This weekend found me still digging the greenhouse foundation out. Digging out a 10’x16′ area by yourself takes some time, especially when it rains more often than not. But in gardening, as in life, you take what comes and do the best you can with what you have. In three digging sessions I excavated three 4’x8′ areas to eventually remove all the sod and much of the soil from the area. I still have to clean more soil from the area, dig and level a little more of the area, and add three more corner post holes plus post holes where the doors will eventually go before any serious construction can begin.
So here’s the result of the “big dig.”
That was a lot of dirt!
What’s next you ask?
Gravel, Setting posts in concrete, framing…
(lots of other things too but these are the most immediate things to do)
When?
Hopefully soon! October is usually one of our driest months but that’s proving to not the case this year. I’ll do what I can do between the rains and take my time with the greenhouse’s construction. I still have some finishing to do on the kids’ playset to make it safe and that will need to be done first. I would much rather take two extra months to get this greenhouse-shed done than do something incorrectly.
Have you dug any big holes lately?
(And I don’t mean in your gardening budget!)
Wow, Dave, it looks perfect! GREAT job!!!
Dave, it's been too wet to plant! Saturated clay soil is a lot of fun!
You are making great progress…can't wait to see parts 2 and beyond!
gail
The post hole digger is my friend. For an old lady with arthritic issues, it's easier than making a hole with a shovel: straight up and down movements instead of prying and twisting. I've wanted to try the newer hole digger with the black and orange handles rather than the old, old one I use that has wood handles and weighs a lot. I suspect the old one drives itself into the ground with more ease.
I'll be putting my bulbs in using a post hole digger and putting 5 bulbs to a good sized hole instead of 1 in a teeny hole made by a bulb planter device.
We got our greenhouse up in the winter of 2007, in time to start seedlings inside it instead of the trundle-in-and-out-the-tool-shed-on-a-kitchen-trolley method of previous years. Do you think you can be ready by late February?
Hi Dave, I can think of tons to do with all that soil you've removed. It looks like good dirt. I've been digging too and ran into a bees nest underground. I'll be posting it as it is most fascinating-no stings on me but one of the dogs got it.
P.S. I've been preparing my plants for the swap and have registered. See ya Friday.
You are such a diligent worker, Dave! Doing it right will pay off with big rewards. You will be in propagating heaven! No big digs here recently, just little digs for bulbs, little ones easy to do with the dibber. The tulips will come later and require a lot of small holes.
Frances
No diggin any big holes here lately. But I have several small ornamental trees that need spots prepared. I'm thinkin your diggin was easier at times, since you said it it'd been wet there. Hope it wasn't muddy diggin though, that can be a sticky mess! And I think I've missed a few of your updates here; I didn't know you were goin in the greenhouse business. ;~)
Dave that's an enormous amount of digging, I know.
Keep focused on the end game, all the stuff you can grow in your newly constructed micro-climate!
Me, well I'm digging a shallow foundation for some stone steps. I might blog them sometime.
Dave, it's looking great! Hopefully you can get it in before winter arrives (unless you don't get snow your way). I haven't dug any holes lately, but I did at the end of the spring when I planted four trees.
It's looking good Dave. Not much to go. I do hope it's not been that wet clay type of soil. That I do not like to dig in. It sticks like glue. This soil here is a lot of sand so not too bad, if you can avoid those little roots. Arrgggg.
So what will you do with the sod you remove? Are you filling in bare spots? That is a good sized area. Having a greenhouse will be lots of fun…oh the possibilities.
OFB,
My back still aches from the digging!
Gail,
Slow but steady progress! It has been way too wet to do much.
Nell Jean,
A Post Hole Digger is a great idea for those bulbs. You can plant them in groups very easily. I'm hopeful I'll have it ready way before February. Next week the kids are off to visit their grandparents and I'll have lots of time to work on it (assuming it doesn't rain the whole week!)
Tina,
I have quite a few holes in the lawn to fill in and I'm hoping to build a couple more raised beds for the vegetable garden. I'll use the soil for those spots plus the giant pile of soil will get used as a raised planting bed for shade plants!
Frances,
I can't wait! It will also be nice to have the garage back for the cars! Bulbs, I have some crocuses that need planted soon.
TC,
It was a little muddy but not terrible. I stayed in the grass mostly and worked my way outward. A greenhouse is in the works! Just a hobby one for now!
Rob,
Stone steps sound very interesting! That end game thing is pretty exciting!
Miss Daisy,
We don't get much snow around here and it usually doesn't appear until late February or March. Planting trees is a good use of a hole! 😉
Lola,
I didn't have too many roots to deal with. Most of what I had was a couple pencil sized hackberry tree roots. I'm planning on removing at least one of them maybe more from the back.
Janet,
I'll fill in a few dips and depressions in the lawn plus use the soil for filling some raised beds in the garden.