Last Sunday I continued work on the no mow zone. I planted more hostas, lilies, a Little Henry Sweetspire and foxgloves. I covered some areas in landscape fabric then began the long process of shoveling pea gravel into the cart, moving the cart, then shoveling pea gravel back out (didn't want to damage plants by dumping the gravel). My last several trips I was able to dump the cart along what will be a pathway thru.
The pea gravel pile was definitely much smaller when I got done with that portion. The dead grass shows where the pile was previously. What isn't apparent is that the pile is not as tall either, so more is gone than what would appear.
Yesterday, I started tackling the stump; removing large roots. I have an idea to keep the stump as a "feature" (much as sometimes is done with large rocks that would be too much trouble to move), but I don't want the roots heaving. Nor do I want them in the way of future work in the area. I have gotten about 1/2 way thru removing the main roots. It would be much easier and faster to use large, mechanical machines, but I work with what I have. I did use the chainsay to separate the roots from the trunk, but everything else is done with hand tools. The first picture is where I started from (I had actually started getting the sod away from the stump last weekend). The rest are of the progress I made yesterday..
I was so glad it was only in the 70's - and with that, I still had sweat running into my eyes. I am hoping to continue work today, but it is supposed to get near 90, so I am unsure how much will actually get done. Plus, most of my calluses were worn off (I stopped earlier than planned because of that), so don't want to end up with all blisters. And no, I'm not the glove-wearing sort, wspecially on hot days.
Wow! You really must stop showing all of that work. You are making me tired! Well done! Those roots can be a bear. What a lovely glade you are setting up.
Actually, I am tired from cutting down a couple more tall, thin elm trees, dragging one of them to the next-to-farthest brush pile, and finishing dragging back one of the medium-sized elms that I sawed down two weeks ago. I left one of the freshly cut trees where it fell (not in anyone's way but mine - I have to walk around it) to dry out a bit. Drying out for a week or two reduces the weight significantly.
Gloves: As you probably recall, your dad pulls on his leather gloves before rolling the trash cart out to the curb. Me? I put on gloves for working with briars - or, usually, for dragging the downed trees.
Posted by: Cop Car | August 02, 2015 at 09:38 AM
Apparently you have been my role model on gloves - LOL.
Letting the wood dry is certainly smart!
Posted by: bogie | August 14, 2015 at 08:53 PM