Today was a beautiful day, perfect for yard work, so I went back to the recycle place to get more mulch. We had already made four trips earlier in the month and my son and I made three trips today, but I still need more mulch.
I'm so tired of mulching already. I'm very thankful it's free, but it is time consuming and very tiring to do it this way. We put a tarp in the SUV and I take as many large containers as I can find, the ones my trees and shrubs were purchased in, large Rubbermaid containers, a trash can or two and kitty litter buckets. We fill them, load them in the car, return home and empty and spread it in the flower beds and repeat the process.
Last year we ordered three cubic yards of hardwood mulch for $67.50 from a local landscape company and had it delivered. I didn't like the mulch they used and didn't want it again. It hardened like concrete around the trees, so hard that I almost needed the pickax to remove it. I had never seen mulch harden like that did. I honestly don't think the rain could have penetrated it.
Anyway,the mulch from the recycle center was better, (cleaner), today than what we got earlier this month. If the weather holds out I hope to get a couple more loads to cover things a little better. I'd love to have the side yard near my neighbor completely mulched, the neighborhood kids keep cutting the corner and stepping over my small shrubs and grasses. Maybe mulching the whole area will give them more of a distinct boundary. I can only hope.
This is why I drive a truck. All that hauling is so much easier with a truck. I have a dear friend that is older and when I told her I was purchasing a truck this last time I made a vehicle purchase she almost fainted. ha. She got over that after she found that calling me to haul something was a nice perk. I didn't need a truck before Dad and Brother-in-law that had trucks I could borrow. I don't mind toodling around in a truck. My DB has actually taken over the truck since he retired. I think he likes driving it as much as the car.
ReplyDeleteWe have to buy mulch in bags and haul it home a few at a time - your town is sure helping out local gardeners, Robin!
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying your red leaf photos.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
You have some lovely photos on your blog, have enjoyed reading it.. [via plants & rocks blog. :O)
ReplyDeleteIt will all look so nice when you are finished! :o) Beautiful leaves in the photo!
ReplyDeleteYou are so fortunate to get free mulch....it may be a lot of work, but come spring you will be so glad you did it!
ReplyDeleteLisa, I'd love to have a truck too. It might be dangerous for me to have it though. Right now I have to want something really bad to haul it in the SUV. There would be fewer limitations if I had a truck.
ReplyDeleteAnnie, some years the free mulch is gone before I get any, so I've bought plenty in the bags. I try to buy the broken bags and get them for half-price. I'm cheap.
Gina, thank you for stopping by, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Janice, thank you. I love the look of freshly mulched beds, they do look nice.
I am so glad to get the mulch free, Connie, especially since I had so much to mulch this year. It does save me a lot of work come spring by keeping those weeds at bay.
That sounds like a lot of hard work Robin but it's great that you can get your mulch for free.
ReplyDeleteI used to buy mulch in bulk and haul it home in the farm truck. Then I bought it by the ton and had them deliver it into a huge pile. Now, I just buy the bags because they are easier to carry around the yard and distribute. It saves my back all that shoveling and also saves time. Yes, it costs quite a lot more. But thankfully, I can pay the extra and justify it as insurance against future back surgery!
ReplyDelete--Robin (Bumblebee)
I'm tired just reading about all the mulching you've done, Robin. I don't mulch anymore and you don't have to either if you plant more stuff. Instead of buying mulch buy more plants and put them close together and you'll see. They're so tight there's no need for mulch !
ReplyDeleteLovely photos Robin. here the trees are now at the point of highest autumn colour. Tomorrow I'm going out to the country to enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos ...Can I ask
ReplyDeletewhat type of camera and lens you
use? Our family has had a truck
every since I can remember. I
like an older truck.. These new
trucks are just so pretty we
hate to haul anything.
Carolyn Gail, hopefully one day I'll have enough plants that I won't have to mulch so much. I have so many new garden areas that isn't possible right now.
ReplyDeleteThank you,anonymous, and welcome to Robin's Nesting Place. I have three cameras that I use. Most of the recent pictures were taken with the Sony Alpha 100 with the 75-300 lens. I also have a Canon A630, and Sony F717.
I commiserate with you. I've been hauling compost from our environmental center and those plant tubs are very heavy. I made two trips the other day and I was pretty much wiped out for the rest of the day. Wrestling the tubs and spreading the mulch is not easy.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it nice to have free mulch.
You have a beautiful blog site. Stunning photography! I've added a link to your site at my blog.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you.
Robin, I am missing your blog entries!! The pics and your gardening stories are always a highlight of my time spent on the internet. Hope you and yours are doing well ~~ and that you are just busy with FUN stuff. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Susan in P'cola
Ki, the free mulch is nice, hard work to haul, but very nice indeed.
ReplyDeleteE Bussey, thank you so much and welcome. I'm so glad you've enjoyed my blog and my pictures.
Susan, thank you. You brightened my day with your sweet comment. I have been busy babysitting this week and too tired to be creative for posting, not to mention I've been cooped up in the house most of the week. I finally got out a bit today while the baby was sleeping.