Texas Spring/Summer Thread

[jinman]

So we have found that hardwood chips are fine but the softwood stuff really messes up the PH.
Ron

Straight uncomposted wood chips will suck all the nitrogen out of the soil. They should be added only in the fall along with urea (nitrogen) to make them decompose. For example, I would never mix chips from my chipper-shredder in the springtime. I top dress it in the garden to hold moisture and prevent weeds then till it in in the fall over a wide area so it can decompose before the next season. That's one of the reasons I'll turn my garden with my tiller at least 5 or 6 times between fall and the next spring. As you found, straight wood chips that are uncomposted are a sure way to suck out all nutrients that the plants need, especially in the spring before planting.

 

[pacerron]

Straight uncomposted wood chips will suck all the nitrogen out of the soil. They should be added only in the fall along with urea (nitrogen) to make them decompose. For example, I would never mix chips from my chipper-shredder in the springtime. I top dress it in the garden to hold moisture and prevent weeds then till it in in the fall over a wide area so it can decompose before the next season. That's one of the reasons I'll turn my garden with my tiller at least 5 or 6 times between fall and the next spring. As you found, straight wood chips that are uncomposted are a sure way to suck out all nutrients that the plants need, especially in the spring before planting.

Jim,
I agree, but the softwood chips from your favorite store were composted over the winter before use.
Of course the real factor may be the horse urine added to the chips while in use on the mats, or some unknown
chemical added when they are mfg./packaged to prevent mold or something.
We have a little meter with a metal probe to stick in the ground to get an instant PH reading.
Some of her flowers, blueberries as well as garden goodies are quite sensitive to PH.
We've got about 1,000 onion sets planted a week ago popping up in the onion bed. The raised bed is a rectangle of old RR ties kept level with the used potting soil she tosses in the fall every year. Planted in a bed rather than rows 1k bulbs only take up a space about 2 x 5 feet wide. We thin them by eating them at least 2 meals a day. We love our onions.
We are starting our own sweet potatoes this year by soaking a couple from last years crop in water. They are doing great.
84 degrees last week now back to 50 and we need rain as well.
Ron

 

[Western]

Did you see the weather forecast for Thursday?? 35*??!!:confused3: This has to be a "conspiracy". Keep your buckets handy Jim, I may have to borrow a couple:ashamed:

 

[jinman]

Did you see the weather forecast for Thursday?? 35*??!!:confused3: This has to be a "conspiracy". Keep your buckets handy Jim, I may have to borrow a couple:ashamed:

Nah, it won't freeze. When I took my buckets and flower pots off of the plants, I left them sitting right beside the plants with a rock on top for easy installation if it gets cold again. That means it won't freeze or hail. Being prepared is the best way to ensure there is no more bad weather.

 

[txdon]

Central Texas prediction is 39˚ for Friday morning. Good Luck Northies.

 

[jinman]

It's supposed to be 84 F here on Wednesday, I'm thinking the ground will be warm enough to radiate lots of heat over the next 36 hours. I don't dare cover my plants until late on Wednesday because they would get cooked in those pots acting like saunas. Of course, we have a 40% chance of t-storms Wed during the daytime and 70% at night. I guess I'll have to wait until the wall cloud comes over and run out to put on buckets. There may be an America's Funniest Home Video moment at my house sometime on Wednesday.:laughing:

 

[kevin37b]

Jinman , have you still got that fine JD mower ?

 

[jinman]

Jinman , have you still got that fine JD mower ?

You mean the "fine" JD mower. I'd never say "fine" without quotes. Yep! I still have it and have replaced enough parts on the deck that I finally got all good parts. I have blades and idlers all from a 3-party supplier and after two spindles, it seems they improved the parts. When I serviced the deck last week, all the spindles and idlers were tight and smooth. The after-market blades have held up well through two sharpenings. My OEM JD blades would be gone after one summer. Of course, half the paint has peeled off my operator platform, but that plastic hood is still as good as new.:thumbsup: I have the quirks worked out of the engine and I've added a spring to aid the keeper on the electric clutch. I'm at 178 hours. If I make it to 250 hours, I'm gonna push it off into my pond so the fish can use it as an artificial reef.:cool2: What do you think?

 

[Western]

I'm at 178 hours. If I make it to 250 hours, I'm gonna push it off into my pond so the fish can use it as an artificial reef.:cool2: What do you think?

Sounds like it would be a total waste of pond space

 

[Bird]

I'm at 178 hours.

How old is that machine? I know you've got so much more to mow than I do, but I mowed today and had 58.7 hours on my Toro ZTR when I finished, and it's barely over 2 years old. In fact, it'll be 25 months old in another 3 days.