on petrol, then Electric would be your option of choice.

On the other hand, if you take into consideration how little petrol is actually used, and you prefer the freedom to just whip your weed-eater about with no impedance, then the gas-powered one may be your tool of choice. The mixing is very easy, even a Pollack like ME can do it! =) There is great joy to be found in the maintenance of yardening tools.

Weigh the pros and cons of each before you decide which type you'll want to purchase. :)

thanks, Speedie! I hate the idea of a cord, but feel totally daunted by the idea of mixing gasoline! 8-0 Tell me again how easy it is? ;-)

Oh boy, it is SUPER easy!!!! Get a 1-gallon gas can and label it as "Weed Eater ONLY" (like I did... 'cause it's a mix). You use 1 gallon of gas per 3.2-ounce bottle of two-cycle oil, shake well to mix .. and THAT'S IT! Mine is a 32cc tank, so it's VERY inexpensive to run, and the mixture does NOT "go bad" from one season to the next. Just be sure to shake the can to mix the oil/gas well before each use, as the oil can separate from the gas.

Now, I should say here... mine uses two-cycle oil. Others may require different oil, (probably not though), but the instruction booklet will tell you CLEARLY what type of oil to use. It's the easiest thing EVER. If you can cook, then you can mix gas/oil for your weed-eater. =) (heck, even those he-man type of men out there who can't cook can mix gas/oil for their weed-eaters!) It's so simple, even a he-man can do it!! ;)

(oh boy, I'm gonna get into trouble for that comment! < =P

Wimp that I am perhaps, I would never use a gas weed eater. Noisy.
Black and Decker makes a battery weedeater ( part of a line of tools using a big rechargeable battery. We have that and it works fine for whacking weeds and grass. It's not going to do any heavy cutting like a gas one.. The battery makes it heavier than a corded one but it's balanced.

speedie, I admire your attitude!

Having an 2X-L DH has really brought out the He-Woman in me! < =D

There are pros and cons to both.

Gas is nice if you have a large area to cover. Electric is refreshingly quiet compared to gas.

Speedie, while the method you mentioned is the easiest, I've found out that it's also costly on your equipment. I paid 70 bucks last spring to get a new carburetor on our gas trimmer and it was due to ethanol in the gas. After I mix the gas and oil, I also add a shot of product to neutralize the ethanol in the fuel and some fuel stabilizer so it keeps all season. If you don't use those two things, your equipment could take a proverbial dump in a few years. That being said, our trimmer is the fussy one, the blower we have is tough as nails and could care less.

When we bought our new Honda mower last spring they said that if I didn't put the ethanol neutralizer in the gas, they wouldn't warranty anything in the engine. Apparently, ethanol is terrible for small engines.

I like gas powered equipment better than electric but with our yard I need something that will cover some distance and hack down some pretty good sized stuff. But I quite often have trouble pull starting some of our equipment. Nothing like getting out there all ready to dig into a job and find out you can't pull start the rototiller, weedeater, lawnmower or leaf blower and have to wait for Ric to wake up or get home. I long for electric start equipment. LOL

Holly, Toro makes equipment that has an electric start sold separately. I'm sure other brands do as well. I actually got the electric start free with my purchase of the trimmer. I only used it a couple of times when I was having trouble starting it because the carburetor was gummed up.

I have a congenital connective tissue disorder so I'm pretty weak, especially in the upper body. I can't pull-start anything! I got a gas weed eater, but need to rely on DH to do all the edging, which is not good at all since he hates yard work.

I love my electric, corded leaf vacuum! I don't mind the electric cord at all, and my yard is small enough where it's not an issue.

Now I wish I could exchange all of my gas-powered lawn equipment with plug-in models.

I'm sure appreciating all this info from everyone! Sally how heavy is the battery one you have? I may be among those who would have trouble pulling the cord on a gas one.

I think I already have the one that Gita is talking about. It is battery powered, very strong and the battery lasts at least 45 minutes. When it depletes, I pop in the extra battery and I'm good to go again.

That's an interesting note about the ethanol, Sequoia, I'd not heard that before. I've got a Poulan Pro and I just use "regular" gas in mine. All I know is that I don't store it over-winter with gas mix in it; that causes the gumming up that was mentioned in here. Very bad for the equipment! All I've ever used is "regular" gas and the two cycle oil. I've changed the filter once, and that's it. The spark plugs are still fine, filter is ok, but I've got extras just in case. I've had it for going on 5 years now.

There definitely are many pros and cons to consider when getting yardening equipment, and many types of equipment to consider. Just gotta look at your personal strengths and weaknesses, your needs, and choose accordingly. =)

I'm not sure why manufactures haven't adapted to ethanol fuels, that been said, many warranties are void if you do not use an ethanol treatment in your gas mix. The ethanol is not compatible with parts in the fuel system and they break down or gum up. The additives are easy to use and a small bottle will last for years. They are available at many places like Advance Auto and such.Using something like Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment, and Sta-bil, will give you years of maintenance free service from your equipment and allow you to use the same gallon of gas throughout the season. At the end of the season you can use up your leftover gas in your mower, treating it for the winter. For those who have trouble starting gas engines, you can pull it a few times to lube it and add a shot of ether to the air cleaner. As I said the treatments are easy to use and the amount you use is small, I actually use a 10cc syringe to measure my ethanol treatment and the Sta-bil is self measuring, I only use 50% of the recommended amount of Sta-bil to prevent any build-up, but that's a personal thing.

Catmint: We usually opt for electric because it is significantly quieter -- to me that is a significant factor. This link is interesting: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/outdoor-tools/backyard-battle-gas-vs-electric-lawn-tools#slide-7

Black and Decker battery weedeater is not really that heavy. I use it without feeling particularly fatigued by it. It is a just a little heavier than having the cord, but then easier to manage without the cord. I think you could handle it fine Catmint. But say my 80+ yr old mom would not, and could (did) use a corded one.