Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Cheeky Chick]

Such good news!!. I love that he wanted chickens for Father's Day. Congrats on the chickens...

So, My son and I moved the BIIIG crate with the new girls out to the coop. What a job. So, the new girls are very interested in the little girls, and the little girls seem to just want to avoid the crate at all costs.

These girls are gorgeous. And very sweet. They are eating and drinking like champs and took worms from my hand. YAY! Oh I can't wait for my husband to see them!! I'm SO happy we got them!!!
Now I need names. Hopefully the kids won't name them stuff I can't remember.

then again, What's MY name again?

 

[ChickenAl]

Here's the backyard with its new grass.  Still some patchy spots but we're working on it.  With Mother Nature's help, of course.  Some change from the vast wasteland, eh Heather?

Awesome job on getting the lawn into shape.

I'm goona butt in here with some advice. It took me three years to get my lawn growing consistently and to the point where I don't ever have to reseed. I got on a forum and chronicled my adventure. I had gotten a lot of great advice and we got it to do what 20 years of living here had not. I did it all organically. Last year I didn't have to add anything to it, and this year I just added organic fertilize in the spring. I will do that again in the fall. It is growing like gangbusters and all the spots that used to go bare don't anymore. Any areas that get torn up repair themselves. After a bit of work it becomes really easy to maintain. Almost effortless.

I believe you have sandy soil in Long Island, and therefore a lot of drainage. you need to get plenty of organic material into the soil. You can do this by top dressing with compost at a bout a half inch in the spring and fall. The most important part is to mow high. At least 2 1/2 to 3 inches. It will crowd out the weeds and I t is much healthier for the lawn to develop deep roots, which is what you want when it goes dormant in midsummer.

Here's the link that started me on the quest for a nice lawn. Probably more info than you wanted to know, but you understand how obsessive I can be by now. Believe me, this really works.

http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp

 

[magsrags]

Here's the backyard with its new grass. Still some patchy spots but we're working on it. With Mother Nature's help, of course. Some change from the vast wasteland, eh Heather?

BEAUTIFUL! Been there before and know how good it feels!

 

[Imprfctme]

Thanks! Bags and bags of grass seed plus constant rain/watering. We love our little golf course!

Just sent out my first two resumes. *sigh*

Harrison has 4 teachers retiring this year... although I'm sure the commute sucks. Just remember nothing is ever decided until the end of August. Sending you good vibes!

 

[smkchick]

Awesome job on getting the lawn into shape.
I'm goona butt in here with some advice. It took me three years to get my lawn growing consistently and to the point where I don't ever have to reseed. I got on a forum and chronicled my adventure. I had gotten a lot of great advice and we got it to do what 20 years of living here had not. I did it all organically. Last year I didn't have to add anything to it, and this year I just added organic fertilize in the spring. I will do that again in the fall. It is growing like gangbusters and all the spots that used to go bare don't anymore. Any areas that get torn up repair themselves. After a bit of work it becomes really easy to maintain. Almost effortless.
I believe you have sandy soil in Long Island, and therefore a lot of drainage. you need to get plenty of organic material into the soil. You can do this by top dressing with compost at a bout a half inch in the spring and fall. The most important part is to mow high. At least 2 1/2 to 3 inches. It will crowd out the weeds and I t is much healthier for the lawn to develop deep roots, which is what you want when it goes dormant in midsummer.
Here's the link that started me on the quest for a nice lawn. Probably more info than you wanted to know, but you understand how obsessive I can be by now. Believe me, this really works.
http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp

Thanks, Al. I'll check it out. Interestingly, we mulched all the leaves in the fall, so there was a lot of organic material there. It helped that the chickens pulled up all the weeds and left their own organic material behind.

I'll send Bobby to the link. He likes to mow high. I like low. Looks like I lose!

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Thanks, Al. I'll check it out. Interestingly, we mulched all the leaves in the fall, so there was a lot of organic material there. It helped that the chickens pulled up all the weeds and left their own organic material behind.

I'll send Bobby to the link. He likes to mow high. I like low. Looks like I lose!

Same here. The old man sets the mower at high. I like it as close to the dirt as possible. I think I'm just lazy and low makes it longer before I have to mow again.

Speaking of which, wild bunnies were playing in my yard yesterday-they let me know when it's become a meadow and needs to be mowed.

 

[stoopid]

Al, great link on the grass. Thanks for posting!
Now if I could just get the moles to leave.
Milky spore is just so expensive.... I was outside a few days ago, and actually saw the dirt tunnel moving.
Went and got the hose, and gave him a bath.
For a few hours.
I know it didn't do anything, but it did make me feel a little better!

 

[highpointfarm]

My grandpa had moles so bad that you couldnt walk through his yard without triping on a mole tunnel xD of course he skipped the hose and went straight for the 12 gauge LOL

 

[queenchick16]

Goodness I go out for the evening and wake up to 52 posts.
Beautiful girl
ditto on the chicks
Roberta If there is anything I can do just ask.We all need to be here for each other.(gardening, cleaning, listening I do it all)
Al I am on the same food, and feel similar

Well last night was one of the worst nights I can remember in a long time and I don't see a light at the end of it. Went out with my husbands brother and wife to dinner and a concert in Bay Shore. Richard and my sister in law got into a huge fight right in the restaurant . One of the most uncomfortable things I have had to live through.(Was quite entertaining for the people around us).I really think its the end of Richard and his brothers relationship.I don't know what to do.
Richard put 2 months of his life (and mine) on hold and moved into a hotel in NYC with his brother so he could help him through the treatment for prostate cancer.
Terrible stuff.The way he was talking last night he's (my husband ) finished..

 

[Imprfctme]

Al, great link on the grass. Thanks for posting!
Now if I could just get the moles to leave.
Milky spore is just so expensive.... I was outside a few days ago, and actually saw the dirt tunnel moving.
Went and got the hose, and gave him a bath.
For a few hours.
I know it didn't do anything, but it did make me feel a little better!

What about rolling moth balls down there?