MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

I would love to live like one of your chooks!!

That's very kind, thank you

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Is this the same as Seasol?

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Planet-Nutrients-Supplement-Hydroponic/dp/B00UBEL5E0

Looks like it might be.

Season is a seaweed based plant food so I agree with Lozzy.
If it smells pretty bad it must be doing some good.

 

[MaryJanet]

Just amazing. You are blessed to see this.

It may well have flowered before it came to live with me or before I was born. But this is the first time I've seen it flower.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It is, the house was built on sand. So there's dust bathing to be had all over.

That spot has been dug out in preparation to weedmat, proper soil and turf. There wont be much turf, just enough for me to lie down on on a balmy evening

Just a caution on weed mats MJ. A previous owner covered the front garden of our house in that woven black plastic weed mat. It seems impervious to water as the soil under it is all hard, dry and dusty.
Soil and leaves accumulated on top and the weeds just took root on that.
It's really hard to plant anything else as I need to dig through the built up soil and cut a hole in the weed mat.
It's a real pain.

I don't know if water permeable, bio-degradable weed mats are available these days but that would be my go-to.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

It's impoverished. I don't mulch that patch. Other parts are mulched.

I'll just take a moment to explain that the house and garden are unfinished. I know about stuff like garage dimensions, mulching, managing water run off, raised beds etc etc, all that stuff because it's impossible to get to my age and not know it. But as the place was dilapidated when I moved in, there are recently finished projecrs, half finished projects, and future projects everywhere. It's not because I need hints or help. It's because it's expensive and time consuming but extraordinarily satisfying. Also, I don't rush it because I don't need to.

Sounds like a very satisfying project to have. Could you share the history of the house?

Gratuitous chicken photo: Pepper before her moult with sun on her feathers.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

This past Sunday I cut halfway round the drip line of the daphne that I want to move, pruned it a bit and fed it with seasol. I'll let you know in a couple of weeks how it's going or whether I have killed it.

 

[LozzyR]

Just a caution on weed mats MJ. A previous owner covered the front garden of our house in that woven black plastic weed mat. It seems impervious to water as the soil under it is all hard, dry and dusty.
Soil and leaves accumulated on top and the weeds just took root on that.
It's really hard to plant anything else as I need to dig through the built up soil and cut a hole in the weed mat.
It's a real pain.

I don't know if water permeable, bio-degradable weed mats are available these days but that would be my go-to.

Newspapers make good weed mats.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Newspapers make good weed mats.

They do. I use them all the time. Soak them in the wheel barrow and lay them on the ground overlapping about 5 or 6 pages thick then put mulch on top. It works a treat.
Our front yard was overgrown with grass and I just trampled down the grass, jumped up and down on it a few times and used the newspaper and mulch method. Not much broke through and all the native plants seem to be thriving now.
View attachment 2543061View attachment 2543062View attachment 2543064

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening MJ and everyone

They do. I use them all the time. Soak them in the wheel barrow and lay them on the ground overlapping about 5 or 6 pages thick then put mulch on top. It works a treat.
Our front yard was overgrown with grass and I just trampled down the grass, jumped up and down on it a few times and used the newspaper and mulch method. Not much broke through and all the native plants seem to be thriving now.
View attachment 2543061View attachment 2543062View attachment 2543064View attachment 2543065

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What's the bottom picture?