Mowing ..

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Honda Update: got to use it today on a long wet lawn. No good, wouldn’t even throw into the back of the catcher, it just kept clogging up no matter how slow you push it.It was ok on the damp short grass though.
Mental note, future long grass will be slashed by the victa.

Check your blades. Honda do hi and low lift blades.

When I tried a Honda a few years ago, mine was fitted with 2 hi lift and 2 low lift. I changed to 4 hi lift blades and it made a huge, huge improvement in catching ability.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by roddy1960

What sort of a supervisor is he ?...Looks pretty fair and not TOO demanding or is he ? Looks can be deceiving with bosses ..

He's a tough but fair supervisor. He rewarded my hard work with a hug.

[DFB FGXR6]

Leaves, leaves and more leaves!



All of this from the one property.

[Citroënbender]

Sapium? They lose 9/10 of the lot in about four days.

[Tonz]

dam wish you were closer, Id love to take that off your hands.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Sapium? They lose 9/10 of the lot in about four days.

Pyrus ussuriensis/Manchurian Pear. Eight of them on the one property, and two Robinia's and a Desert Ash on the nature strip. I will be busy for a while yet.

[Cav]

[DFB FGXR6]

I planted this Ornamental Grape vine (Vitis vinifera) a few years ago. In the summer it shades the house from the afternoon sun, in autumn it displays these stunning red leaves and in winter it allows the sun to filter through the windows. It's fast growing and will endure the summer heat and winter frost. Another of my favorite plants.

[roddy1960]

[QUOTE=DFB FGXR6;6438504]I planted this Ornamental Grape vine (Vitis vinifera) a few years ago. In the summer it shades the house from the afternoon sun, in autumn it displays these stunning red leaves and in winter it allows the sun to filter through the windows. It's fast growing and will endure the summer heat and winter frost. Another of my favorite plants.

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image[/QUOTE

My biggest claim to fame with plants is I rescued a very old Dicksonia Manfern from one part of my yard when the 3.5 metre tall plant finally succumbed to huge winds and snapped off about half way up . It's crown was about the same height as the tool shed roof it sat beside.
Was devastated that day when I got home to find it .. Rang a good friend in the hort biz and he told me to cut it well above the break and replant it .
I dug about a 80 cm deep hole in a sheltered shady spot near the garage and trimmed the fronds back as he told me .

Had to water it every day for ages and Wayne told me to mix sugar and water a couple of times a week and tip it in the heart of the crown too. A few months went past and then one day I noticed the first hint of new fronds existing . A few days later and they began unfurling . It's only a third of it's original height but it's growing like a teenager now again and with healthy fronds ..

Other than that I grow ripper weeds ..some of the best around . I'm noted for my weeds .

To Dicksonia Antarctica ...otherwise known as the Tasmanin Tree Fern or Manfern locally , they pay big bikkies at nurseries in Europe and North America for them ..Here's a Canadian who likes them..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPTV1UkLvlU....

If only he was here . Up under South Sister Lookout about ten minutes drive from me is a place that is surrounded by very old and very big Dicksonia's with several having trunks between two and three feet thick and at least five metres to the crown . You half expect a dinosaur to wander out on you because they say these date back millions of years .. This one in the clip is probably half the height mine was before the wind got it about a year and a half ago ..

[MercuryT]

Bunnings 200 buck mower starts better and runs like a dream compared to my Victa. (600 and returned)

Just saying

[John 13]

Originally Posted by Cav

image

Nice RED Territory, not sure I've seen one on the road. AND sunny Queensland too.

[DFB FGXR6]

More work for my little chainsaw this afternoon, cutting up branches of Melaleuca. Really happy with how it performs. Granted, I'm hardly felling trees with it, but it certainly makes jobs like this so easy.







At the same job, this caught my eye hiding in a shady nook of the garden. Dahlia imperialis, commonly known as the Tree Dahlia, is a somewhat old fashioned plant that grows to about 3 mt tall and is cut to the ground after it has flowered. Sections of the large stems can also be planted to start new plants.





The apprentice enjoyed his ride to the tip and kept my company today.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

More work for my little chainsaw this afternoon, cutting up branches of Melaleuca. Really happy with how it performs. Granted, I'm hardly felling trees with it, but it certainly makes jobs like this so easy.

image

image

image

At the same job, this caught my eye hiding in a shady nook of the garden. Dahlia imperialis, commonly known as the Tree Dahlia, is a somewhat old fashioned plant that grows to about 3 mt tall and is cut to the ground after it has flowered. Sections of the large stems can also be planted to start new plants.

image

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The apprentice enjoyed his ride to the tip and kept my company today.

image

Perfect saw for the job! Nicely stacked and roped too, sloppy loadings a pet peeve of mine, my apprentice just thinks I'm an old crank for it

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Perfect saw for the job! Nicely stacked and roped too, sloppy loadings a pet peeve of mine, my apprentice just thinks I'm an old crank for it

Just don't look too close at my knot tying skills.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Just don't look too close at my knot tying skills.

That's why God created load binders.

[LG17]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

More work for my little chainsaw this afternoon, cutting up branches of Melaleuca. Really happy with how it performs. Granted, I'm hardly felling trees with it, but it certainly makes jobs like this so easy.

image

image

image

At the same job, this caught my eye hiding in a shady nook of the garden. Dahlia imperialis, commonly known as the Tree Dahlia, is a somewhat old fashioned plant that grows to about 3 mt tall and is cut to the ground after it has flowered. Sections of the large stems can also be planted to start new plants.

image

image

The apprentice enjoyed his ride to the tip and kept my company today.

image

I've been using a reciprocating saw for the little bits.
Works really well.

[DFB FGXR6]

Leaves, leaves and more leaves at this time of the year.

I dragged the BR600 Magnum out to clean up this car park yesterday. It really makes short work of jobs like this.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

A little gardening therapy in my own garden today, some colour for the front door.

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Aside from mowing the lawns, I rarely do much work in my own garden. It's often the last thing I want to do in my spare time. Planting seedlings is one of my favorite tasks though, the future promise of beautiful colour makes it a rewarding job.

I have used Primula for some height at the back of the pot and Pansy Happy Faces at the front because happy faces are the order of the day at the moment. I also laced the potting mix with a generous handful of Osomocote to feed them right to the end of winter.

Noticed the first flower has opened today.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

More work for my little chainsaw this afternoon, cutting up branches of Melaleuca. Really happy with how it performs. Granted, I'm hardly felling trees with it, but it certainly makes jobs like this so easy.

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All I see is 'branch stacking on an industrial scale'.

I call for an immediate AFF investigation.

[burnz]

this woo flu, has made lawns look good..

[danzvtil]

Does anyone here have experience with name brand battery hedge trimmers? All my local lawnies seem to use stihl, either battery or 2 stroke.
And today it had to happen, was cutting the lawn that houses a pit bull, it’s land mines are football size, I vapourized one with the whipper and wore it. quick wipe and carry on, lucky my mouth was closed.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Does anyone here have experience with name brand battery hedge trimmers? All my local lawnies seem to use stihl, either battery or 2 stroke.
And today it had to happen, was cutting the lawn that houses a pit bull, it’s land mines are football size, I vapourized one with the whipper and wore it. quick wipe and carry on, lucky my mouth was closed.

I use the Stihl HSA 56, not the entry level battery machine but not the top spec one either. For what I use it for, the mid level machine is enough for me. I love how light and quiet it is and don't smell like a chimney afterwards. I kept my petrol Stihl hedger for when I would need something more powerful. I have not used the petrol machine in two years!





https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...SA-56-Kit.aspx

You will be investing not only the tool but also the battery system so choose wisely with future purchases in mind. I have added to pole hedger, chainsaw and blower since getting the hedger. I have two batteries, a large capacity one and a lower capacity one. I have never been caught short of charge this way.

Spend some time and way up how much you want to spend and consider how much you intend to use it. Stihl offer a three different battery systems depending use.

https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...-Trimmers.aspx

I have not looked back with Hedging with battery power.

As for the doggie mess, better you than me!

[Work Horse]

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/24/h...ent/index.html
Bayer will pay out 10 billion (US) to settle Glyphosate cancer claims.

I use glypho daily and have done on and off for 40 years. I have always gone with the science; that it is safe to use, (providing you follow the safety instructions), that is does not cause cancer and that science needs to constantly review new data.

Bayer still claims glypho is safe and does not cause cancer. They are appealing the 3 cases that have gone to court; they are not part of this settlement. Bayer claims the jury decisions in those cases are not based on science.

I am guessing they are paying out all the other pending cases, and setting up a fund for future cases because it is a cheaper option than fighting every case in court!

Where does this leave self employed contractors like me and others here?

Could we be sued if a customer was unlucky enough to develop Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?

I am still using glypho although a few customers have expressed concern to me.

What's everyone else doing?

[Work Horse]

I am not a scientist, my qualification is in horticulture which is a science.
An article from The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
https://apvma.gov.au/node/13891

[whitelion65]

I don't fully understand how they do the epidemiological modelling on a case like this, given that it is likely that everyone, in say the US, would have been exposed to glyphosate at some stage.
This is aside from the fact that, looking at the molecule, it is impossible to see a moiety that would elicit a cancer response.
Anyway, lawyers and big money are involved, so step back!!

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by whitelion65

I don't fully understand how they do the epidemiological modelling on a case like this, given that it is likely that everyone, in say the US, would have been exposed to glyphosate at some stage.
This is aside from the fact that, looking at the molecule, it is impossible to see a moiety that would elicit a cancer response.
Anyway, lawyers and big money are involved, so step back!!

Yes my line, 'Could we be sued if a customer was unlucky enough to develop Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?’ was cynically tongue in cheek.

No lawyer is going to bother suing gardeners, no money there!

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is a terrible cancer and I feel for anyone diagnosed. The cancer was identified before Glyphosate was invented, so it can not be the cause. If the argument is it could be one of the causes, surely epidemiology would have picked up a spike in cases after the introduction of the use of Glyphosate. A spike would have followed the use of Glyphosate as it spread around the world.

[Rallye Sport]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/24/h...ent/index.html


What's everyone else doing?

Lol getting abused by the public daily.
We have to put signs out now and they're like red rags to a bull. We used to quietly get away with it but they see the sign and hunt you down for a tirade. Funny I was approached by an outraged citizen today whilst hand spraying, she wasn't bothered by the boom sprayer nearby putting out a much worse substance, just by my glypho.

Seriously though we're all pretty accountable and responsible. Everyone is trained and licensed. Accurate wind, temps and delta T is recorded. We also program the spraying of glyph with seasonal growth spurts.

We've tried some alternatives.

Pine oil can work in large and very expensive doses.

Pelargonic acid it just that, bloody acid! The PPE you need to mix it is crazy, we stopped after golfers complained about us getting around in full rubber gaunts, aprons, shields and respirators

Steam is a complete joke. Only contact kills, misses stolons and tubers. Is very time consuming. Theres two things weed seeds need to germinate, heat and moisture, regrowth soon follows. Then theres the carbon footprint of running an internal combustion boiler all day to run it.

The only other one we use is pre-emergents, generally more toxic than glyph but no one seems to care, because they're not in the media and the only nasty chem they know is glyph. Lol.

Anyway thats where I'm at with it, will keep using it in a professional manner and deal with the numpties as they come.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Lol getting abused by the public daily.
We have to put signs out now and they're like red rags to a bull. We used to quietly get away with it but they see the sign and hunt you down for a tirade. Funny I was approached by an outraged citizen today whilst hand spraying, she wasn't bothered by the boom sprayer nearby putting out a much worse substance, just by my glypho.

Seriously though we're all pretty accountable and responsible. Everyone is trained and licensed. Accurate wind, temps and delta T is recorded. We also program the spraying of glyph with seasonal growth spurts.

We've tried some alternatives.

Pine oil can work in large and very expensive doses.

Pelargonic acid it just that, bloody acid! The PPE you need to mix it is crazy, we stopped after golfers complained about us getting around in full rubber gaunts, aprons, shields and respirators

Steam is a complete joke. Only contact kills, misses stolons and tubers. Is very time consuming. Theres two things weed seeds need to germinate, heat and moisture, regrowth soon follows. Then theres the carbon footprint of running an internal combustion boiler all day to run it.

The only other one we use is pre-emergents, generally more toxic than glyph but no one seems to care, because they're not in the media and the only nasty chem they know is glyph. Lol.

Anyway thats where I'm at with it, will keep using it in a professional manner and deal with the numpties as they come.

I use glyph regularly for spot spraying my private yards, but won’t take it near the childcare centre I look after, just the same as rodent control there, I’m qualified in rodent baiting but leave it up to rentokil so they have the liability.
I discussed this topic with a concerned client, and gave her some perspective, a full driveway, pathways and tennis court spot spray might use 20-30ml of 360g/l glyphosate, the qtys are minute.
If it comes to it I will carry a sprayer full of slasher (non annoic acid) to use on request, but my fee will reflect that its 8 x more expensive than gly.
Unfortunately the general public get very upset about certain dangers, but are completely oblivious to others, I heard of a school groundsman who was weed spraying after hours, a parent saw him and caused WW3, because won’t someone think of the children! They probably drove home in their petrochemical powered car.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

If it comes to it I will carry a sprayer full of slasher (non annoic acid) to use on request, but my fee will reflect that its 8 x more expensive than gly.

How do you find the smell of Slasher?

We trialed it at the Nursery but I found that the place stunk for days after using it for spot spraying path weeds. I have since learnt from the Rep that Slasher can be used at about half the recommended strength and still being more than effective at killing weeds, often within hours.

Slasher for those who may not be aware -

[MITCHAY]

Well the green spell was nice while it lasted. Now the frost is killing it all