I have embarked on a full scale attack on the results of old man winter. The yard is strewn with debris, leaves, trash. It’s a royal mess….but no real surprise. This time of year, I like to spend a few weeks, before the onslaught of Spring, cleaning out the yard and preparing it for more plants! Last weekend, I cleaned the parking pad area where my two potting benches are located. Everything is sparkling clean and I now have a great base to work in the Springtime.
One of the best things that could happen is that we get an extra month of daylight’s saving time (thanks to Congress!) so that means I can come home and put in an hour of labor in the yard that I wouldn’t have been able to before. So, I will have accomplished a lot before the warmer weather kicks in.
In fact, yesterday the weather was a dream and I had received a package from Michigan bulb to boot. So, I was able to plant my miniature lemon and orange trees that will be placed on the front porch. Additionally, I did a little raking in the shade bed so that the ferns, heucheras, and hostas could breathe. I purchased a large free standing water fountain last year and spent this past weekend hooking the outtake hose to the new pump. I can’t wait to have a water feature at the front as well as the back of my property!
I’ve also pruned my roses, purchased a new “Monetesque” wooden bench for the rear of the pond, had a carpenter construct a small wooden deck to place underneath the gazebo and the new patio set. I bought an outdoor rug that coordinates nicely with the patio set’s pillows. It looks gorgeous.
Next weekend, I plan to clean the other side of the property. That means plenty of raking since there are so many trees on that side. I’ve decided against the concrete pathway….too expensive! Instead, I am going to get back into stained glass by making inlaid stained glass stepping stones to create a pathway along the side of the pond. I’ll just use pine straw in between the stones to cover the very ugly red clay. Yuck!
I am going to rototill every last one of my beds eventually. I will start with one or two and work my way around the property. The goal is to gradually get rid of any rock or landscape timbers borders that I have. I’m going for a more natural look by creating islands on a berm. Wish me luck!
Popularity: unranked [?]
Authors bio is coming up shortly.
