March 10, 2006

Ah, Spring! When A Young Middle Aged Man's Fancy Turns To Love Yardwork!

Spring has officially sproing here in Dee Cee! Wahoo!

I came out this morning to get a nose full of fresh, damp earth, an ear full of robins chuckling in the branches and an eye full of new red and green buds on all the trees.

Of course, the first thing I did was remove the rear window panel from my jeep. I don't intend to put it back on until some time next December.

The second thing I did was to start thinking hard on what I need to be doing in the garden this weekend. For one, I have to chop back the Butterfly Bush, which has stood sentinel on the back border all winter. For another, it's time to pull out an old friend:

HollyT.jpg

and distribute lavish amounts about the bases of my azaleas, rhododendron, blueberries and hydrangea.

The forcast for the weekend calls for temperatures in the 60's and 70's with possible thunderstorms on Sunday. It's going to be one of those terrific weekends when one looks for excuses to be out in the yard all day.

Posted by Robert at March 10, 2006 08:55 AM | TrackBack
Comments

After reading your post, I took a quick trip around the yard. What a mess! Gonna throw down the hollytone myself and spray the fruit trees with dormant spray, pick up all the twigs in the yard and, if the Aleve holds out, start cleaning out the odd bed. Spring has sprung! I have two documented crocus in bloom in the front!

Posted by: Babs at March 10, 2006 11:56 AM

Every year I tell myself I'm going to plant some crocus/daffodyl and whatnot in the woods behind the yard and every year I kick myself because I didn't do it and my neighbors' look so nice.

I, too, need to pick up sticks. There are also a couple fallen trees back in the woods that could do with some chopping up. Perhaps this is the year I'll convince myself a chainsaw is a sound investment.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at March 10, 2006 12:01 PM

Geeze Robbo, get with the crocus thing... Buy about 200 to start. You only have to plant them 2" deep; get the Llamaettes to do it. No matter how you abuse them, they come up year after year! I never even fertilize them and, if I want to put a summer flower in their place, like a geranium, I just move them aside. I have them coming up in the grass, that's how hardy they are.

Posted by: Babs at March 10, 2006 12:11 PM

Instead of a chainsaw, we bought a saws-all a few years back. Granted, you can't chop down trees with the thing but, you can cut up fallen trees plus a whole lot more. It has various blades for wood, metal and drywall. My husband loves it!

Posted by: Babs at March 10, 2006 12:14 PM

One of these days I'm actually going to have to call the utility co. to find out where the lines are buried. I want to put in a dogwood in the front yard. Anyone know off the top of their heads if it's ok to plant trees in the spring? (I've heard fall is the preferred time.)

Posted by: rbj at March 10, 2006 02:28 PM

I think fall is best but the local garden company tells me that spring and even summer are okay, too. We put in a couple dogwoods in May one year and they did fine.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at March 10, 2006 02:47 PM

Thanks.

Posted by: rbj at March 12, 2006 01:52 PM