Garden Project (along the driveway)

[WI_Hedgehog]

The lawn originally sloped downhill away from the driveway, dug that out with the BX to make it relatively level (minding drainage considerations) and used the dirt to put in a parking area (in the distance) along with fill some low spots in the lawn:

95°F and the supervisor was on me to get it done faster:

Rustled a few rocks and started on the driveway side border:

Got a corner done:

before sunset:

 

[mikester]

Looks good!

I've been using non-woven heavy geotextile fabric under the rocks to stop them from sinking in sandy soils.

 

[S-G-R]

Looking good. I'd be concerned your helper might help himself to the wiring on the tractor.

 

[Hoserman]

Thats goona look awesome when done.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Another day, another rock. And some plants:


View from the other side, noting plant layout is subject to change before sticking them in the ground:


Fumble-fingerd my Kubota water bottle in the rain and it hit the deck shattering the glass:

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Dropped the backup bottle on the top lid, this one is also a casualty:


The plants are planted. Got some rocks rustled and fill fenagled, they just need a bit of time to ripen in the sun (or dry out, it rained almost every day here).

 

[Hoserman]

That's looking good.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Much of the driveway was cleared after sorting out small rocks and piling the ground:


Doing the rest gave me "noodle legs:"


Then the larger rocks were sorted:

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

After stone cleanup there are easily enough rocks left to work with:


Rocks are set and topsoil added:


Not done, but closer...

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Fumble-fingers got a new triple-insulated stainless steel beverage bottle for the tractor, and of course modified it instantly (with grippy rubber surround and fast-gulp insert, because there's no slackers here). This one can sit in the hot summer sun all day yet stay cool. Hopefully it doesn't land on the plastic flip-lid.


It's a beautiful day here, 68F and sunny:


AND the rest of the rocks are set:

 

[John T]

Nice looking Eggs.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

About 1,000# of old brush chipped & spread. Also found some bendywood and am using that as a border on the lawn side:


A curious neighbor came to see what I was doing:

 

[BAP]

Great looking project. Really makes it look attractive and as though it was always there.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Time to schnozzle some yeet, so let's head to a yeet repository:

That's two years of clearing (I had help) with that little Craftsman saw (basically the best of Johnsred technology "borrowed" by MTD after Johnsred folded and honestly the best gas-powered option, though electric would be better), an MS400 (over-powered but pulls a long bar so less bending over), and an MS881 (overkill, but I wanted to be the guy who did it).

In an hour the WoodMaxx MX-8600 digests everything I can throw at it and makes a box of chips, which if hardwood is more than the BX can reasonably lift. Landscapers call it "feeding the monster" and if you've ever done it you know why.

After a few boxes I did 1/2 box and took a different route as the weight on R4 industrial tread tires was taking a toll on the turf. BUT, after my previous downhill adventures the BX has been in 4WD with diff-lock engaged on hills, backing down instead of going forward (thanks guys!!!) and everything is rock-solid stable on the slopes.


3" to 4" of chips should wreck most weeds and man does it hold the moisture, a half hour watering with the wet string (5/8" on an old well, that needs to be upped to 3/4"...which requires a highter-output well ) only penetrated the top inch, so from that respect the garden will be maintenance free forever (well, you know).

About 40' is done with another 10' of yeeting to go, and of course "upgrades" because in my book "anything worth doing is worth over-doing."

 

[jaxs]

Much of the driveway was cleared after sorting out small rocks and piling the ground:

Then the larger rocks were sorted:
View attachment 158679
View attachment 158680

Did your tractor lift that bucket of rocks?

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

The lawn took a beating from all the traffic on R4 industrial tires so I tried going through the woods on a path I put in last year--and with the loader and box hanging out front and chipper out back turns sucked (like trying to turn around an oceanliner in a river). Time for the yeet beater to re-establish a clean path:



As mentioned I got burned in the turns, so I broke out the chainsaw to widen the corners which required cutting down a few "junk" trees (poplar). Here are the resulting piles looking back from the tractor:


Walking around the piles and back to the path side things looked a bit more...well, I cut a lot of trees:


I fed whole trees into the schnozzler and it didn't miss a beat. One hour later:



1-1/4 cubic yards.


With enough left to fill around one side of a rock:

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Did your tractor lift that bucket of rocks?

Those got tossed in by hand, it struggled to lift it though did. For a small (sub-compact) tractor the lifting capacity is impressive:

 

[jaxs]

I would have give even odds the tractor couldn't handle that bucket of rocks. After losing that bet I would have doubled down you couldn't hook the chain at balance point of that log.

 

[Flintknapper]

Wow....heck of project. I like it a lot!

Good Work!

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

This whole project turned out different from what I'd envisioned as I was looking at "new" plants, Mom wanted to transplant her old ones, and my "touch" isn't exactly "delicate," but everything should look great once it's established (that means next year). I didn't get the pampus grass to germinate for the open spot at the far end, but it'll happen...

I had some cookies sitting around (I've been known to enter chainsaw competitions) so broke them up and and added the pieces for variety. Add electricity and ~zap!~ --uh, no, everything looks better with power.

Now to move the extra rocks, power-sweep the drive, and fix the lawn...if Dad were alive he'd have killed me--twice!!!

In memory of my Mom, who was able to enjoy the progress, and passed from cancer half way through putting in her garden. Rest in peace, Mom.