So, you know how I got really fired up when I was working on the movie room last year? That was such a fun project, and once I started, I couldn’t stop. Well, that’s sort of what’s going on with me right now regarding the gardens here at the Dollhouse. I am determined to whip this yard into shape this summer, so I’ve gone a little cray cray! Here’s how the side yard/path looks after its recent weeding. We had to clear away some of the daylilies that had spread out over the path. They will fill back out in the next year or two. They had completely overgrown the path.
Remember all the weeds that popped up in this area after a huge tree split and had to be removed?
That area has been cleared, too. Note the large clump of catmint in that photo. Catmint is obviously incredibly hardy since I have around 6-8 large clumps all around the paved patio area. It’s one of the lone survivors that made it through three years of neglect when the yard and gardens were left unattended.
Before this area of the yard can be grassed, this gigantic stump needs to be removed. I’m getting a quote for that this week. I was told by one of the tree guys who looked at the tree when it split off a massive section into my neighbor’s yard, that this stump was really four Little Linden trees that had somehow grown into one massive tree, which is why it ultimately ended up splitting apart.
I awoke early and took advantage of the 60-degree weather to work in the front and back gardens today. I used this amazing DeWalt limb trimmer that I recently purchased to remove a bunch of weed trees that were growing in various places in the yard. I was amazed at how fast I could work and how much I got done!
I never could have accomplished all that I did this morning without it. It saved my hand! The info on this genius tool says that it will cut limbs up to 1.5 inches thick, but I’m pretty sure I cut a few that were even thicker. It will cut over a thousand limbs on a single battery charge! When I finished, the battery appeared to still be where it was when I started, and I cut for over an hour! Amazing tool! If you need to trim thick limbs from time to time, you’ll find this hand-saving tool available here, where the reviews reflect how amazing it is: DeWalt Pruning/Limb Cutter. If you don’t own any DeWalt tools and need their battery charger and a battery, you’ll find a complete set here: DeWalt Pruning Tool with Battery and Charger.
Pine Straw: Scarce and Expensive in Ohio! I am in serious attack mode now! Ha! Remember how I mentioned I had gone a little crazy in my efforts to get this garden in shape? Have you ever tried to order pine straw while living in Ohio? It ain’t easy, and it costs a fortune. Apparently, all the garden centers/landscaping companies have to have pine straw trucked up from the south. At home, I can have 42 bales delivered and spread in all my islands/beds for around $350. Again, that includes putting the straw out! I just spent $515 this morning for 42 bales, and that doesn’t include spreading. That was the best price I could find anywhere. So this girl will be very busy over the next week. Good exercise!
The pine straw should be delivered sometime in the next 48 hours. Over the years, I’ve come to learn that not all pinestraw is created equal, so I asked a ton of questions before I placed my order online. The company I ordered from has great reviews, and they answered all my questions the way I had hoped, so I’m optimistic. If their straw lives up to what I was told, I’ll share the name of the company in a future post. I want to make sure it’s good longleaf straw, and not full of sticks like I used to get back in the day when I was buying pine straw from the big hardware stores. I will be spreading it around my hydrangeas that are just starting to bloom, around some of the shrubs in both the front yard and back yard, and possibly in the side yard. We’ll see how far it goes.
This paver patio and the paved section of my driveway will be getting cleaned, sanded, and sealed toward the end of July.
By then, I should be pretty much done with planting perennials around the patio.
I purchased this seating group, which includes a fire pit, a few days ago. It is set to arrive next week.
This furniture has great reviews, and I love that the fire pit converts into a coffee table when not in use as a fire pit. It would be so much fun if we could roast marshmallows over it.
I also purchased this outdoor dining set. I purchased two sets, and I’m hoping they will fit okay on the patio. I first chose the set with bright turquoise cushions, but ended up canceling that order, thinking the cushions might be too bright and conflict with the colors in the flowers I’ve purchased to surround the patio. In the end, I went with this dark blue/navy color. It will probably hide stains better, too. It has a hole in the center for an umbrella.
I ordered two sets since a table for four won’t be enough for all of us. If I find that I have room for both dining sets, I plan to keep them apart most of the time, but push them together when needed. If you would like to read more about this table, including the reviews, you’ll find it available here: Patio/Deck Dining Set with 5 Cushion Color Choices.
There are awesome Prime Day sales going on right now. I had been eyeing this rechargeable lamp and was happy to see it’s currently on sale.
I purchased two and hope to use them on the outdoor tables. (You’ll find these on sale here: Cordless, Rechargeable Lamps.) (Update: It arrived and I LOVE it!)
These adorable lamps are also currently on sale. I purchased a set of four. I love how they look in this photo! Note: They come with ribbon to recreate this look, if you like.
These adorable rattan style lamps are available in sets of 2, 4, or 8 here: Cordless, Rechargeable Rattan Lamps.
I’m looking forward to sharing how the patio looks with the new furniture and pretty flowers surrounding it. I’ll share how the pine straw looks once I get it spread around the yard. If I get all the planting done, maybe I will move up the cleaning/sanding/sealing of the patio. I can’t wait to get that done, too! Soon, I’ll share the perennials I’ve purchased so far for the yard. I wasn’t able to find all the perennials I wanted, but I did find some really pretty ones. I can’t wait to hear your suggestions, too. Update: Just heard my Ring camera in the driveway go off and saw this critter waddling across my driveway. He headed straight for the Phlox and began munching away.
He could at least let me get the plants in the ground first. Ha! Is this a groundhog? I know we have those here; I’ve seen them in my son’s yard many times.
I’m afraid he’ll come back this evening, so I’ve placed all the flowers atop this folding table. Hope groundhogs can’t climb, although he’ll probably find them soon enough once I have them planted. I never knew we had to worry about groundhogs eating our flowers. Argh.
I’ll soon share in a post the flowers I’ve purchased for the area around the patio. Have you ever heard of this coneflower? I decided to give it a try. Hope it does well, and hopefully groundhogs don’t like coneflowers.
I bought the DeWalt pruner last year. It’s a lifesaver, for sure. I’ll take it over my Felco pruners any day if I have to choose.
I have given up trying to buy pine straw for my yard. I am just using leaves as mulch, which are abundant in my yard and wonderful for the environment, just like pine straw is. I got hooked on pine straw as mulch by being a gardener in Florida for 50 years. In my current local, it’s incredibly expensive, as you found out.
Cannot wait to see all of your updates in the yard!
I was so surprised when I found out how expensive it is. The place where I purchased it has a sale going on right now so it’s $9.95 a bale. I knew I would need to purchase some type of mulch this year, so decided to see how this works out. The bad part, delivery is $85 since they are an hour away from me. If not for the delivery charge, and if the bales turn out to bee normal size, the price wouldn’t be that terrible. My hydrangeas in the front yard will love the straw.
So smart, using leaves! Do you mulch them up really well first?
Thanks, Jan! Not sure how pretty it will be this first year, but it should be nicer the second year—it’s the old sleep, creep and leap thing. lol
Oh, and I so agree about the DeWalt pruner! I love DeWalt tools anyway, but this one is def a good one!
Susan, spread cayenne pepper (not chili powder – it has salt in it) all around the perennials when you plant them. Critters don’t like spicy food and it should help. I buy the big containers of it at Sam’s Club.
Thanks! Will do!
Was going to suggest this, too. Liquid Fence smells awful, but deters rabbits(which can mow down coneflowers in 30 minutes) & groundhogs. The spray & the pepper have to be reapplied after ever rain.
Coneflowers are wonderful. Suggest leaving some blooms to deadhead, and then cut off the seed pod and throw on the ground. I had great success in growing more plants. Works pretty well with any daisy-type flower. Good luck with the groundhog. Now why couldn’t he have worked on the weeds?
I think that critter is a woodchuck. One year I had the “pleasure” of one being addicted to one of my big pots. Loved to dig, etc. Hope you find a solution that works for you!
A groundhog & woodchuck are one & the same animal
You are a “Worker Bee!” So looking forward to your progress!! My gardens are my pastime here at the Lake…always adding, deadheading (what a year, here, for roses!! I, my!!) Keep up the enthusiasm!!! franki
I just had deer completely decimate my front flower garden and my beautiful hydrangea hedge is leafless. They have never gone after the hydrangeas before…in 37 years. The only thing they didn’t eat were the peonies and catmint. Send me yours!!
You might consider sprinkling Preen on the areas that you’ve cleared of weeds. Anytime soil is disturbed, it brings up dormant weed seeds. The Preen is a pre emergent which prevents seeds from germinating. It might help.
I garden in Wisconsin. We never use pine straw here. Instead we use shredded bark……usually a hardwood such as oak. This helps to keep weeds down as well as preserving moisture in the soil. I’ll be interested in how your pine straw works. Please give us an update later in the year. Good luck with your gardening!
Thanks for that suggestion, Jane! Pine straw has always been my favorite in Georgia and it works great there. From what I’ve been told by landscapers, some people like it here in Ohio, too. It’s awesome at smothering out weeds, and anything that makes it through the pinestraw will get sprayed.
I thought about putting some Preen in that area where the weeds were, but once that stump is gone, I want to overseed that whole area as soon as practical in September. I’m afraid Preen or products like that would prevent the seed from working/sprouting. Not sure if Preesn would still be active in the soil by September. I’ll probably overseed that area a couple of times this fall. I’ve read that’s the better way to go rather than sod when you are connecting to an existing lawn, which we will do toward the back of the lot.
Hi Susan, sorry about your woodchuck! We have resorted to Liquid Fence for our rabbit problem. And it does work, though it needs reapplied pretty often, and it DOES smell bad….but…with the rabbits eating every single hosta we have, we are desperate. Maybe it will work for your hungry critter. Love all your outside plans! Looks like it will be wonderful.
What a lovely transformation. It’s coming along. Your new patio furniture is pretty. Love the color. You will probably spend many happy hours entertaining in comfort. I’ve been bothered with something coming on my covered back porch (not screened in) and urinating in one spot by my wrought iron planter. I don’t see anything on the camera. I tried cayenne pepper once before years ago, when something was coming up on the porch and leaving the other along with urine. It was a mess. This wasn’t some tiny squirrel. Made me think it was a bear. I washed it off good, and sprinkled liberally and whatever it was never returned. Just used the cayenne pepper again and so far so good. I’m not one for odors in outdoor sprays, especially around where I sit or eat, they give me a headache, and bother my asthma, so the pepper is good, even if you would have to reapply after a rain. I know you have to be extremely careful now with A & B outside. Maybe the cayenne pepper isn’t a good idea. I’m not sure. Good luck. Pretty flowers.
The pruner looks interesting. I think I will check Home Depot or Lowe’s since they have Father’s Day specials. About flowers. I suggest not looking at local nurseries that sell stuff that has to be replaced frequently. Native plants often don’t. Plus they provide habitat and beauty. Check out the website on Homegrown National Park and consider having some keystone species on your property. Instead of hybrid coneflowers, why not plant natives? Both hardy by the way. One place that has embraced native plants nicely is Cincinnati. Walking downtown a few years ago really piqued my interest because they used native plants wherever they could. One native plant I really like because it’s so different is Rattlesnake Master. At the nursery you might see Sea Holly which isn’t native and doesn’t grow very well. I’m just saying – consider native plants. You’ll be more successful and can know they will probably be there if you don’t get to water them. By the way, love the lamps and your furniture choices. I want to know more about the process of getting your patio cleaned and restored so keep us posted!
I tried to buy native Purple Coneflower at two nurseries the day I went perennial shopping and neither nursery I went to had any. At both places, I was told that they’ve had trouble getting it in this year. I like a variety of native and non-native plants in my garden. I could never limit myself to only native plants; life is too short for that! Unfortunately, the nurseries around Dayton always seem to be low on stock when I visit.
Karen, you should make a trip down to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens sometime and check out all their native plants/flowers. I know you would love it. You’ll find some of my posts about the Atlanta Botanical Gardens here: https://betweennapsontheporch.net/?s=atlanta+botanical
Lost Mountain Nursery there carries a lot of the harder-to-find plants that I used to see when I subscribed to Fine Gardening. That’s where I found my Waterfall Japanese Maple after seeing it in Fine Gardening.
You will be so happy once that tree stump is gone. I had one “removed” at my former house after a big tree had to be cut down. They don’t actually take the stump out, but grind it down. That way you can put soil over the area and plant whatever you like. Mine was on the lawn so I successfully reseeded it and no-one could tell that a tree was ever there. Good luck with your garden!
We see groundhogs along the side of Stilesboro road all the time out by us. I don’t have many annuals or perennials anymore. I’m getting too old to get down to plant them. We just have mostly flowering shrubs. Your yard will be really pretty when it’s all done. It is such a cute house.
Susan, I decided to try Emma M Lion since you raved about her. Midway through listening to Vol. 1 I bought all the other volumes. They are so delightful!
So glad you’re enjoying it, Sabrina! I haven’t found anything in a long time that I’ve enjoyed as much. The narrator does such a great job, doesn’t she?! I am on Vol 8 and I’m purposely trying to not listen to it too fast while we wait for Vol 9 to be released this year.
At least with Ring you know who was eating your plants! Won’t he come back when they are in the ground? The suggestion of cayenne pepper would be interesting to see how well it works (reapply after watering?). With all the new furniture purchases and plants it going to be “uptown” for sure and no more weeds with all the mulching. You are such a busy bee!
I’ve purchased two products that had great reviews and are supposed to be safe around kids and pets. One of them def has to be reapplied. Those should arrive tomorrow. I may buy the Cayenne pepper, too. He came back today and was scarfing down birdseed under the feeders. I have all the plants up on a table now, so he can’t get to them. I got a great picture of him today, staring at me through the sunroom window, giving me a dirty look. Hahaha
Have fun working on your flowers and yard. I suggest having someone trap the groundhog/woodchuck. They have to burrow under a building or where you don’t want them. The borrows and tunnels can make foundations and concrete floors crack and shift. Not what anyone wants to see happen to houses, buildings, sheds, or barns.
I hate to tell you that groundhogs can climb. Several years ago I was sitting in my chair by the window at our last house. I was looking out toward the lake and saw our resident groundhog climb the hickory nut tree. I did not know they would climb anything!!!