Landscaping/Gardening Thread.

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

If it is where you say it is, you may not own that "lawn". Check your property report if you have one, but there will be a setback that the city owns. Mine is fairly large, I think 13 feet. But the homeowner is responsible for care of it, other than trees.

Setback! That's the word I was looking for. Yes, this is correct.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

What the heck? I can see the city's portion for the sidewalk in front of my house, but across the street where there's no sidewalk, it shows an equivalent shape on the map as city property. So that lack of sidewalk means a portion of the driveway and the edge of their lawn is city land. That's why there's trees there. That answers some questions.

Yes. That's one of the reasons you need permission from the city for a driveway, since it is on city land. That area also often contains utilities, buried cables etc(some very shallow!). So don't ever do anything in that area. It also makes it more logical that the parking space in front of your house isn't yours, it's technically in the middle of city land, not just next to yuor property.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Yes. That's one of the reasons you need permission from the city for a driveway, since it is on city land. That area also often contains utilities, buried cables etc(some very shallow!). So don't ever do anything in that area. It also makes it more logical that the parking space in front of your house isn't yours, it's technically in the middle of city land, not just next to yuor property.

I was aware of the concept of utility right of ways or those sections on the other side of a sidewalk that was city land. I didn't know there were such things like setbacks that went past the curb.

Learned lots today.

[Geraldsh]

But have you learned how to fill a syringe with roundup and inject under the bark of a healthy tree?
Asking for a friend.

[photon]

How can you tell if you need a power rake or aeration? I assume they don't need to be done every year? But I also assume they'll tell you you do so they can make $.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by photon

How can you tell if you need a power rake or aeration? I assume they don't need to be done every year? But I also assume they'll tell you you do so they can make $.

Aeration every year, power rake every two years. Not a professional, just what I do.

[Ironhorse]

We want to create some simple flower beds in the back yard, and are considering to border it off from the lawn with EZ Border from Home Depot. They have both a straight vertical one and one with an edge for the lawnmower wheels. Are they any good, or does anyone have better recommendations?

[Shazam]

Those should be fine. Put a border on the back too if you have neighbours.

[mrkajz44]

I think this is the right thread - I am looking to get a powerwasher. I did some researching and found some conflicting information. What we need it for:

- Removing older paint or stain from our fence or deck so we can repaint or restain as required
- Cleaning the vinyl siding on the house
- Washing patio stones (though I'm not sure if I really want to do this as the stones look nice as is and I'm afraid to mess up the sand foundation)

I'd want an electric one for several reasons (space, volume, environment) and it seems like I probably want one in the 2000 - 2500 PSI range. Is that right for the jobs I want to do? Any other jobs I might not be thinking about that I should consider? Really the paint and stain work is the motivator for the purchase.

[Fuzz]

As high a PSI as you can afford is my advice. I have an 1800, and was using it to remove paint from the foundation. This paint is flaky, chipping, not good. I was only able to really remove the loose stuff.

[Winsor_Pilates]

My hose bib won't turn back on.
Does it just take a long time for the water to flow through the line or am I doing something wrong?

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

My hose bib won't turn back on.
Does it just take a long time for the water to flow through the line or am I doing something wrong?

Water should be pressured to the valve at all times unless you have a shutoff anywhere along the line. My first three thoughts are a clog, a break somewhere between the handle and the valve, a break on the line (eek!).

[3thirty]

Think its warm enough to start the underground sprinklers? Ground seems pretty thawed.

[surferguy]

I’m likely to fire mine up this weekend

[townie_80]

Originally Posted by sketchyt

I love trees and I want as many around.

However, I have a 50+ year old Poplar that continues to grow and keeps growing. It's huge. It's on my property but the tree is considered to be the City's and I cannot remove it without their cooperation and/or a hefty fine.

The tree is causing damage to my driveway and lawn (and god knows what else). What's interesting is they removed a series of similar trees directly across the street from me on a public green space.

I went through the proper channels (twice) and the City said the tree is healthy and they cannot remove it. They said they would come back to prune it but that was a year ago. That department has since ghosted me.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can/should do next?

Just wanted to chime in as we had this exact problem with two co-owned spruce trees. They were dripping sap on our driveway and causing significant damage to our vehicles. City did not care until we sent a letter to the legal department saying that their property was damaging our vehicles and hindering us from using our own driveway. We got a note back shortly after that informing us were could remove the trees without penalty as long as we covered the cost. We were able to hire a reputable company with that permission note from the city. This was in 2021.

[Leondros]

Anyone have a good line on well priced sheds that survive Canadian winters?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Leondros

Anyone have a good line on well priced sheds that survive Canadian winters?

Concrete pad, 2x4's and LP smart panels.

[surferguy]

Use wood, stay clear of those #### plastic ones at Canadian tire or Lowe’s etc. build your own and post it here. We like sheds!

[photon]

I have a "plastic" one from Costco but it's between houses and sitting on concrete (did concrete all between the houses with that garage side) so it works well for us.

In Chestermere if it'd had been in the back yard though pretty sure it would have blown away by now.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Concrete pad, 2x4's and LP smart panels.

This, except I did concrete blocks. Now I'm wondering if I showed off my work here or not, can't remember.