The Yard Plan
Since I like making lists, here's my list for things I plan/need to do to the yard in the future:
This year:
-Cut back honeysuckle bushes dramatically (I would remove them entirely, but I would have to hire someone with a chainsaw to do that--probably several someones). Estimated cost: $30-$40 in yard waste bags, plus misc. tools
-Prep ground for vegetable garden. Estimated cost: $50 for edging material and hummus to mix with soil
-Buy small Weber grill, so's I can vary my diet a bit (and play with fire). Estimated cost: $30-$50 for grill, $30 for charcoal, lighter fluid, and misc. grilling supplies
-Buy at least one hanging basket for all the shepherd's hooks hanging around the yard. Estimated cost: $15
-Run overflow hose for rain barrel into old gutter downspout. Estimated cost: $5 for hose
-Pull remaining ivy out around the house. Estimated cost: $10 for yard waste bags; use of my legs and back for several days
-Try to remove the vines that are eating the power lines on the side of my house. May include some ninja sneaking into neighbor's yard to attack the roots with weed killer. Estimated cost: $10 for yard waste bags; goodwill of neighbors; use of my legs and back for several days
-Have arborist check remaining maple trees for signs of blight (several have multiple dead limbs, which may mean they're beyond saving). Remove trees if necessary. Estimated cost: God, let's not go there. Since that's technically a landlady issue, maybe Mom can be convinced to take care of that...
Next Year:
-Plant vegetable garden. Estimated cost: depends on my success at starting seedlings. If I can start plants indoors from seed, $40-$50 for seeds, potting mix, and mini greenhouses; if I need to buy bedding plants, $150-$200? Maybe? Also, mulch, but the cost will depend on how large I make the garden. Hopefully I'll have compost by then...
-Buy second rain barrel to serve vegetable garden. Estimated cost: $60-$100, depending on what kind of deals I can find then, and what the kit includes.
-Remove rose bushes by driveway. Estimated cost: $40-$50 to hire someone to do it, which may be a better deal than trying to do it myself....
This year:
-Cut back honeysuckle bushes dramatically (I would remove them entirely, but I would have to hire someone with a chainsaw to do that--probably several someones). Estimated cost: $30-$40 in yard waste bags, plus misc. tools
-Prep ground for vegetable garden. Estimated cost: $50 for edging material and hummus to mix with soil
-Buy small Weber grill, so's I can vary my diet a bit (and play with fire). Estimated cost: $30-$50 for grill, $30 for charcoal, lighter fluid, and misc. grilling supplies
-Buy at least one hanging basket for all the shepherd's hooks hanging around the yard. Estimated cost: $15
-Run overflow hose for rain barrel into old gutter downspout. Estimated cost: $5 for hose
-Pull remaining ivy out around the house. Estimated cost: $10 for yard waste bags; use of my legs and back for several days
-Try to remove the vines that are eating the power lines on the side of my house. May include some ninja sneaking into neighbor's yard to attack the roots with weed killer. Estimated cost: $10 for yard waste bags; goodwill of neighbors; use of my legs and back for several days
-Have arborist check remaining maple trees for signs of blight (several have multiple dead limbs, which may mean they're beyond saving). Remove trees if necessary. Estimated cost: God, let's not go there. Since that's technically a landlady issue, maybe Mom can be convinced to take care of that...
Next Year:
-Plant vegetable garden. Estimated cost: depends on my success at starting seedlings. If I can start plants indoors from seed, $40-$50 for seeds, potting mix, and mini greenhouses; if I need to buy bedding plants, $150-$200? Maybe? Also, mulch, but the cost will depend on how large I make the garden. Hopefully I'll have compost by then...
-Buy second rain barrel to serve vegetable garden. Estimated cost: $60-$100, depending on what kind of deals I can find then, and what the kit includes.
-Remove rose bushes by driveway. Estimated cost: $40-$50 to hire someone to do it, which may be a better deal than trying to do it myself....