DFB's Greenthumb Project

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Tonz

Hear what your saying but I prefer the auto control box and the pop up sprayers, adjust the time 3 times a year, walk around once a month when they are spraying to confirm they are spraying.

What controller do you use?

I had a philmac controller running the systems when I moved in to the house in currently in. Previous owner set it all up. Lasted about 5or 6 years and then died. Knowing nothing about electronics I just opted to replace it. I've been through 2 since (holman I think) but just can't find one as user friendly as that original philmac one. Looked up philmac but they don't seem to sell that sort of stuff any more.

I've modded mine more times than I care to count, but currently have 4 valves controlling 2 lawn areas and 2 garden areas. It's programmed basically for when we go away, usually in summer. Being so not user friendly quite often I'm just using it manually.

Be good to know of a reasonable user friendly one.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

What controller do you use?

I had a philmac controller running the systems when I moved in to the house in currently in. Previous owner set it all up. Lasted about 5or 6 years and then died. Knowing nothing about electronics I just opted to replace it. I've been through 2 since (holman I think) but just can't find one as user friendly as that original philmac one. Looked up philmac but they don't seem to sell that sort of stuff any more.

I've modded mine more times than I care to count, but currently have 4 valves controlling 2 lawn areas and 2 garden areas. It's programmed basically for when we go away, usually in summer. Being so not user friendly quite often I'm just using it manually.

Be good to know of a reasonable user friendly one.

Are you talking about the programable tap timers, or a central controller that activates valves/solenoids'?

Automated Tap -
https://www.google.ca/search?q=autom...h=714&dpr=1.25

Central Controller -
https://www.google.ca/search?q=hunte...h=714&biw=1536

[prydey]

Central controller

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

Central controller

Ok, I have used three main types over the years.

These ones with sliders are very easy to program and adjust -



The worst are the Toro ones, I hate the how complicated they are to program, push this then this then this........avoid!



The Hunter controllers are the one to have. They sit in the middle for ease of programming.

[Tonz]

back to controllers Hunter for me.

about 18 years ago I bought the top of range Hunter for $99 from Hugall & Hoile in Reynella, then dropped over to the recently opened Bunnings. just out of curiosity I checked their irrigation section.... same thing same ID identical except $199.
Asked if i got the discount and duly showed them the receipt and all hell broke loose.
I was accused of trying wholesale V retail.

We finished up with manager having a fruit loop reaction and myself being escorted out with security. mind you I performed very well for the shoppers and forced the security to stop in front of main doors so I could smile with V sign at the cameras.

[FTE217]

Snap 2 lol we have heaps of them as well and having bloomed not long ago getting ready for another - indestructible, I cut back many for they keep hanging over our walkway and re shot like mad.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DFB FGXR6]

We sell the variegated form at work. I like this variety for the bright yellow contrast it provides.

[DFB FGXR6]

At one of my commercial gardening jobs today, I noticed an area that has been butchered by a painting contractor.











I'm probably going to offend someone by saying this but construction contractors would have to be the most arrogant people I come across. I have had to share job sites with various trades over the years, and the self absorbed, arrogant and oblivious nature is common theme. So long as they get their job done, then nothing else matters. I can guarantee the damage to these plants wont be cleaned up or replaced. One plant had been completed snapped/rubbed out of the ground. I have spent hours tending to these plants, all destroyed in a matter of minutes. But hey, at least the freshly painted wall looks good, right?

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I'm probably going to offend someone by saying this but construction contractors would have to be the most arrogant people I come across. I have had to share job sites with various trades over the years, and the self absorbed, arrogant and oblivious nature is common theme. So long as they get their job done, then nothing else matters. I can guarantee the damage to these plants wont be cleaned up or replaced. One plant had been completed snapped/rubbed out of the ground. I have spent hours tending to these plants, all destroyed in a matter of minutes. But hey, at least the freshly painted wall looks good, right?

No argument there. Yes plenty of similar experiences with some contractors.
I remember not to long ago on a reno build, going to some lenghts on a Sunday to help the owner pick and load field stone from their land Carefully backing down his drive to avoid his well mantained garden, we both placed the stone in order of how he would want me to build his fireplace alongside the house.
Monday morn and here are 2 jokers with both there utes parked all over his garden beds, (why is it tradeguys have a need block in use drive ways) lenghts of timber stacked on top, the stone thrown over against the fence with offcut wood piled over it.

Lets just say it wasn't a pretty site when I arrived. Got even worse when the owner showed up.

Concreters are the best, park anywhere, always in a hurry to pour their slab, don't give a s**t about anyone else, swear thier heads off while doing the prep work, loud annoying bossman, radios blasting around them, concrete splatter left all over everyone else's work.

[Citroënbender]

A properly managed project would have paid for the garden to be heavily trimmed, temporarily relocated, tied back as required - well in advance. What’s gone on there is typical sub-trades work.

[Tonz]

Most tradesman forget this aspect of their job and leave the cleanup to the next person, who then leaves his mess to the next person and so on and so on until some sucker (usually me) to finish it all off.
and if I was the client, I would have complete confidence in the quality and high standard of all your work.

[DFB FGXR6]

I don't want to come across as slagging off on all tradesman. My comments are coming from a genuine place, I don't want to be hating on people for no reason. But I have come across enough sloppy tradesman over the years that have no interest in being sympathetic to those they are working around.

At the end of the day, I want to get my job done as much as they do, but I don't want to be babysitting them as much they don't want to be picking up after me.

[DFB FGXR6]

Two plants caught my eye on the way out today.

First off was this red Abutilon or Chinese Lantern. This variety is called Lucky Lantern Red, these versions only grow to about 30cm x 30cm, making them ideal for pots. Abutilons just about flower all year long.



Gardenia White Goddess living up to her name with stunningly fragrant flowers. This variety can grow up to 1.5 mt high and is best tip pruned regularly to encourage bushy growth. Many believe Gardenia need to be grown in the shade, and while they can certainly be used in a shady spot, they grow best in a warm and sunny position.



The latest trend in plants is lush, glossy green foliage, meaning gardenia's have become very popular over the last couple of years.

[DFB FGXR6]

A few progress shots of my renovated back garden.

Overall, I'm happy with how things are going, although there have been some failures.

The Atro Maple is slowly establishing, it has done really well in this hot sunny spot.

April 2021 -



April 2022 -





The Magnolia White Caviar has done exceptionally well, as has the Magnolia Kay Parris.

July 2021 -



April 2022 -





A couple of things have struggled, owing to a blocked dripper and my four-legged friend has been pretty rough on a couple of others.

In the corner of the yard, the Pyrus Edgewood (behind the white bench seat) for some reason has slowly been dying for 9 months now. It barely flowered last spring, then did not burst into leaf. I have no idea what has caused this, a shame as it was a perfect shape. I will need to chop it down, most likely at Easter, and replace it with something different. I have set aside a very nice advanced Autumn Blaze Maple at work.

https://www.flemings.com.au/nurserie...ick-treer.html

These are stunning trees for Autumn colour, hopefully filling this space nicely.

[Citroënbender]

Good result, I’ve just been swearing at an azalea that won’t stop blooming - want to prune it hard. Looking at holes in my front border; stuff that died and plants that got nicked. I want to plant Jalapeño chillies there for a bit of diversity.

You’re a bit young for a blocked dripper! #prostatitis

[Tonz]

Love ferns, in a previous life our whole backyard was a temperate rain forest reincarnation. Had over 200 different ferns in there mostly protected by 2 massive mulberry trees and massive water bills. I was spending more on water for my plants than the neighbour was, but his attracted police interest and destruction.

Must be satisfying, working doing what you love best (apart from the cars) and getting paid for it.

[DFB FGXR6]

My Yuletide is in full display at the moment, one of my favorite plants.



And my Magnolia Little Gem is flowering at the moment. These small trees generally flower during the warmer months of the year, but they do spot flower from time to time as well.

[Citroënbender]

I thought it looked like a Camellia! Had no idea of that name though. Do the lorikeets hook into it?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I thought it looked like a Camellia! Had no idea of that name though. Do the lorikeets hook into it?

Not really. Although that might have something to do with a dog that has been trained to "get the birds"................

[DFB FGXR6]

Got rained out today. Annoying as I had a number of jobs on the docket that will be pushed into next week now. Frustrating but it is what it is.

I decided to catch up on machine maintenance instead.

Oil change time for the Victa and Bushranger, the Mulchmaster was last done in October 2021, the Honda in January.

First, the Victa, and yes I protected my floor with old newspaper. Continuing to use Penrite Semi-Syn 10W-30.







Found myself another job while I had the thing on it's side though, those blades need replacing.





I keep blades in stock so that I can swap them out when needed, I buy them when I have the time and fit them when I have the time. For years I screwed around trying to replace blades with the carrier still fitted to the crank, having a rattle gun saves a lot of blood hands!

I write the date on the filter or filler tube so I can remember when the last oil change was.



The Bushranger only needed the oil changed.



Interesting to see what the drive system looks like on these, the box is driven via a drive shaft rather than a belt.





I also remembered to replace the oil on the Honda powered Atom edger. These hold such a small amount of oil, even so they are really hard to drain and fill properly owing to odd shape of the edger body.





I also went shopping for new chains for my chainsaw and a customers saw as well.

[Tonz]

Over the years, I have built many of those beds. Today I had some help which made the process so much more enjoyable. I always say though, as a builder, I'm a great gardener.
I was thinking they were not up to the quality and high standards we expect from you.

[DFB FGXR6]

Day two progress -

We get trees from two main suppliers, Flemings delivered today and the secondary supplier's stock will arrive next week. This is mildly frustrating because it's easier to process them in one large lot.



Trees taken off the truck and sorted into their varieties. I would get in trouble if I told what the dollar amount is sitting there on the concrete..........suffice to say it's a VERY significant cost to the business. Not pictured here is the hessian we cover the trees with to keep the roots moist while we process them.



Trees are bundled and labeled with a simple tag at Flemings, we then attach a pictorial label to each and every tree for retail sale.



This is me pretending to be a real man using machines to load sand into a trailer and lugging it into the nursery ready to shovel into the sand beds. We are lucky to have two of these machines, although both are wounded. The engines burn oil and the one with the bucket leaks it too. In fairness, both have done a power of work over a number of years.



I'm actually pretty proud of being able to use those machines, although I have only a fraction of the skill using them that my three boss's do.

Initial work began on burying the larger standard and weeping trees.......think weeping Cherries, weeping Maples and Catalpa's. It's actually good to get these ones out of the way first, bigger trees mean bigger roots to cover and more heavy sand to shovel.



We then moved onto the smaller growing and flowering trees.......think Japanese Maples, Crepe Myrtles and Crab Apples. Here you can see how we work row by row to ensure each tree is properly covered with sand.



The dinky little trailer empties pretty quick but is able to fit down the rows easily. The machine is actually really easy to maneuverer a trailer with. (I'm not a real man so I can't back a trailer.)



Calling it a day, the trees that made it into stock today are watered and the ones that didn't covered and saturated to get them through until morning.





Shattered after a long day, and injuring my knee in the process wasn't helpful.

[Citroënbender]

Have you tried a slightly smaller mouth shovel? It may actually be faster overall. I only use the long handled squaremouth for blue metal or site cleaning.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Have you tried a slightly smaller mouth shovel? It may actually be faster overall. I only use the long handled squaremouth for blue metal or site cleaning.

Precisely what I use, my collogue prefers the bigger shovel. And you are correct, despite being smaller, it's quicker and easier for me to use the smaller one. What is they say? It's not the size that matter, it's what you do with it that counts.

You can see it in this pic -

[DFB FGXR6]

Just adding some more insight into the bare-root season.

Trees are grown closely in fields. Once they have dropped their leaves in mid-late autumn, the wholesale grower will dig up each variety, sort them for size and bundle them in lots of five. Once bundled, they are stored in holding bays.

















It's a huge and messy job, the staff dress in full wet gear to keep warm and dry.



They are then loaded into trucks and shipped all over the country.





It's then up to us to label each tree.



This is my 17th of doing the bare-root season.

[Work Horse]

Lordy you have been a busy boy DFB FGXR6!

I've been purchasing heaps of stuff from the big trade nursery I use. As the weather cools I always encouraging customers to plant now, not wait for spring/summer.

Plant prices seem to have gone up a lot, (like everything).

[Rallye Sport]

Thanks for the run down on the process of sorting the bare root stock DFB
The Fernery and pond have come along way too, good stuff.

Thought I'd share a little green project I've been working on.
Uninspired by one of my planted tanks I thought I'd change it up. Normally I like to do natural landscapes in them but this time I thought I'd try an underwater Bonsai.
After spending a day picking up suitable twigs around the golf course I set about joining a few together to make little trees and stumps before weighting them down with rocks.



Then came the painstaking task of attaching the moss with cotton. No mean feat with wet, XL sized hands.
Got there in the end. Sorry about the pics the tanks still a little murky from the build.



And all done.



The jurys still out on it but its early days, the 'trees' and background plants still need to grow and I think it needs a few small foreground plants aswell. I'll post some pics as it all develops.

[Citroënbender]

It’s nice to see a water feature without the ubiquitous Buddha.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

Thanks for the run down on the process of sorting the bare root stock DFB
The Fernery and pond have come along way too, good stuff.

Thought I'd share a little green project I've been working on.
Uninspired by one of my planted tanks I thought I'd change it up. Normally I like to do natural landscapes in them but this time I thought I'd try an underwater Bonsai.
After spending a day picking up suitable twigs around the golf course I set about joining a few together to make little trees and stumps before weighting them down with rocks.

image

Then came the painstaking task of attaching the moss with cotton. No mean feat with wet, XL sized hands.
Got there in the end. Sorry about the pics the tanks still a little murky from the build.

image

And all done.

image

The jurys still out on it but its early days, the 'trees' and background plants still need to grow and I think it needs a few small foreground plants aswell. I'll post some pics as it all develops.

Nicely done, would love to see how it progresses.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Lordy you have been a busy boy DFB FGXR6!

I've been purchasing heaps of stuff from the big trade nursery I use. As the weather cools I always encouraging customers to plant now, not wait for spring/summer.

Plant prices seem to have gone up a lot, (like everything).

I always get asked if it's the "right time to plant". As a salesman, ANY time is time to plant!

Seriously though, each season has it's plus's and minus's in regards to planting. Autumn is my favorite time to plant, the summer heat has faded and the soil is still warm to encourage root development meaning that the plant will take off better in spring. Winter is the best time to plant roses and trees as they are dormant and wont notice the transplanting. Spring is when stock begins to become more available, allowing for more choice in the nursery. My rule of thumb is as long as you are not planting into 35+ degree heat, then go for your life.

As for pricing, you are correct, plants are getting more and more expensive, even really basic lines.

I wrote this a few weeks ago on another forum, I think it belongs in this thread as well -

As a nurseryman and plant retailer, I have watched prices creep up and up over the last 20 years. When I started, a basic shrub in a 6 inch pot cost $8 or $9.00. That same shrub in the same size pot costs at least $14 to $18 these days.

What many don't realize is how much work goes into that one plant to make it a sellable product.

In the most part, you are paying for the nurseryman's time to strike, pot, water and grow a plant to that sellable condition. He also needs to have space to grow thousands more of the same and many other plant varieties. And unlike say a packet of bolts or a bottle of car polish, a plant takes time to grow, they don't just pop out of a machine or factory. Plants can take between 4 months and up to 18 months to become a product able to be purchased at your local nursery or garden center.

In terms of costing, a wholesale grower needs to pay for -
-Labor/Staff
-Plant material to strike from
-Potting machinery
-Pot
-Potting mix/soil
-Fertilizer
-Pre-emergent weed killer
-Pest management
-Space to rent/lease/own to house the product while it grows
-Preparation and then shipping.

For a basic plant variety in a 6 inch pot, the wholesaler will sell these to a retailer at about $5 each. When you consider how much time, effort and other inputs go into to making that plant sellable, $5 is not making the nurseryman rich!

And then on the retailer side, again unlike a packet of bolts, a plant is not something thrown on the shelf and forgotten about until it passes through the till, it needs to be maintained, watered and fed...........and it costs money to pay someone like me to do that. So a plant on a bench at $14 is not making a retailer a rich man.

Just something to think about.