When I was testing the soil, grass roots in the good areas went down at least 4 inches. I'm inland in So Calif and we got less than 4 inches of rain last year. Where the grass is established, I seldom have to water more than once every 7-10 days. Over the years, I have watched to see which grass dies and which will go without water, and tried to expand the more drought tolerant. Seat of the pants method, but it works for me.
guaranteed.
Good to know, David. Grapes sounds like a great idea. Any particular varieties to get or stay away from? Or other types of plants on a slope?
Almost any variety of grape is okay. Choose something you will use. Just be sure you have sturdy supports since grape vines -- even without fruit -- can be quite heavy. See my for how I support my grape vines. Also, ground cover is still necessary to prevent surface erosion.
Also, do not overplant. Last year, I filled a very large pail in one picking from only one vine.
The first time my hill failed, I had a single grape vine in the middle. While the hill slid on both sides, the vine and the part of the hill below it did not move. Unfortunately, the vine had to be removed to repair the hill. I then planted two grape vines. The hill failed again
13 years later, between the vines. Now I have three grape vines. If the hill ever fails again, my house goes up for sale "as is".
You, Higgs Boson, and I are all in southern California. Higgs is coastal (near Santa Monica Bay), and I am in what the National Weather Service calls a coastal valley (near Thousand Oaks and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area). Where are you?
I've already told you where he lives.
Long Beach.
N. San Diego County, about 15 miles inland.
Why did you guess Long Beach?
Long Beach CA is not northern Canada by a long shot.
?-)
Anybody know where to get an aerator that's basically a 20-gallon barrel filled with water with a row of aerator tubes fastened around each head pulled by hand? Less than 1000 sq ft and too hard for foot-stomper aerator.
----------
how about a Tommy Gun?
Now that we have all the comments and theories about aeration......
Anybody know where to get an aerator that's basically a 20-gallon barrel filled with water with a row of aerator tubes fastened around each head pulled by hand? Less than 1000 sq ft and too hard for foot-stomper aerator.
That tiny area, what a wuss. I have a Mantis tiller, greatest gardening tool out there... get the aerating attachment.
barrel filled with water with a row of aerator tubes fastened around each head pulled by hand? Less than 1000 sq ft and too hard for foot-stomper aerator.
Don't need a tiller or a pitchfork. LOL! It would be a waste for me to buy a Mantis just to aerate a lawn every year or so. Are you sure that video shows an aerator attachment? Good try but stupid idea.
Slitting is not good for this situation. It would do does a lot more damage to the roots and generally makes a muddy mess. Slits close up quickly. Holes from plugs give water somewhere to drain and filter. Same for fertilizer & grass seed. Slitting is always a stupid idea.
It works well for "renovating" a lawn - slit seeding if done properly DOES work - it is like using a seed drill
Tool and equipment rental shops sometimes have them. Most people don't want to buy something so big and so rarely used.
snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...
age to the roots and generally makes a muddy mess. Slits close up quickly . Holes from plugs give water somewhere to drain and filter. Same for fert ilizer & grass seed. Slitting is always a stupid idea.
I agree. Slit seeding type device is useless for aeration, but it is very effective for seeding.
The Mantis aerating tines do a great job of thatching, for weeding simply reverse the tilling tines, works well. And depends what you mean by a "large" lot... the Mantis can handle any size lot one would normally push mow... I'd say it could handle a 1/4 acre, for anything much more than a 1/4 acre I'd prefer a riding mower.
Very true, and you certainly wouldn't use it to aerate only 1,000 sq ft.
If you know so much WTF are you asking for advice?!?!? Duh
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required