What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

It's too early for me to plant any food in the gardens, but I worked on my grazing frame out in the chicken run. The original frame was made out of 2X4's with hardware wire on top. Unfortunately, the chickens scratched too much stuff on top of the wire and blocked out the sun, so the grass underneath the wire died. So, I had to build the grazing frame up higher and hope that the chickens cannot scratch and cover the wire this time.

Here are a few pictures...

I scavenged some 12-foot-long pallets and used these 3X4 inch composite wood beams to build a lower frame for my grazing frame. Then I spread out new grass seed, covered it with a light coating of compost, and then put the original grazing frame back on top.

Nothing is green at present, but we had snow until last week covering the ground. Anyways, I got the grass seed planted and yesterday and today it has been raining. With some luck, I should have some new grass growing in the grazing frame in 3-4 weeks.

When I first built my grazing frame last summer, the grass was green and the chickens had fresh stuff to eat. As you can see, they totally ripped up and destroyed all the grass in the chicken run itself, but I did have a nice patch of green grass growing in the grazing frame, for awhile. By the end of the summer, the chickens had completely covered the grazing frame wire with compost litter, and nothing was growing in there anymore. I am hoping that the additional 4 inches of height will be enough, but if not, I'll just add some more 2X4's on the frame and make it higher yet again.

Just wondering if anyone else uses a grazing frame and what they plant in it? I"m thinking of maybe getting some wheat, oats, and barely seed to toss in there and see if that grows.

 

[PopoMyers]

DH leveled my strawberry towers, which had developed a lean. Moles had tunneled under the log slabs that they were on. Will rest today, will be planting onion starts this week, doing a major weeding since I couldn't accomplish much having hand surgery almost 6 weeks ago. The warming weather has caused a growth spurt.

 

[gtaus]

We then used our new auger to dig the holes for the new fence posts. Man, did that thing make it SO much easier and faster than digging those holes by hand!

Maybe you already mentioned it in a previous post, but what auger did you use? Thanks.

 

[fuzzi]

I still need to up pot the melons and cucumbers. There was cilantro I needed to plant out and I got that done at least. I also still need to plant beans and the super sweet 100 seeds. That's not much work though and I may still get it done today. Cooking dinner now though.

I did get the trellises done and I moved 4 or 5 full wheelbarrows of gravel (nearly a yard) to get the pond area done. Doesn't sound like much, but I've been out all day working in the yard.

View attachment 3496757View attachment 3496758View attachment 3496759

I'm in love with your place!

Would you show us pictures of the pond?

I'll show you mine:

View of both from the kitchen windows:

 

[PopoMyers]

Thank you! I was going to look up what the rasps needed, as the blueberries are already in. I'll find another spot.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, our soil's acidic, which blueberries thrive on. You can use acidification fertilizer on them. Annually, I use dolomite lime and a fertilizer that's balanced general garden fertilizer, or something close to 10-30-10. This year I could only find 10-28-12, close enough. The bag said winterizing fall fertilizer. Ha. Mix in a good amount of compost when you prepare your row. Also put in your support poles as well. Happy planting!

 

[PopoMyers]

@Sally PB check with your local county extension office. https://pickyourown.org/countyextensionagentoffices-MI.php

 

[PopoMyers]

Maybe you already mentioned it in a previous post, but what auger did you use? Thanks.

My DH borrowed one from a friend that had the auger with a gas engine on it. Made hole digging a breeze!

 

[WthrLady]

I guess I thought the size was implied?
Well, mystery probably solved!

I either missed you mentioning how large it was, or I was going on what I know around here. Most PVC sticking out of the ground is 4-20 inches in diameter. LOL

 

[BReeder!]

I'm in love with your place!

Would you show us pictures of the pond?

I'll show you mine:
View attachment 3496770

View of both from the kitchen windows:
View attachment 3496777

Apologies, I meant fountain area. I did used to have a pond in this very spot, but I filled it in when the kids started opening the gate themselves. My pond was 4ft deep and 10ft x 6ft. I miss the pond, but it was a real hazard with little kids.

 

[BReeder!]

Good morning bought bare root strawberry from a outfit on Amazon.
Asked yesterday best way to get strawberry to start..
She answered already this morning, put them in water did now can plant.

Can you share a link for the listing on Amazon?
I bought strawberry starts this year and they dried up terribly before I was able to get them planted. Now the stores here don't have strawberry roots for sale anymore.