I had to get my sprinklers up and working before I started my garden this year. Thing is I've been so busy I didn't have a lot of time to do it. I finally got into it and discovered several things were the issue with the sprinklers. First, the pump died (replaced pump), second well pipe was sucking air (dug up pipe and discovered a 10" diameter camphor tree root had grown over the top of a section of the pipe and about a 4" section of pine tree root had grown under a section about 4ft away. One was pushing it down and the other up and it parted at a coupling. Cut the roots and replaced a 10ft section of pipe), 3rd timer box died (replaced with a new Orbit 6 zone box), 4th several sprinkler heads were broken off (replaced heads and cleaned debris out of the others). Now the sprinkler and working better than they ever have since I moved into the house about 13yrs ago.
Next thing to do was make more raised beds. I had some old lumber from a deck demo so I cut them up and made 4each 3'x7' raised bed planters. I lined the edges with some weed block and positioned them between the sprinklers on the back of my property in direct sunlight. The hard part was digging out the sod to a depth of about 8". I did reuse the sod though in another part of my yard :>)
After that I needed to raise the sprinklers so they would spray the water better. I raised the heads up 5ft and attached them to some landscape timbers I sunk in the ground about 3ft.
Once I get those completed I tested the water works to see what they'd do. I think the coverage is great!
The next step was to refill the boxes with composted cow poop. I used Black Cow one year but that stuff is really expensive and I needed a LOT so I opted for the EarthGrow stuff at Home Depot for $1.77 per 40lb sack instead of the $5.17 for the Black Cow. I wound up buying 1,840lbs of it and hauled it in on my trailer. Yes one thousand eight hundred forty pounds... My back can attest to it.
After getting it all in I was a happy camper. I was going to wait until Monday to plant my seedlings but I went to Home Depot and got some plant today anyhow.
I planted 3 Early Girl tomatoes in the short bed, in the other beds there's, eggplant, summer squash, zucchini, okra, green onions, sweet potatoes, green, orange & hot peppers, yellow watermelon and cantaloupe. I hope it all works out!
Hey Jim! Looks great, we're still drying out up here in LA. Got a few plants in the raised beds, the weather has been so cool that things are really slow this season. It was 54 again this am. Just noticed the power line towers, looks like a good place to hang a deer stand.
Treefarmer
well out goat got out while i was gone and ate everything but the tomatoes so this week im starting over lol
Sam,
Sounds like it's time for a little BBQ, goat that is! Goat hash is good too or maybe y'all could have goat and 'mater sandwich's.
Goats are hard to keep in a pen, they seem to be able to figure out how to escape as quick as any domestic animal.
Good luck on your garden replant!
Treefarmer
