Yard Work, Ugh

[pilotwife3]

I still have 6 feet of snow in my front yard. The tunnel I had to dig out from my front door has finally receded but I still cannot clearly see my neighbour across the street. My shrubs and perennials are desperately trying to fight for air. I am so jealous of any yard horrors you have right now. I think I might see my grass by mid May Oh yeah, we had another 6 inches of snow this morning. I may have to jump off a building soon.....

[katbuad]

Originally Posted by pilotwife3

I still have 6 feet of snow in my front yard. Oh yeah, we had another 6 inches of snow this morning. I may have to jump off a building soon.....

OMG!! Bless your heart. I love to see the snow come and I love to see the snow go, but I don't like to see it linger.

Sending you WARM thoughts!

[madlibs]

Believe me, I'm with ya on the rebuilding of the yard ASAwife. When I stop to think about all the work we've done, I almost can't believe it. Even after we move from here, I'll have a permanant reminder of the yard work at this place as I cut myself deeply last fall while working. Horizontally aross my leg, where leg meets ankle. Looks SO hot with a dress, let me tell you.

Yuck, and I'm also anti-snake, it's not even funny. We have water moccasins in our back yard in this ravine-like area. Ok, I don't know that for a fact, but I found a baby water moccasin-like snake last summer, and have been convinced they're back there ever since. Copperheads and Water Moccasins are both around this area, and I'd rather not come in contarct with either. When the weather is above 50-60 degrees, I don't go back in that area anymore. SO scary.

One other sidenote... do any of you guys have bamboo? I mentioned it in one of the posts above. It's seriously got to be the coolest plant I've ever seen. I've been taking daily pictures and measurements the last few days, and the shoots have been growing SIX INCHES A DAY. I still don't think it's possble, even when looking at it with my own eyes. Really cool. If any of you are in need of a natural screen to block out neighbors homes, etc. this plant is worth a shot. There are over 1,000 of types (which I didn't know about) and if you get the right type for your area, it will grow almost anywhere. I think the kind we have grows to about 25-30 feet tall, but there are types that will grow to almost any height you choose. I drive by some here that are around 70 feet tall. Really neat stuff.
Ok, end of my bamboo praise. I've just been really fascinated by these plants the last few days.
Here's a random website with some photos (not mine), if you're interested. Timber Bamboo

[spotty4]

Originally Posted by madlibs

One other sidenote... do any of you guys have bamboo? I mentioned it in one of the posts above. It's seriously got to be the coolest plant I've ever seen. I've been taking daily pictures and measurements the last few days, and the shoots have been growing SIX INCHES A DAY. I still don't think it's possble, even when looking at it with my own eyes. Really cool. If any of you are in need of a natural screen to block out neighbors homes, etc. this plant is worth a shot. There are over 1,000 of types (which I didn't know about) and if you get the right type for your area, it will grow almost anywhere. I think the kind we have grows to about 25-30 feet tall, but there are types that will grow to almost any height you choose. I drive by some here that are around 70 feet tall. Really neat stuff. Ok, end of my bamboo praise. I've just been really fascinated by these plants the last few days. Here's a random website with some photos (not mine), if you're interested. Timber Bamboo

However, if you didn't plant the bamboo yourself (or even want it), and its leftover from a previous owner/tenant, and all they did was lay a brick patio over the earth from which the bamboo was growing and only hacked it back w/o killing it, then bamboo is a horrible nuisance!! We have bamboo shoots fighting out of every nook and gap b/t bricks. The root system underneath those bricks must be VERY impressive. We don't own the place, though -- just renters. So we make do w/ no grand plans for redoing the yard/patio.

[mrs767er]

my parents have NA bamboo that grandma thought was really cool, too--gorgeous cover much of the year--ice storms makes it surreal and birds wake it dip and sway--but, it's not illegal in many states to plant it without a 12 " concrete barrier. It has grown up through the side of the house and "turned" into the frame walls. Took some major industrial poison to kill it back and it's ok for Now...this is in Cincy area and weather hasn't killed it off yet! Beware...it's ALIVE!! Spotty4's right--it can be a horror story

[madlibs]

hmm. Haven't heard about being illegal in at least 4 states that I've inquired about it. We got our plants from my in-laws. (They're horticulturists.) I did a LOT of research before planting this, and containing it is definitely something you need to consider from the beginning. But that is only if your purchase or acquire the Running-type of bamboo. It's not necessary for the Clumping variety. Containing it is not that hard, though, if you do some planning. You can use a barrier to block the rhizomes of the Running-type of bamboo, as mentioned. The rhizomes typically do not grow deeper than 3-4 inches below the ground surface. (Not true for every type... remember to research your variety.) You can also shove a spade or shovel into the ground along a line where you don't want the bamboo to grow. This kills the rhizomes. Another way is to plant the bamboo near water... it can't survive in water. If you notice culms (shoots) coming up in your yard all you have to do is mow over them several times. This will cause the root system to exhaust its energy supply and die. That'll take care of them. If you do enjoy the look of bamboo, but are really worried about it spreading, just buy the Clumping variety. It still sends out rhizomes, but very VERY slowly. VERY easy to maintain. Also, don't look for weather to destroy types that are hearty to your zone... they're basically evergreens. Sorry your parents had such trouble, Mrs767er! That does sound like an expensive mess.

[ccbegay]

I love doing yard work, but only if it's been kept up the whole time...last year, BF had a brilliant idea to rip up some trees and half the yard, because he wants to reseed and so forth, well here we are 1 year without trees and a nice plush yard of weeds, granted we have mowers come every week to mow, so it still looks nice, it's just weeds! It's plothcy here and there, and well, it really is a work in progress and with his schedule for the next year or so, it's gonna be awhile till we have plushy grass and trees! *sigh*...