What did you do in the garden today?

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I’m taking a sort break between hauling dirt. I’m worried because my peach tree is close to blooming. The lows the next 2 nights are forecasted to be in the 20’s. I think I need to cover it at night. I need to spray it as well. The apple trees aren’t near bloom yet so no worries there. Any advice?

 

[WthrLady]

Sounds like plan @Wee Farmer Sarah .

DH loaded 60 gallons worth of alpaca manure for me and I hauled it down to a neighbor's acreage and into her dormant bed. She was so excited. We've all been inside if you get that excited about a mountain of poop. Alpacas are prolific poopers.

I dug all dozen tree holes. I am amazed that the ground isn't frozen at all. It is nice a soft for digging. The girls even helped rid the dirt pile of worms, so thoughtful. I went down about 15 inches. I'll take the transplant shovel to them next week and make them a bit deeper. Then I'll mix some of the old dirt with compost and alpaca manure and put in the holes when the trees get here. Which reminds me. I need to get some more steel T-posts from the feed store to stake these babies up! Next decent weather day, I'll work on the irrigation lines to each tree and just let them lay loose until each is planted and then attach them to the stakes for later watering.

Managed to get the coop clean. My rooster had 4 inch spurs and today he had line one inch ones. Anyone else have a rooster that trimmed his own spurs down?? Weird birds.

Son helped outside for awhile, trimming down cedar trees. They're invasive here and grow feet in a year. I loathe them. We cut them to the ground and let them dry out. Then when we burn the fields, they go up like a match. Lots of oil in them.

OK. Campus laundry load #3 going. Need to start dinner.
Have a good day all.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Onions, garlic, and asparagus are in the ground! It was a chilly day but that finishes things up until May

 

[Mtnboomer]

I’m taking a sort break between hauling dirt. I’m worried because my peach tree is close to blooming. The lows the next 2 nights are forecasted to be in the 20’s. I think I need to cover it at night. I need to spray it as well. The apple trees aren’t near bloom yet so no worries there. Any advice?

How big is the canopy of the tree? If we're talking 21 kind of 20's odds are there could still be damage. Upper 20's and the threat is less. The temps must dip below 28-27 degrees for a few hours to cause damage. If this is forecasted, definitely cover.

 

[jerryse]

Managed to get the coop clean. My rooster had 4 inch spurs and today he had line one inch ones. Anyone else have a rooster that trimmed his own spurs down?? Weird birds.

Spurs are easily removed with a twisting motion . He likely got them caught and they came off leaving the core . They regrow . I have had to remove some when they get too long .

 

[WthrLady]

They were there when he went to bed and gone this morning. There is nothing for him to catch them on. Not worried about it. He was starting to walk like a bowlegged cowboy! LOL

 

[pennyJo1960]

I take them off with dremel and cutting wheel

 

[WthrLady]

I take them off with dremel and cutting wheel

This is the nicest (to people and hens) rooster in the world. I don't need to take his spurs off. This morning just didn't have any! The stumps and quick are still there, but he looks like he chewed them down to that! He was his normal self today wandering the pasture and kicking for worms. Again, he's weird.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

How big is the canopy of the tree? If we're talking 21 kind of 20's odds are there could still be damage. Upper 20's and the threat is less. The temps must dip below 28-27 degrees for a few hours to cause damage. If this is forecasted, definitely cover.

It's still a small tree with a spread of around 4 feet. It is a dwarf so it isn't supposed to get huge. The temps could get as low as 18 to 19F in the early morning hours. I covered it with a sheet and tied it as much as possible to the T-posts around it. I'm hoping the wind will stay calm and it won't blow off. I almost didn't look at this site, but I thought, just a little glimpse. Good thing I did. So thank you. Monday were are supposed to get 2 to 4 inches of snow. Seriously? Oh well, it does add nitrogen to the soil. Have a nice evening.

 

[hysop]

Where do you all place your compost bins/piles?

I barely started composting last year and did it in 5 gal buckets (only did 2) and that worked out, but this year I want to make a larger pile but can’t decide where to place it permanently. Going to try to do the three slot compost pile with pallets.

I have a lot of land, but I also can’t place it too far away or I will definitely neglect it.