They are huge rocks, originally piled up there with the hopes that they would one day be part of a large pond. Not too sure we will ever put in the pond but the rocks add some character to the yard and the Grands love climbing on them. I'll post a pic of the whole pile later.
Yardening May 17+ 2014
Yeah, that's a sawsall, they are great for many jobs including removing the dead center from ornamental grasses. With care you can cut off things in place, that is what I used to cut out Gita's RR tie, with little or no disruption to the bed. They're good for cutting up old limbs and could even be used for edging. I have 2 one corded for big jobs and one battery operated you can take anywhere.
For most homes I'd say the cordless would be easiest to use. Since mine is a Ryobi the batteries fit all kinds of tools.
Ok, thanks for the info!
Do any of you use an electric hedge trimmer? I want something to make cutting back ornamental grasses and liriope easier in the spring...
ssg, just let him have the Sawzall, it's a guy thing LOL...
I'd die without my electric hedge trimmer for taming the Euonymus and forsythia, yes I know I am not supposed to shear forsthia..... I guess it would work on hard grass it the blades are sharp. do not ask me to recommend, mine is 20 yrs old.
"ssg, just let him have the Sawzall, it's a guy thing LOL..."
yes, that might be a good way to get him liking the garden more, SSG! :-)
Okay, I'm pretty sure this is a weed but wanted to check. Does anyone know what this is? It has sort of square-shaped, hairy stems.
It's funny, he was telling me that it would be for me, for the garden, and not for him. :)
Catmint, I've seen that volunteer in my garden, too. It got big really fast so I pulled it out. No idea what it is, though.
could be a sunflower of some kind, I think
Sunflower's a possibility--it's near the bird feeder.
SSG, too funny about your DH! :-)
Happy- I have used an electric hedge trimmer before exactly for that purpose. It is your best bet for grasses. The reciprocating part of the sawzall will get filled with debris and gunk.
Happy, I have an electric hedge trimmer but I don't use it. Mine chews up the edges of whatever it cuts. It may be that the blades are dull, or it may be that the thing is a piece of junk.
I guess with Terp's recommendation, I would say to make sure you get a good one!
This message was edited May 30, 2014 10:55 AM
I inherited a hedge trimmer last year from my back yard neighbor, Doug.
Having had all the problems with my hand--I could no longer prune my big shrubs by hand.
So--I went to Doug and asked if i could borrow his to trum my bushes--and he said:
"Do you want one?? Someone gave me one, still in a box, and i will never use it--
too small, I guess...So--he gave it to me. It is a small, lightweight one.
Yes! I used it to trim all my BIG old shrubs--even the Junipers...AND--I also cut a length
of my extension cord off with it...sparks and all.....WHOA!!!
Took it to HD and had the guy in electrical put a new plug end on it.
Just FYI--Happy or SS----Know what you intend to cut with one., as the 'size"
of a hedge trimmer is measured by the spaces between the teeth of the blade.
Also by the length of the blades.
If you have a 1/2" trimmer--it means that it will not trim branches bigger than
1/2"--as they would not fit between the teeth if the blade. It may just 'chew it up" --
like Karen noted.
YES! I can vouch for how quickly Ric cut my big, old RR tie in half with his sawzall.
Amazing tool! He even brought me rocks for the edging after the Rr was removed.
Ric is an amazing human being---to come here just to do this for me....most helpful.
Ahem--I think Ric and Holly also wanted to see my garden--since they had never been here....
1--The rotten RR tie that had to go
2--The tie gone--and rocks wainuing to be put down.
3--Rick and Holly just hanging out on my porch swing afterwards...
4--Ready to place rocks as edging
5--the finished edging--a month later...
Gita
That is wonderful! So nice of Ric and Holly--and it looks beautiful!
Quote from Gitagal :
Yes! I used it to trim all my BIG old shrubs--even the Junipers...AND--I also cut a length
of my extension cord off with it...sparks and all.....WHOA!!!
LOL Gita I don't know how many times Ric has done that, too.
We really did want to see Gita's gardens and they were just beautiful. She took us to a great spot to eat and then a little side trip to Ikea. It was a really great day,
Quote from CatMint20906 :
Okay, I'm pretty sure this is a weed but wanted to check. Does anyone know what this is? It has sort of square-shaped, hairy stems.
I say definitely a sunflower. If you don't like where it is, they're not hard to transplant.
Quote from happy_macomb :
Ok, thanks for the info!
Do any of you use an electric hedge trimmer? I want something to make cutting back ornamental grasses and liriope easier in the spring...
My hedge trimmers are pretty dull, but they're still okay for cutting through thoroughly dead, dried-out ornamental grasses. I'm not sure they would work with liriope. I've tried weed-whacking liriope; either it didn't work or somehow I figured out that cutting them with a large pair of scissors is the easiest way, because that's what I use. I've heard that some people mow them down, but mine aren't in a place where I can use a mower.
This message was edited May 31, 2014 8:24 PM
I know we reallly need a new thread here...I will get to it soon, promise...
My caladiums are alive! I was so frustrated with them that I was digging in the area to plant something else and found a couple of bulbs with new growth on them. It looks like it's going to be another couple of weeks before I see any above-ground growth. So at least the ones not dug up by the squirrels are doing ok.
yay! I need to check mine out, too.
my potted caladiums are just showing tips now. I'll have to move them to shade soon, but they have been in the warmest part of my yard to get going.
Who was talking about serviceberry, Amelanchier? see this about flowering/ fruit
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/948185/#new
My caladiums are taking their dandy old time as well..one leaf out here and there. Some still unfurling.
New thread!!!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1363010/
sorry I took so long, what in the world had me so busy last week ROFL