<![CDATA[DIY Chatroom - DIY Home Improvement Forum - Landscaping & Lawn Care]]> http://www.diychatroom.com en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:55:07 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.diychatroom.com/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[DIY Chatroom - DIY Home Improvement Forum - Landscaping & Lawn Care]]> http://www.diychatroom.com what compressor can I used to blow out sprinkler system http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/what-compressor-can-i-used-blow-out-sprinkler-system-57381/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:00:07 GMT I need suggestions for a good compressor to use to blow out my sprinkler system. The going rate around my area is $75 for a company to do it. I find that to be very high for what they are doing. I've read online of people doing it themselves. Any suggestions? ]]> Leoskee http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/what-compressor-can-i-used-blow-out-sprinkler-system-57381/ Fall care for Clematis vines http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/fall-care-clematis-vines-57293/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:13:18 GMT A friend let me dig up 2 clematis plants from her yard before she moved. Does anyone know what to do with them once they die off for the winter? Do I cut off all of the dead foliage and vines or will the vines produce flowers for next year? Thanks! A friend let me dig up 2 clematis plants from her yard before she moved. Does anyone know what to do with them once they die off for the winter?

Do I cut off all of the dead foliage and vines or will the vines produce flowers for next year?

Thanks! ]]> gma2rjc http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/fall-care-clematis-vines-57293/ Water Puddles on Lawn http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/water-puddles-lawn-57263/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:16:36 GMT We are buying a home where water doesn't drain properly after raining. It was disclosed by the buyer, so we will fix it ourselves. The puddling isn't near the house, basement is dry, etc., but want to fix the lawn so that it will dry properly after raining.
It appears that there's an indent in the lawn about halfway between the back fence and the house. The owner had an above ground pool a couple of years ago. If we fill with dirt, do you think that will correct the problem? ]]> HotDogTim http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/water-puddles-lawn-57263/ Waterfall help needed http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/waterfall-help-needed-57112/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:35:02 GMT Hi,
I'm making a sort of "beach" landscaping project around our hot tub.

I'd like to have a small waterfall there. I can't really envision what type of waterfall setup would look best.
Haven't seen too many rocks/waterfalls when I've been to the Florida beaches. At this point I'm thinking I'd like to maybe create something out of glass blocks and let the water run down over them. some turned vertically, some horizontally...etc.to get a waterfall effect.
Not sure, just thinking outside of the box.
Anybody ever done anything like that?
If not, or haven't seen a glass block waterfall, in order to keep with the beach project, what would you suggest?
There will be a sandy area, pampas grass, some large shells, maybe, gulp..a pink flamingo (I know it's a lil over the top, but we like em..just 1:)) surronding the waterfall.. ]]> diyntn http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/waterfall-help-needed-57112/ Retaining Wall and Muddy Yard http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/retaining-wall-muddy-yard-57108/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:57:53 GMT This is kind of a two part question. My wife and I purchased a house and end of the back yard sloped down into our neighbors yard, down about 10 feet, out about 20. We had someone come in and install two terraced retaining walls and regained about 10 feet of yard. We used ecology blocks... This is kind of a two part question. My wife and I purchased a house and end of the back yard sloped down into our neighbors yard, down about 10 feet, out about 20. We had someone come in and install two terraced retaining walls and regained about 10 feet of yard. We used ecology blocks (2'x2'x6' concrete blocks w/ a rebar &quot;handle&quot;) for the wall. The upper wall consists of 3 blocks of which one is completely buried leaving 4' above ground. They also leveled our yard (it was always fairly flat, but there was one section that quickly dropped off a few inches creating a, so a portion was lower than the other part of the yard), and graded it away from the house, and brought in several layers of top soil. We had no problems with mud or drainage before this happened, however now we have had alot of rain in the last several weeks, and our yard if very muddy. There was grass/weeds when we started, but now the flatter yard is just dirt, and we were going to replant grass in the spring. As I said, there was no water issues before, but now the yard is muddy. If you walk on it, you sink several inches, and your boots tend to stick into the ground. My first question is will this likely be alleviated when we plant grass, as the grass will be absorbing the moisture, or should the yard be graded more than it is? As I said, it currently gently slopes away from the house, and the foundation stays dry, so no basement issues, just the yard being wet. Secondly, when they installed the retaining wall, they only put a drain tile (drainage rock and a pipe) near the bottom of the wall. The put no drain rock between the wall and fill. The wall has begun to lean, and they are returning to fix this. My question is how is the best way to do this? I was going to have them add drain rock up the entire face of the rear of the wall to allow water to drain, and also slightly slope the blocks into the hill. Will this be adequate? I am not sure if the drain rock behind the wall will work because the yard retains so much water currently. I have read about hydrostatic pressure, but is this caused from the water itself actually pressing against the wall, or from water saturated soil gaining mass, and putting more force against the wall? If the water is creating the force, the drain rock would seem to solve the problem, as it would all just drain away, but if it is just soil that retains water, I don't know how much the drain rock would help. Finally what is the ideal grade for a yard to facilitate drainage, but still be &quot;flat&quot; for usability? My yard is about 35' long, by 50' wide (50' retaining wall). Also, with the drain rock behind the wall, should the yard slope completely away from the house, w/ the highest part being the foundation, and the lowest part being the retaining wall, or will this cause retaining wall issues (it seems to me even if the wall is the lowest part, the drain rock behind it would create a place for all the water to go away to)? The other option would be to have the retaining wall and foundation both higher, creating a slight V shape in the middle of the yard, and drain off to the side. I'm not sure of the type of soil that I have, but I previously figured it had pretty good drainage because the yard never had water problems before, now I'm not so sure. Any input would be appreciated. Sorry for the long post all in one paragraph, but whenever I saved my changes, I couldn't add any white spaces. Thanks, Richard ]]> rjschwar http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/retaining-wall-muddy-yard-57108/ cub cadet lawn tractors http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/cub-cadet-lawn-tractors-57016/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:07:49 GMT I hope there is someone out there who can help. The mower deck belt snapped on the tractor. I replaced it witht the MTD belt I bought from the dealer. But now the PTO won"t engage I replaced the fuse and still no love. What should i do now ]]> dg0285 http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/cub-cadet-lawn-tractors-57016/ <![CDATA[Storing Canna's for the winter]]> http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/storing-cannas-winter-57000/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:13:43 GMT Does anyone else have Canna plants they dig up and store for the winter? I have mine in the house already. But I'm wondering if there is a better, faster or easier way get them from the ground to being dried and stored inside.

Every year, once the frost has wilted the leaves, I dig the plants up with a pitch fork. Then I cut the stem off at the top of the bulb (actually a tuber). I wash all the dirt off with the garden hose outside.

All of that takes a couple days. Drying them out before storing them is what takes so long. I lay them all out on the deck on the nice days, but they have to be brought in at the end of the day if it gets too cold at night. Plus the squirrels take them. Otherwise I lay them on news papers on the floor in an extra room to dry.

They're stored in plastic bins (with the lid off to keep the moisture from building up and causing them to rot) in single layers between sheets of news paper.

Here's what they look like when they're still pretty small.

Attachment 14769

This is what they look like before being stored for winter, once they've dried out for a few weeks.

Attachment 14772

Is there a different process of getting them ready to be stored?
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]]> gma2rjc http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/storing-cannas-winter-57000/ New kind of weed in lawn? http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/new-kind-weed-lawn-56948/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:05:10 GMT I've have a new kind of weed I think that I never saw before.
It kind of looks like grass but it has long rhizomes (or whatever) and is not real connected to the earth, like turf grass, if you know what I mean.
It seems to be taking over in patches. Weird.
We had a real wet summer in a cool climate.
Thanks. ]]> VelvetFoot http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/new-kind-weed-lawn-56948/ Finished Retaining Wall http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/finished-retaining-wall-56947/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:38:35 GMT I finished my wall about a month ago and wanted to share some photos.

Curious to hear your honest feedback, as well as what might be your favorite section(s), or least favorite.

This was my first wall. I spent a long time researching various stones, finally settled on this "great meadow limestone" out of the adirondacks, which was custom ordered from my local supplier.

It took a few months of mostly weekend work (also had a full-time job timberframing).

I can honestly say that no more than about 2 minutes of this entire project was "fun," and mostly I was cursing the entire way through.

I would never, ever do it again. That being said, I'm really happy with the result, except for one little section that bothers me a bit.

Ever single stone except for maybe 3 were laboriously hand chiseled to fit closely top, bottom, and sides with all surrounded stones.

Had a lot of inane comments from passerby, like:

"That looks like fun!" (smack!)

"It's a big puzzle!" (smack!)

"Gonna look nice when it's done..." (double smack!)

I also had some really nice, thoughtful comments, just enough to keep me going. This is in a high visibility spot right next to the road.

I like it, and it's very close to the vision I had before I started. Definitely wanted something unique, with a lot of movement. Very clearly did not want a rustic, fieldstone kind of look. This wall doesn't have one single chink or shim in the entire face.

Please ask any questions.

















]]> schmolze http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/finished-retaining-wall-56947/ Creeping Charlie http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/creeping-charlie-56939/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:39:23 GMT Hello,

I have a lawn that is literally FULL of Creeping charlie. Does anyone know of a "green" way to get rid of it, other than pulling it by hand? Here in Ontario it is illegal to use pesticides unless organic, and they don't touch the stuff.

I thought this time of year might be a good time to get it. It seems to be going dormant for the winter, so I thought I would check and see if anyone can help....I HATE the stuff!

I am considering just tilling my whole lawn in the spring and re-laying sod.

Thanks! ]]> Zee 32 http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/creeping-charlie-56939/ Damaged brick pavers http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/damaged-brick-pavers-56868/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:15:51 GMT I recently had my house resided, I noticed the contractor had spilled some stain on my brick pavers, I asked he remove it, I don't know what he used, the stain is gone, but those bricks are now an off white, any ideas how to freshen up these bricks, their are a zillion cleaners and sealers out there, would like some help, I don't mind if I have to seal the whole walkway, pavers are 20 years old, never been treated. ]]> turbomangt http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/damaged-brick-pavers-56868/ Electric pole tree saw http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/electric-pole-tree-saw-56863/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:07:27 GMT I expect this topic could go on the tool forum but seeing it is used as a
yard tool I'm here !
Has anyone bought and / or used an electric 9 to 10 foot powered tree saw I see an electric Homlite on the market.
How good does it work and I expect to cut no more then 6" dia. branches
to thin out a Box Elder tree . This is one of those tools one would not use a whole lot so I expect to pay about $100.00 dollars tops.

Deck hand ]]> deck hand http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/electric-pole-tree-saw-56863/ improved 2 cycle engine oil? http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/improved-2-cycle-engine-oil-56808/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:50:59 GMT I just bought a 2.6 oz bottle of Pro Mix Premium 2 cycle engine oil to go along with a leaf blower I just purchased. I noticed that on the oil bottle it says, 1 bottle in 1 gallon of gas for any mixture from 50:1 down to 16:1. Has the 2 cycle quality come so far that now I can have one can of 2... I just bought a 2.6 oz bottle of Pro Mix Premium 2 cycle engine oil to go along with a leaf blower I just purchased. I noticed that on the oil bottle it says, 1 bottle in 1 gallon of gas for any mixture from 50:1 down to 16:1. Has the 2 cycle quality come so far that now I can have one can of 2 cycle gas for all my 2 cycle engine needs? thanks ]]> oletrkguy http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/improved-2-cycle-engine-oil-56808/ Sealing a paver patio? http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/sealing-paver-patio-56768/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:45:08 GMT After completing the cobblestone paver patio, should it be sealed? After completing the cobblestone paver patio, should it be sealed? ]]> mikaohio http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/sealing-paver-patio-56768/ repairing irrigation system http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/repairing-irrigation-system-56764/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:28:42 GMT I recently moved into a home where the existing irrigation system was damaged when they repaired the septic system. I had water that was flowing out of the top of the ground and none of the sprinklers was working in this particular zone. I dug up and found the pipe had been cut completely off. I... I recently moved into a home where the existing irrigation system was damaged when they repaired the septic system. I had water that was flowing out of the top of the ground and none of the sprinklers was working in this particular zone. I dug up and found the pipe had been cut completely off. I then tried to locate the pipe it was connected to. Appoximately 10 feet away I found another pipe however it was smaller in diameter. Is this common, or does it have something to do with the water pressure. ]]> rpsally777 http://www.diychatroom.com/f16/repairing-irrigation-system-56764/