So says Annie, the garden annihilating dog. The most important job was done today. The entire garden is now dog proofed once more!
Mr. Granny drove in the last of the T-posts, and I installed the fencing and the welded wire bottom barrier. One end is temporary, as son John has cut down the old kennel gate to the 3' height of the garden fence, and he'll be installing it for me on Sunday. There are still three old T-posts that are no longer used and need to be pulled. The important thing is, the dogs cannot get in the garden.
With no dogs in the garden, I finally got the peas planted. Cascadia Sugar Snap peas were planted to the left of the kennel garden entrance, while sweet peas (flowers) were planted on both sides of the entrances. The inside of the kennel was cleaned up, the bench moved, and a wood enclosure was placed diagonally in the corner. The morning glories will be planted there, as usual, so they can climb all along the back of the kennel. Sweet alyssum is volunteering all around the bench, and nasturtiums, lobelia and Johnny Jump Ups will be planted later.
The weather was perfect today. I worked outside from 10:00 AM until 6 this evening, not even taking time to come in for lunch. I had covered a small pile of composted cow poo with a tarp last fall, and it was lovely stuff to behold when I dug into it today. I enriched all the pea beds, and top dressed the celery that I'd planted yesterday. Please, Mother Nature, be kind and give me one more day like today so I can get the rest of those sweet onions and potatoes planted!
Beautiful here today, too! The goats from next door wandered into the yard, reminding me that it does little good to plant anything here. But, they're cute little creatures, several babies in the bunch.
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody know what goats WON'T eat?
They are adorable! Luckily, our closest goats are a half mile from here and well fenced. I often drive by just to look at them though.
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of fence you used with green t-posts? Green plastic? is 40 inches enough, what do you think? I have to choose a fence for my garden, the cheapest solution in possible....
Dina, I buy a 36 inch high plastic netting fencing that's 50 feet long. I get it at Walmart, for about $12. You can see it here:
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My dogs are dachshunds, so the fence doesn't need to be very high. I do have to put a 1 foot high wire fence along the bottom to keep them from pushing under the plastic fabric. I replaced a 2 foot height green welded wire fence with the plastic.
I fasten the fencing to T-posts (5' heavy duty ones, driven 2' into the ground) with nylon cable ties, stretching it as tight as I can. I use 3 or 4 ties per post..... top, middle and bottom.
Thank you very much! I have 40 in netting and will buy more posts tomorrow. My garden is still empty but I saw some deers prints on the beds so it is a time to fence around :)
DeleteYou're welcome, Dina. I love that plastic netting, I use it instead of bird netting to keep my lettuce from being eaten.
DeleteCongrats on getting the fence done. I have always wondered is the kennel garden and old dog kennel that you haven't been able to take down and now use to support vining plants?
ReplyDeleteVanessa, you can read about it here:
Deletehttp://annieskitchengarden.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-24-2011-kennel-garden.html
There's also a link to it in my side bar.
We really need to get our peas planted too. I'm very impressed by the way you're able to get the vital work done first, so that you don't miss the coming season! Keep up the hard work. It's a busy year with all the changes, but I'm looking forward to seeing your harvest!
ReplyDeleteJody, I have to keep moving now, or I may never move again, LOL! So far the old body is keeping up pretty well, but I think I'm about due for a vacation......or at least a day off.
DeleteOh, it's lovely. I have to figure out what we're going to do, dog-wise, because the temporary fence isn't pretty. Drat it all. I can't do what you do, but will have to do something!
ReplyDeleteStefaneener, that's what I love about the netting...it's practically invisible (and cheap). I hated the green wire fence, it was always bent or sagging somewhere. I'm sure the netting wouldn't work for your bigger dog though. I wanted chain link, so durable, but got nixed by the Mr. A pretty little picket fence would be nice too, but it would hide the garden and I love watching the veggies grow.
DeleteGranny, everything is looking great! One of the mice things about my petite plot is that it needs no fencing. The 6ft privacy fence around the back yard takes care of the big things. The entire bottom of it has dirt mounded up on the inside, this keep the bunnies from squeezing under.
ReplyDeleteThe neighbors cat, who loves to sun on the pad, leaves everything alone since there are several clumps of catnip planted for his enjoyment. They are planted far away from the plot, so everyone is happy.
Ed, I take it you don't have a dog :-) I have Annie & Otto, next door to the east we have Yodi and Sweet Pea, next door to the west we have Gigi, and behind us we have two yappy little ones, I don't know them I just hear them behind the tall wood fence. I'd love to not have to deal with fencing, but the love I receive from my little dogs is well worth putting up with it.
DeleteIt rained last night....perfect for the newly planted peas! It's supposed to be sunny today, so hopefully I finish the potato and onion beds.
Looks great Granny! I'm going to need some of your energy for a couple of months! Guess what is ready??? The plots were marked off yesterday!
ReplyDeleteYAY, Robin! It's too bad you have to go through it all over again so soon, but new plots are always exciting. Hard work, but worth it.
DeleteI sure hope you get plenty of days to just relax and enjoy the scenery of your garden after all this work!!!
ReplyDeleteI've already made the hotel reservations. I'm heading for Nevada for three days of R&R on the 3, 4 & 5th. of April. I won't be enjoying garden scenery, the room will probably overlook the swimming pool, but Granddaughter is going to stay with Annie & Otto so we don't have to get a pet room...we're going first class!
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