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Old 21-11-2017, 09:33 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
Pavel314[_2_] Pavel314[_2_] is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Dec 2009
Posts: 330
Default too muddy to weed lately

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 1:55:49 PM UTC-5, songbird wrote:
but i got out yesterday to do some trimming
back of unwanted trees in the north hedge and
also cut back the apple saplings again.

with the loppers i can take down a fairly
decent sized limb (a few inches across) and
not get into sawing/chopping. i'm thinking
that this winter after the ground freezes i
can get out back to remove some of the shrubs
and small trees that are starting to take
over. i need some kind of exercise to keep
me moving this winter. the past few winters
have been mild where we didn't have to shovel
much snow and both of us like to do it so i
hope some make work project like this will
suit instead. since i can't get back there
in the warmer months... hope my shoulder
doesn't get worse. we'll see. yesterday's
outing didn't seem to change it much. good
sign.

snowed a little bit yesterday and today a
squall has been coming across with a chance
of a little rain/snow.


songbird


It's been fairly dry in the Baltimore area lately, although there's a 40% chance of rain overnight tonight. There was a bit of snow out to the west of us the other day according to the weather radar maps, but none here. I do plan to get the snow blower gassed up and ready to go in the next few days; we only need it about every third year, but it's nice to have when needed. If we get a real snow dump, I'll use the back hoe to clear the drive.

Like you, I plan on doing a lot of pruning now that the trees have gone dormant. The apple trees were infested with a scab-type disease this past season which led them to drop most of their leaves. I contacted the state ag people who suggested heavy pruning to allow air circulation to promote drying, as well as certain sprays.

I also plan to try grafting again. I have a few white grape vines that don't produce much, and when they do, the wine doesn't taste too good; I'll cut them back and try grafting some Concord and Fredonia twigs onto them.

January will be time to fell some trees for next year's firewood.

Paul