What did you do in the garden today?

[BReeder!]

I only wish I had equipment like that. In my limited case, I'd probably only use it once or twice a year for actual work. I'd probably end up driving them down the driveway to get mail from the mailbox just to show the neighbors my new equipment!

I don't have a tractor for my home. I don't live on a farm. But, I was price shopping a new small tractor with front end loader early this spring. Long story short, I decided that my riding lawn mower with tow behind carts was probably good enough to meet my limited needs. I am still considering getting an ATV with snow plow attachment for clearing snow in the winter, but we had an extremely light snow last year and I only used the snow blower about 3 times - and 2 of those times I could have just not bothered, but I wanted to run the blower and keep the gas fresh.

Speaking of that, most of my gas yard equipment does not get used enough to keep the gas fresh and the carb clean. Too many of my gas tools end up with clogged carbs. Over the past 10 years, I have replaced almost all of my gas outdoor tools with battery powered tools. The battery operated tools are not as powerful, but they just work every time I slap in a fresh battery.

I used to buy a new gas trimmer every 2 years. Since I switched over to battery trimmers, I have yet to replace any of them in 7+ years. They just keep on running.

For my limited needs, I have also gone with battery chainsaws. I have a nice Stihl gas chainsaw in the shed, but it only gets used maybe once or twice a year. It is to the point where it runs good for about 10-15 minutes, then floods itself out and it done for the day. Our local mechanic tells me it's a carb issue and their shop rate is about $80 minimum to check it out. So I just use my battery chainsaws for most cleanups around the house and they get the job done. I'm pretty much done with gas outdoor equipment and clogged carbs.

I have an electric chainsaw. It's great actually. I can run an 18" bar on it no problem. The only downside is I have to have a cord plugged into it. It's not a big deal though and I have a 100ft cord as well as two 50ft cords, so I easily reach anywhere in our yard. Gas would be nice, but like you I've run into carb issues. Any power tool that doesn't get used regularly I avoid having gas because the engines don't like to sit unused.

 

[BReeder!]

Lot's of talk about wheelbarrows and carts.

I have a two wheeler wheelbarrow. I love that thing. The two wheels can carry a heavier load and are far more stabile than a single wheel. They are not good for running up and down narrow ramps though like a 2x6 or 2x10 board for example, which I used to do with the old one wheeler to dump dirt and compost into our 2ft tall raised beds.

I have a gorilla cart too. It's the smaller one, not the size you have hitch to a tractor/mower. DW likes it because it doesn't require you to lift while pushing. The dump feature is actually harder on the user than dumping a wheelbarrow though because the hinge is so far forward, while my wheelbarrow has the axle back a ways behind the lip.

 

[Sueby]

DH puts a fuel shut off valve above the carb on everything he owns - that way you close that valve & let it run till it runs out of fuel, you never actually shut it off & the carb is empty. Then he doesn't have carb issues. & Lord help me if I forget & simply shut something off.

 

[WthrLady]

I found a LUFFA! it was hiding growing up the sunflower stalks!

 

[gtaus]

DH is very competent with a chainsaw, but these are too close to the house, and he said he won't touch them. And I'm glad of that!

Just remember that if you hire some "professionals" to cut down those trees, make sure they have insurance in case the tree falls on your house and you have damages to cover. I can understand not wanting to cut a tree close to the house, but many "professionals" around here don't have any insurance. I have known a few "tree professionals" who did not carry any insurance at all. Hope all goes well, but make sure you are covered in case things go bad.

 

[gtaus]

DH puts a fuel shut off valve above the carb on everything he owns - that way you close that valve & let it run till it runs out of fuel, you never actually shut it off & the carb is empty. Then he doesn't have carb issues. & Lord help me if I forget & simply shut something off.

I used to do that, running the machine dry. The last few years I have been using the more expensive pre-mixed fuel in a can which has additives that last 2 years. If you use that fuel, then they say to just shut off the machine and leave the treated gas in the carb. Supposedly, leaving that treated fuel in the carb coats the rubber rings and helps prevent cracking during the winter months.

In any case, I moved on to using battery outdoor equipment in almost all cases and have never looked back.

 

[Swiss]

I measured today and learned that my garden is a couple of feet under 200' from the spigot. Any recommendations on lightweight hoses to get water out there and that are easy to get out of the way for mowing?

 

[gtaus]

I use Stabil gas treatment to help keep it [snow blower] running smoothly.

I have a big gas snow blower which I normally need for our winters. I have switched to using only non-Oxy gas and I also use a fuel additive for longer gas life and better running. I had to bring it in for a tune up last year, which cost me about $100.00, but that was the first service call I required in about 20 years on that machine. Normally, I can maintain it myself pretty well.

I have not seen any battery operated snow blowers that can come close to the power I get with my gas snow blower. And yes, many times I am plowing through 2 feet of snow after a storm. My snow blower wheels are power driven, but still, you feel the workout after blowing 2 feet deep of snow off the long driveway.

 

[Elyrian1]

I measured today and learned that my garden is a couple of feet under 200' from the spigot. Any recommendations on lightweight hoses to get water out there and that are easy to get out of the way for mowing?

I'd break it up into 50ft sections, or less, with quick connects if you need to move it for mowing. Easier than lugging a 200ft hose. Or two 100ft section even, those are seriously heavy too.

 

[gtaus]

I measured today and learned that my garden is a couple of feet under 200' from the spigot. Any recommendations on lightweight hoses to get water out there and that are easy to get out of the way for mowing?

Depending on your landscape, you might consider getting those big rolls of underground black water piping. Back in the day, I needed to get water from my pump to the main garden, so I buried that black pipe underground maybe 6 inches deep and ran a spigot up to the edge of the garden. In the fall, I just unconnected the pipe and let it drain. Whatever water was left in the pipe was not enough to freeze and break the line. Having the pipe underground, even a few inches, was enough that I did not have to constantly move hoses all the time when mowing. Also, a normal hose sitting out in the sun is going to weaken and possibly leak much sooner than the underground black water pipe. I have to replace many of my above ground water hoses after a few years. In my case, the underground black pipe is still intact and usable after 15 years. Anyway, for me, I found the underground pipe to be a better investment.