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Post by tnrookie on Mar 24, 2015 12:58:00 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone for all the great ideas! I really appreciate it. I am thinking of planting alfalfa as a green manure, has anyone tried it? As far as planting this spring, I would love to, but I we are in the process of renovating our house and I don't think I can handle 2 big projects at the same time, especially with a 2 year old under foot! Again, thank you so much for all the input!
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Post by brownrexx on Mar 24, 2015 13:17:28 GMT -5
Well if a cover crop is the way you'd like to go then I recommend a daikon radish cover crop. I just learned about them last year and it seems like the latest fad but I really like the idea so I planted one last August.
They sell special radishes for this called Grounhog radishes or tillage radishes or something of that nature.
You scatter radish seeds all over the garden and just let them grow. The radishes will get really big and they can penetrate up to 3 feet into the soil which is a great way to break up hard clay soil. When they are growing the leaves blanket the garden and keep it weed free. Eventually the radishes die off and the residue will cover the garden and keep it free from weeds.
The radishes themselves penetrate deeply and not only break up the soil but the bring minerals up from deep in the soil and when the radishes break down they leave the minerals behind.
Most people use radishes as a fall cover crop because 2 or 3 days of weather in the teens will totally kill them but I suppose that you could just roto till them under at the end of the season if you wanted to do a spring cover crop of radishes.
OR possibly you want to do a grassy cover crop in the spring, till it under and plant radishes for a Fall cover crop that you will just leave in place and let it die over the winter.
I don't know anything about alfalfa since I have never used it.
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Post by gakaren on Mar 24, 2015 13:37:39 GMT -5
The problem with planting alfalfa, unless you get an ANNUAL one, will be that it will reseed if not kept cut BEFORE it sets seeds. It would sure help the bees in your area though. I don't remember where I got it, but there is an annual one available. And it's roots will go deep to help bring up those minerals too.
I have the famous Ga. orange/red clay! And not too far below my surface, you can find the gray clay that is almost impossible to break up! We have hit it before when digging holes for trees/plants.
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Post by armjr on Mar 24, 2015 18:14:46 GMT -5
One of the best gardens i ever grew was one that I did NOTHING to. I was driving "hotshot" in the 80's and had enough time one Spring to disc, row it up and broadcast all the seed I had on hand. One afternoon. I had to leave on a run that evening and was busy for the next three months. It all grew up in weeds and grass burrs. I got out there one day late in May and found all kinds of stuff. I got some 5 gal buckets and started hauling it out. The okra had grown into a forest and there were tomatoes everywhere growing along the ground. We put up lots of veggies that year.
Don't sell Mom Nature short. Till, plant, water, and mulch it. See what comes of it.
Alan
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Post by claude on Mar 24, 2015 18:26:31 GMT -5
I know how crazy it can be trying to do it all. You will get much satisfaction and relaxation gardening. Just keep it simple. Your little one will want to be outside anyway..good luck!
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Mar 25, 2015 10:58:52 GMT -5
Sounds like a great life...kids...gardens...house. What kind of reno projects are you working on? I am not handy at ALL, I mean, I haven't even ever painted a room, but I like to watch home shows and read magazines about it. LOL.
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Post by claude on Mar 25, 2015 11:11:22 GMT -5
I'm sure that the rookie has a large "honey do list" I can always find a project to work on. I've been removing popcorn ceilings..I love when the ceilings are smooth and white. I need to do the LR and 2 more BR but then I will have finished the whole house. It's lower dust when I can use a window fan and those lovely days are coming quick.
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 25, 2015 11:45:44 GMT -5
claude, I know what that job is like- removing popcorn ceilings.
We did that when we bought this house almost 6 years ago. but- we did it BEFORE we moved in. It is such a dusty job! I can only imagine the clean up job you have when you are done. Do you move the furniture out?
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Post by armjr on Mar 26, 2015 0:27:48 GMT -5
Our Garage had that type of @%! on the ceiling (the rest of the house too). I took a taping knife and duct taped it to a 5 foot piece of 1" PVC pipe and scraped most of the popcorn and plaster off. Then I go my pump up sprayer with plain water and moistened the rest of the the plaster. It came off very easy with the taping knife then. There was some dust but not nearly as much as I thought there would be. Then I just plastered over the nail holes again and painted. I put 1x2 lath over the gaps instead of tape. #1 wife said she liked it. I'm sticking with that.
Alan
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canadiyank
Blooming
Central WA, Zone 6B
Posts: 125
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Post by canadiyank on Mar 26, 2015 23:00:29 GMT -5
Funny how we go through stages...adding popcorn ceilings...taking them out, etc. I saw wood panelling in a magazine the other day. Wood panelling! Ha! Are popcorn ceilings coming back "in" soon?
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Post by claude on Mar 27, 2015 16:12:53 GMT -5
DW..I tape clear plastic over the doorways inside the house..isolating the room I'm working in. I tarp the furniture..well and vac bef I remove the tarp. I just use a pump sprayer..with warm water..spraying..letting it soak,spraying a second time and then I use an inexpensive plastic spatula for mud to remove it. I catch most of the soggy mess with a plastic laundry hamper lid that I wrap a plastic bag around and tape taut. I use that because it has a slit handle in the middle so I have something to get a grip on. CY, I dont think I want to talk about it ever coming back...lol..you can't clean it..it makes homes look old..God help youif it's been painted because then you need a pick axe and a respirator.
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Post by datgirl on Mar 27, 2015 16:20:35 GMT -5
I had that popcorn ceiling in my first house. I think they put it up to cover the cracks in the ceiling. I left it up and let the people that bought the house from me deal with it. If it does come back, I'm not giving in.
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Post by claude on Mar 27, 2015 17:12:44 GMT -5
Believe it or not, rather than paying for 3 coats of mudd, they get by w 2..saves the builder $$
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 27, 2015 17:52:55 GMT -5
Oh it could very well come back. The current trend in decorating is "mid century" which is the 50's into the 60's. My nephews and their girlfriends and wives love what I would NEVER have in my home, simply because it is novel to them. They will avoid what their parents (my generation) like(ed). I've noticed that with clothes and hairstyle trends too. Things my mom wore,I would never wear- as a young adult and now. But it is novel to the 20-somethings. And those Mamie Eisenhower bangs? Never, for me. But I see 40 year olds with updated versions of them. Fashion repeats. I just can't bring myself to go where my parents went and see it as Fashionable.
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Post by claude on Mar 27, 2015 18:38:40 GMT -5
Well..not me. ????. My husband and I saw a movie and the house had the same wallpaper that I remember hanging in the kitchen for my Mom in the 70's She loved those big vibrant daiseys that were so popular....her favorite.
and those chunky platform shoes...flat shaggy boots...long stright hair..and pink lipstick..next will be white lipstick..and then black...
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