Gardener’s Diary

Strange start to the week, expecting return calls/emails from at least a half a dozen colleagues and contractors: where are they?
Meanwhile, placed another half yard of stone yesterday and started spreading 3 yards of loam. Got everything ordered and picked up or delivered by early afternoon, also squeezed in a haircut, a conversation with The Turf Company, a visit to a new doc for a cortisone shot (tendonitis) and finding the only in-stock Garden Weasel in 3 towns.

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Gardener’s Diary

It’s been raining – actually, pouring – all morning, and in parts of the yard, there are 3 inches of standing water.
I know this because I went out a few minutes ago to feed with Miracle Grow and (to the hydrangeas), coffee grounds*.
Thank goodness for a hot shower and clean, dry clothes thereafter.
Although the yard is much improved, I definitely need more loam in a couple of spots on the right hand side.
Just hope my poor shed doesn’t get flooded.

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Gardener’s Diary

Projects this week include planting a small (6 bushes) blueberry patch in the area destroyed by the idiot with the bobcat and possibly crushed bluestone and pavers for the front walkway. Think the latter will look nice with the blue-gray composite stairs.
Still have some mulching to do and another week and two days of heavy grass watering.
I’m tired.

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Gardener’s Diary

Start of week 3 with the new grass. Yesterday, I overseeded the bare areas, fewer than I thought would be needed, with some seed that has been in the basement here for years. It’ll be interesting if it “takes”. If it doesn’t, I still have time to use something else.
Spent a good part of the day at nurseries: the East Sandwich Agway, who were participating in a multi-business Route 6A open house, and Mahoney’s, who were running gardening seminars. Got a lot of excellent info on composting, bulbs, lawns and winter prep.

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Gardener’s Diary – Hydroseeding

The back yard was hydroseeded last Saturday, September 5.
I didn’t realize how many thousands of tiny rocks were in the soil.
The yard was quite a mess afterwards, green gunk on the deck, stairs, trees, shed, etc.
Watering has been a challenge. The four-part faucet attachment fell apart almost immediately, and not all of the sprinklers are working. I need to make replacements and adjustments to prevent pooling of water.

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Gardener’s Diary

I dug up – at least as much as I could – and threw away the hateful fairy rose that used to occupy the right side of the front fence.
Good riddance.
I’ve injured myself dozens of times on that plant’s nasty thorns – either tiny ones that embedded painful, almost invisible fragments in your hands, or gigantic quarter inch long scimitar-like monstrosities.

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Gardener’s Diary

Spent most of Friday on the grass and blue plantings, finished up yesterday morning during a brief shower.
While Robert had his sailing lesson, got mulch for about 1/3 the cost of buying it in bags, at Cape Cod Recycling; spread about half.
Raining this morning, looks like it’ll stop around noon.
Hoping to get a glimpse of Air Force One when it lands at Otis today around 2:55.