What Did You Do In The Garden?

[ducks4you]

In the PNW we have invasive ivy with trunks as big as trees…I just put a bucket over the area where most of the upper portion of the plant is removed and root’s dislodged from the main plant. This robs the plant of sun & water. By the next season it’s compost. This is how I get rid of that invasive Algerian ivy.

This is an easy way to use weed spray available safe for pets and children. I use it in the areas where the grandkids and dogs hang out. It may take longer to work but it works.

It has to be a good product if it works and takes more time. I think the chemical companies have hood winked the general public to think that you should buy/use a spray that kills dandelions in the cracks of your driveway while you watch it die!

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

In my case using chemical sprays for weeds is a bit more complicated than spot spraying a dandelion in cracks in my driveway. There are different needs for different areas and for different types of weeds. Which indeed I do use chemical sprays along my driveway because it is half a block long and asphalt- black top. A spendy replacement if weeds are allowed to grow in cracks and roots are hard if not impossible to get out from these cracks which will split open new cracks yearly . Spraying is necessary to preserve an investment . Black top driveways are very spendy to replace or patch. Most chemical weed control treatments in my opinion is a good way to protect driveways, cement walkways , house and out building foundations as well as stock pasture land.

I have pastures also that need to be sprayed for poisonous plants that pop up . Generally hand pulling is not efficient in hard pan clay soil or large pasture areas consisting of several acres. I section and close off the pastures and spray separate sections and then alternate every 2-3 weeks to open after spraying. This is done in order to preserve grass hay for stock animals so they can continue to forage during the day as well as hay bales split in quarters for them to feed on safely without existing dried poisonous weeds .

Posionous tansey ragwort and poison hemlock seeds generally float on winter wind currents leaving seeds coving the pastures . By late July / August poisonous plants are popping up from seeds left in winter throughout the pastures. I use a pasture weed spray developed by the Oregon state agriculture division designed to eliminate poisonous weeds in pastures . It’s an efficient chemical spray used 2x’s a year while using my 15 gallon battery op sprayer designed to spray several acres .

Another weed issue here are the Himalayan wild blackberry’s that can roll across the pastures and cover any small building in just a few years encroaching from the wild forrest next door and bird droppings which can spread wild blackberry seeds literally everwhere. These blackberry plants as well as poison oak and algerian ivy are considered noxious weeds by the Oregon state agriculture department in our neck of the woods. I use a different chemical weed spray designed specifically for these types of noxious and poisonous weeds . Regular weed spray does not kill wild Himalayan blackberry , poison oak etc. I protected my pastures from all noxious weeds in order to protect my animals . It’s a win win treatment program protecting animals and safe hay content.

I could go on and on. I hope I have explained how important it is to use chemical weed spray designed for different purposes and types of noxious plants and weeds not only to protect property but also to protect stock animals.
I use whatever works to preserve the pastures to make the grass hay safe for stock animals . Have spent many years doing research for my particular needs and attended county meetings attributed to the education and proper use of chemical weed formulations designed for different purposes and using appropriate caution .

 

[ducks4you]

I spent 4 hours weeding yesterday!!! VERY theraputic and I was even walking Better when I came inside.
I used my walker and my gardening seat, and I was VERY CAREFUL.
DH used the tractor to mow, and I weeded in the front beds, around and inside of the bed with the satellite dish, and the perimeter of my wildflower garden overgrown with grasses and bindweed.
DD's will be mowing this afternoon with the God mower and push mower to finish. I will need to pull the pick up trash can over and throw away the piles of bindweed, which is the only real way to get rid of them. I have tried burning them before. If Any little piece survives they will multiply.
I also cut down 2 volunteer saplings, dropped the worn out AC cover in front of the porch, and planted flowers in a pot on top of it. I poured a pitcher full of water there, and covered it with a white compostable garbage bag to hold in the moisture. I prepped the pot with egg shells from a dozen eggs that I had hard boiled, added several used coffee grounds + filters, dumped in some compost before finishing with potting soil.
I hope to have zinnias and nasturtiums growing there end of the month.
I watered my huge pot of tomatoes and peppers, checked the peppers in the whiskey barrel--many fruits growing!--and I took a few minutes to de-bindweed my 3 roses SSE of the garage. All 3 are doing well and have buds and flowers growing.
I should add that I broke up my weeding workout into two 2 hour sessions.
Cut down on pain medicine, so it's all good!

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

Ducks your a good patient using your walker with a seat while outside . Just an arduous task like pulling weeds all of a sudden feels so good just to be outside and accomplishing those garden tasks that we hate to do. But for some reason after a serious knee surgery those mundane tasks feel special and gives one a feeling of soladatiry.

Walkers come in very handy . I have saved mine as my walker also has hand breaks and a basket along with a seat and turns on a dime. It’s great for caring all types of heavy stuff. Like heavy groceries from the store just wheel it all inside from the car. Or taking heavy things from one place to another around the house..if it fits on the seat. It’s a handy dandy helping tool to keep around.

Take it easy .. sending healing blessings your way. .

 

[ducks4you]

@Shades-of-Oregon , mine isn't Nearly that fancy, and the seat I refer to is my gardening seat, that I will probably Never use to kneel on, even though you can flip it over to do that.
You know, it's a really good idea to have your spouse go to Dr. appts with you. You cannot remember everything that is said, and the 2nd person helps a LOT.
Like when DH had to have cataract surgery and he was SO GRATEFUL that I heard the dr. suggest better lenses.
Also, I have found out that not many people who spent more on bifocal lenses are really happy with them.
He needs lower level readers than I have--although getting my eye glasses prescription from June filled is on my to do list this week--and we can pick them up at $2/pr at the local grocery store.
I know. I have a stash, in the back room, in my purse, on the porch, in my car...
Anyway, somebody who has successfully had 2 new knees told me yesterday that the dr's Don't want you to lean on your knees. I tried with my right knee, kneeling on 4 inches of hay, didn't hurt, just felt Weird!
What I was told was the some people find this uncomfortable after healing and choose to use HD knee pads, and that is my intention.
The game of "telephone" is alive and well!
Also, I can sweep the carpets leaning on it.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

@ducks4you Amazing group off common senior issues. Im my case experienced many joint replacements as well as cataract surgeries. I have so many of those drug store eye glasses too. Either I loose them, sit on them or plant them in the garden. I found a pair under a compost pile after several months and they were still good.
Healing takes longer than we expect after joint replacement surgeries. As long as your in that good space and cautious with movements use mindfulness when tackling activities you will be dancing by the up coming holidays. It’s a huge surgery bone and soft tissue need time for regrowth to secure the new shinny knee components.
Sending gentle hugs & healing blessings your way..

 

[ducks4you]

I was told it would take a full year to heal.
I have questions for the Physical Therapists as to what I will actually be Able to do after one year's time, when both have become healed.
They said, Oh, you'll be running around the yard doing stuff! HA!!
There Will be no running in my future, but, I hope, I will be riding my ponies next July.

 

[Shades-of-Oregon]

I was told it would take a full year to heal.
I have questions for the Physical Therapists as to what I will actually be Able to do after one year's time, when both have become healed.
They said, Oh, you'll be running around the yard doing stuff! HA!!
There Will be no running in my future, but, I hope, I will be riding my ponies next July.

What a stupid answer… Geezz. It just goes to show ya therapy is directed by book illustrations well developed after a few months of attending schooling. Not necessarily do therapist understand real people with different healing agendas and different perspectives and healing abilities, everyone heals differently. There is no time on healing and sustaining mobility without pain. Your absolutely correct the concept of running has long left the building. Walking fast maybe. But remember to ask what not to do to help extend the life of your new knee.

My doc recommended avoiding high impact activities, weight-bearing activities which can cause pain and swelling . I have left a lot of favorite activities behind. Healing includes maintaining good balance , posture , and walking correctly is ‘KEY’. Heel to toe. No scooting or dragging feet on the floor or rolling ankles or knees. In my case my doc recommended wearing spring shoes after major healing . Until walking properly was developed as ‘Muscle Memory’ thru practice , teaching the ‘BRAIN’ how to move with the new knee component’s is important. This also details proper shoes and good arch supports. There are certain shoes to wear and other shoes cannot be worn as each person is different.

And in my case it was a big fat ‘Yes’ to ride my horse’s again . When your ready as long as the horse is well trained and a gentle walker and you can post while riding in a fast walk or gallop it’s a go. You know your pony better than anyone. I trusted my horses with my life…they were well trained and could climb the mountains and canyons with no problem . It took me a long time to get back into shape to ride again. Riding on easy trails at first and no horse boo boo’s along the way to scare the horses or cause a side jump . Remembering the leg muscles is important as are balance with strong legs to stay in the saddle . The brain comes in this training race again to be trained again too.

I don’t know where you intend to ride wherever … take it slow and easy at first until you get your legs back.
This time next year you will have it all back in control and a better understanding how your new joints have given you new life, mobility and a better quality of life.

 

[digitS']

Yesterday –– Took out the corn, including a remaining few ears .

Dug out the bed. The most difficult parts of the job besides moving shovelfuls of soil was finding a place for the soil so that I didn't pile it on the lawn and kill the grass. Filled one path with soil and then 5-gallon buckets, which meant that only parts of the bed could be done at a time. It was okay and less than 2 hours were required to dig out soil, including 4 dead tree roots which hadn't been removed in the Spring when that part of the lawn was put into a veggie bed. The corn stalks went in the trench, not the roots which will go in the garbage can, next was kitchen stuff and only 2 wheelbarrow loads of fairly well finished compost.

It's okay and fertilizer can be used next year as it was this Spring. I found some decent (but expensive) bagged chicken compost that was rated for NPK. The compost from this year's lawn grass is nearly used up. Not using a compost pile in the distant garden so many years has spoiled us re: having so much garden wastes to use here at home. I may go back to raking pine needles in the park, as has been done in the past. I never found out if that was okay with the park department but it makes good Winter mulch and composts well. The old beds have good tilth but the new ones need more organic material. Both will need NPK on a regular basis.

Today, my 30 minutes of exercise was mowing and trimming the front lawn. Yes, I could collect lawngrass but that would mean that I would have to fertilize the lawn. Nah, I'd rather mow it when it barely needs it and leave whatever to maintain fertility ... may change my thinking in future years. I am willing to use synthetic fertilizers on non-food crops.

The empty potato bed was filled with Asian greens transplants and more of those will be used for that corn bed along with a few lettuce seedlings. Elsewhere, pea seed for Autumn is already in the soil. Late beans are up and growing. Hopefully, the cucumber vines won't play out. They are producing an abundance right now .

 

[ducks4you]

I don’t know where you intend to ride wherever … take it slow and easy at first until you get your legs back.
This time next year you will have it all back in control and a better understanding how your new joints have given you new life, mobility and a better quality of life.

I intend to ride in my back yard...where my horses live!
That is probably the Best advice I have been given--THANKS!!
I AM going to wait to ride until July, 2026, one year after the left knee has healed.
I am "following" Jack LaTorre, who demonstrates online exercises for equestrians, something I never thought that I would need, but I now taking it seriously.
I intend to start working on them by the end of the month, although some are no brainers, like shifting sitting weight back and forth to keep limber.
Some of the others mimic core exercises, crunches and planks--those are good for anybody.