So far, i only have two plants, one in each bucket. Those are the indeterminate tomato plants that I got from someone who got the seeds from a good tomato they got at the market. I wish I knew more about what kind of tomato plant it is. My winter will start in January, but with the shift in weather patterns being what it is, our winters have been colder and longer than ever. Anything that is left outside will die when we get our really cold weather. Most other things are in dirt in pots, or in Hydro and can be moved. The garage will get too cold for most of it too. This weekend I plan to switch some pepper plants to hydro. I wish I knew which was which because I would prefer to move one of the mild, or Serrano plants to hydro, not any of the really hot peppers. Now I am off to find someone that can tell me why the gender of my cumber flowers is not so obvious as what I saw on YouTube. Joe

The concept of a roller is good - it will flatten things out - but the practice could very well create additional problems. Weight will cause soil compaction and weight on saturated soils can irretrievably damage soil structure. Soils under lawns tend to be compacted anyway, due to the amount of foot traffic they get as well as the routine use of equipment like lawn mowers, etc. And a heavily compacted soil prevents water from penetrating deeply, causes the roots of lawn grasses to stay very close to the soil surface and contributes to issues like thatch build-up, soil infertility and diseases. Aerating the lawn (later in the season, after the soil has dried sufficiently) to alleviate compaction and then adding soil (or better yet, a fine, screened compost if you have it) to even out the low spots may be the most practical and economical approach. You could overseed at the same time if you have large areas involved or very deep depressions but the existing grass should grow through a reasonable thickness of soil or compost. And you wouldn't even have to till!

Thanks for the responses, Jasmar, Cascade and PoolGuyNJ. I completely agree with you about the benefits to local service and support of the local economy. I think the problem is the two pool companies I have had contact with may just be terrible. First company was the one the realtor got to come inspect pool before closing. They also gave us a heart-attack inducing ($45K) estimate to completely refurbish the pool to like new condition. When I contacted them back with questions about the estimates, never could get a response. Unfortunately, we had to call in on our home/pool warranty Friday (when the pool was opened, one skimmer and one pump will not start), and guess who the warranty assigned to work on the pool?! Inspection company! Blech. So, since we were not impressed with them after we bought the house, we solicited suggestions from friends who were pool owners and got company #2. Had them come, look at the equipment/setup to give us a reno estimate, and hired them for opening and closing. It's been four months and have not gotten the full reno estimate (got a verbal ballpark of $25K at walkthru), but got those prices for the necessaries above after two more followups. The opening and closing process has been a PITA, as the company seems very poor at communication. First came to close without an appt and did not use all the chemicals left by the seller which we asked for them to use up first and wanted to charge an extra $250 for chems I had sitting in my garage! They did waive the chem charges since it was their miscommunication, which was nice and stand-up of them. Second, when they came back to open, took three weeks to get an appt, they changed their policies from working on Saturdays, so we had to take a work day off to meet them, then the nice man they sent did not speak English and couldn't communicate what needs to be done with the pool. He could only say things did not work, but that was it. He indicated missing plug/part in the skimmer, but I don't know how that could be since his company closed it and put all parts in the bag which sat in the deck box since January. Also, starting up the hot tub only one of the pumps would work and it causes water to come up through the holes in the deck and spew all over the concrete. These little plumbed holes seem like they should be for air to go down into the spa to aerate the water, but we are having water back out of them. Again, he had no idea but could only shrug and say 'not work.' They also charge $75/hr for vacuuming but we thought it was such a swamp lets have the pros tackle it first then we can maintain it throughout the season. They sent a kid with a Leaf Eater who only started 4 days ago. I thought I was inexperienced with only four months with a pool but even I beat four days!! He worked on it with Leaf Eater for about an hour and a half then packed up and left. He brought a vacuum hose but didn't use it. We still have a ton of leaves and silt in the pool. Now what? How was that getting it cleaned to be opened up? No followup instructions were given. They also want to sell me those parts I mentioned in the first post but gave me no recs on installers/electricians - I'm on my own after they sell me the parts. That's not a great endorsement for 'buy local because they are more helpful and supportive.' When I called the day after the opening and said I wasn't sure what the opener was trying to tell me to do the next day, maybe five bags shock? or maybe he was coming back to do 5 bags shock?, they said they couldn't get him on the phone and said 'is it cloudy? yeah, probably five bags shock.' I have to think there is more to it than over-the-phone diagnosis. So our $500 package for opening and closing was less than satisfactory. This co charges $220/mo plus chemicals for weekly service in OKC. That was too rich for our blood, maybe there are other services that are more in line with what you say Jasmar. Will keep looking. (FYI, we were not thinking to fill in the pool, but maybe the separate hot tub. It was Pool Co #2 who suggested filling it with dirt and making a planter, so if there are regulations about it, they were not too concerned with them.) I know there are good local pool co's out there but I am having a difficult time finding them, even using friend's/realtor's referrals. Just so disheartened! I ended up taking a water sample to Leslie's yesterday and was pleasantly surprised by their knowledgeable and helpful staff. They offered to show me how to use the test kit, explained what all the chem levels mean, and even helped talk me through backwashing and how to run the filter. They said the tests show no chlorine in the pool, so all the organic debris is eating it up faster than I can add it, so keep cleaning the pool and add more shock and some other stuff (floc/enhancer I think) in about four hours. Told me to keep a list of all the chems that seller left for us, and every time my H20 is tested they can help me find out what I need to buy and what I already have. so far best experience with a pool co! (and I know there are not a lot of leslie's fans here, but that has just been my experience). When the pool co #1 comes next week to fix warranty problems, I will see if I can find out about plumbing for cleaners. I was back there looking at the sand filter pressure and noticed a big thing that said 'Polaris' with an on/off switch plumbed in on one of the PVC lines. Will take a photo and post if they cannot tell me what's what. Here is a link that might be useful: Miracle of Chlorine!

imamommy, I am with you...I had my oldest just out of high school. His dad left me however, and I did it by myself. So it isn't their age so much that I am worried about. It is him. It is knowing him the way I do, and having no faith that he is responsible, prepared, or equipped to handle this situation. They are living with the ex, because as soon as ss turned 18 (in June 08) he left our house because he wanted the "fun and freedom" that came with living at his mom's. You are EXACTLY right in your last statement. He migrated to the parent that enables his irresponsible behavior. The g/f moved in with them, but I am not sure when. I just know they have only been together for like maybe 4 months. The only thing I have heard is that she got into a fight with her own mother and she then moved in with them. I know we are missing a substantial amount of that story. It just sickens me that the ex would allow her to move in like that when she should have been working things out with her own parents. But then the ex does like to be the friend rather than the parent. The g/f was supposed to be going into the national guard. She won't be now. Because she won't be, ss won't be either. Although he still could. He won't. He has no job, no prospects of getting a job where they live now (it is a dinky town 60 miles from here there is no work there). He is stuck where he is. His mom will let them live there and enable the both of them. It will be a bad situation. A baby should not be brought up in that situation. SS is very possesive, and needy. We know nothing about the g/f other than she is same age and a drop out too. They both dropped out their senior year. The ex will be too preoccupied with the "attention" that this situation will get her and how she will "appear" to look like she is actually helping them. IT is just sick. OH and My 1 year old is going to be an uncle already lol!!