I need help with my back yard/garden puddles of water and mud
7 years ago
I have a garden more like a yard its horrible and really want to sort it out so I don't have puddles of water, mud and algae. The garden bit just needs to be dog and child-friendly low maintenance. The main thing is the dogs can go to the toilet without bring all the mess inside. i have just moved in and really need to get something sorted asap but as cheap as possible that i can do myself
Here are some photos
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My new container garden in back yard
Comments (10)An update on my Behlen's food-grade stocktanks for gardening. They worked out great this past summer. I bought another 4' long one and am considering buying yet another one. The straw bales did great until late in the season and the ones on the one side really began to sag. So we replaced them with cement blocks topped with a thick cedar board. I'm thinking of constructing some easy way of covering them with clear plastic....sort of like a little green house so I can warm them up earlier in the season. I actually found that Global Industries sells their 4' one (50 gallon) at a much lower price then Amazon. However Amazon sells the 6' long one (70 gallon) at a lower price. When Global Industries sent the 4' one........it had no packaging at all......but seemed all okay. I'm planning on growing 6 Roma tomatoes in one of the 4' long stocktanks. It will be so nice picking them from a standing position! I plan on refreshing some of the soil every year. I was even thinking of putting one of the longer stocktanks in my bigger garden where there is more sun. Everything but the romano beans and peppers are on trellises.......so pretty soon I won't have to lean over much at all, except to plant and weed. But my husband is a great weeder, so I think I have that covered too! I'm dreaming of spring already............it's supposed to be zero out tonight....See MoreI need help selecting a grass (or alternative) in my back yard.
Comments (2)That is a hilarious request! We see it every year, too. The only grass that comes close is St Augustine and not Floratam. If that is all the damage your dog has done, then St Aug should work. It will need deep water once per week as will ANY grass you put in. The difference with St Aug is that it's the only southern grass which will tolerate any shade. And it will tolerate a lot more than you have. Chances are you already have St Aug back there. If that's the case you can nurse that until it spreads to cover the entire area. All it needs is weekly water and mowing at the highest setting. You can mow once per week or once every 2 or 3 weeks. If you want it to fill fast, then I would fertilize with an organic fertilizer once per month. I like alfalfa pellets at 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet as a fertilizer. Get it in 50-pound bags at your local feed store - sold as rabbit chow. Apply by hand for that small area. Water deeply once per week. Deep means a full inch as measured by several cat food or tuna cans set out in the yard. For that area I would use an oscillator sprinkler. It might take many hours to fill the cans, so don't be surprised. Don't look now but your dog photobombed your picture....See MoreI need help with my yard
Comments (1)Hi elseniorfruita, Your yard looks like it has loads of potential, but may require lots of hard work. You should hang out at the FL forum also. Folks there will give you loads of suggestions and will spur you on. You may even find folks that live in your area and be able to attend plant swaps where you can get plants from new friends. Post these photos over there and I'm sure you'll have loads of suggestions. If it were me, I'd start by getting rid of the black plastic. I'd just work on a small area at a time, so it doesn't seem like an insurmountable job. Since you pretty much have a blank slate, I'd amend the soil before planting an area. Amend it with any organic material. You can buy Black Kow at HD, but any organic material will help. Hang out at these forums and visit nurseries, look around at yards you like, to get ideas. Take your time before you decide on planting. It will pay off. Are you particularly interested in ornamentals, fruit, veggie gardening? Low maintenance? Try to answer as many questions as you can before making decisions. Good luck! Anna...See MoreCan I use dirt from my yard in my large garden planter?
Comments (1)Topsoil like the stuff you buy in bags at Home Depot? Or topsoil like stuff you dig out of the backyard? The stuff in bags appears to be mostly decomposed cow manure to me. Should work fine. Mostly they advise against using actual garden soil for containers. Your container is so large you might get away with it. Might. I like the Optisorb diatomaceous earth they sell at auto parts store for cheaper stuff to avoid compaction. Not to be confused with Fuller's clay they sell there. Requires breathing protection until it gets wet...See MoreRelated Professionals
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