Yardwork

[moonhare]

More precisely, gardening! Lots of raking and trimming were needed in the garden in preparation for rototilling. The tractor wouldn’t start, of course, without a bit of persuading (cleaned up the starter/Bendix and charged the battery). That being done I was able to haul a couple of loads of detritus off to the woods.

Next came the rototiller. When pulling off the blower to clean/oil the ratchet-clutch, I found it had housed mice over the winter. I blew out the grasses, fur, and hickory nut shells, and then got the ratchet-clutch in order: this part is notorious for hanging up on the crankshaft and damaging the pull-cord assembly. I reassembled all, cleaned up the spark plug, added some Sea Foam to the old gasoline before topping off with last Fall’s stabilized fuel, and my 38 year old little Pony started on the first pull! Love this machine :o)


Smaller garden, primarily for pumpkins.


Larger garden, for everything else.

I still need to get a soil sample off to UConn for testing. I also have to finish cleaning the outside perimeter ground level below the electric fence, and replace some of the insulators. Slow and steady.

Comments

[ilyena_sylph]

Oh excellent!!! Congrats!

[moonhare]

Thanks! Gotta love Springtime!

[tielan]

I love that you've separated out the pumpkins from everything else! :D


What is the 'everything else' that you will be growing?

[moonhare]

We at least want peas, peppers, tomatoes, and cukes. We didn’t do well last year, and are hoping for a better growing season this one.

[spiralicious]

Excellent work!

[moonhare]

Thank you :o)

Go you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> When pulling off the blower to clean/oil the ratchet-clutch, I found it had housed mice over the winter. <<

Yeah, that happens here -- they love the lawnmower. >_<

>> Larger garden, for everything else. <<

These look beautiful!

Re: Go you!

[moonhare]

The mice love the lawn tractor, and cost me an armature/magneto assembly (chew-chew-chew). This was the first time they got into the tille.

And thank you: I have enjoyed returning to gardening after a long hiatus.

Re: Go you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> The mice love the lawn tractor, and cost me an armature/magneto assembly (chew-chew-chew). This was the first time they got into the tille. <<

Yeah, mice are pesky. *ponder* You might want to get treated seeds for the garden, because they'll dig and eat things like corn.

>> And thank you: I have enjoyed returning to gardening after a long hiatus. <<

It's good to get back. I was out planting flowers today. :D

Re: Go you!

[moonhare]

So far it’s only been chipmunks terrorizing the gardens over the years. I have to get the electric fence back in order for the larger critters.

I hope to get some gladiolus bulbs in a couple of weeks. Our daffodils are past, the jonquils are in full bloom, and the narcissus buds are close. The apple tree has peaked and the blueberries flowering. So much to be thankful for :o)

Re: Go you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> So far it’s only been chipmunks terrorizing the gardens over the years. <<

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-keep-chipmunks-out-of-garden-6746297

https://www.marthastewart.com/8244424/how-keep-chipmunks-out-garden

A trick that often works for burrowing prey animals in general: fill their burrows with well-used kitty litter.

>> I have to get the electric fence back in order for the larger critters. <<

That ought to work.

>> I hope to get some gladiolus bulbs in a couple of weeks. <<

I have some that I need to plant.

>> Our daffodils are past, the jonquils are in full bloom, and the narcissus buds are close. The apple tree has peaked and the blueberries flowering.<<

Yay!

Re: Go you!

[moonhare]

Thank you for the links. I’ve tried cayenne and one of those garlic concoctions they sell to keep critters out: they did not seem to have any effect. The worst damage happened during drought, and I even left them trays with water to stop them from chewing holes in random tomatoes. They don’t burrow in the garden but come in through the maze of fencing and electric wire.

I have to start saving coffee grounds again. Those may have kept their cute little faces out of the blueberries last year (or slowed them down). I’d see them under the bird netting, high up the plants, cheeks stuffed!