Beech Tree News Network

Peter Drucker said, “Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/hard-work-quotes). Last week as I worked in my yard, I noticed several things outside that need attention. To improve the chance of getting these things done, I’ve made a late-summer-to-do-outside list in no particular order.

Save the vegetables and fight the weeds. I have squash and tomato plants this year. The plants have produced lots of squash, but only a few tomatoes (I will plant differently next year.). For some reason, polk weeds choose to grow along with my vegetables. I tried cutting them; they came back. I have recently very carefully used a spray poison on them. I also sprayed poison on the weeds along the back fence line that had gotten wild-looking because of the recent rains. It’s a battle worth fighting.

Rework the stones around the flowers and seal the concrete. This task is the most labor intensive (If I don’t complete a task, it will likely be this one.). The concrete blocks at the end of my sidewalk need to be realigned (re-level the dirt under the blocks), cleaned out (weeds pulled), and new soil added to the lilies. The aggregate concrete sidewalk, porch and patio also need to be cleaned and power washed, then sealed. It’s been more than the four years recommended since the concrete was sealed.

Stain and seal the new boards on the house. Last year, I had some work done that involved replacing some exterior boards on my house. Since my house is covered with sealed wooden boards that have been in place for 36 years, the new boards don’t match the old ones. Also, I don’t have the talent or knowledge to make them all match, so the best I can do is stain and seal the new wood to preserve it. And preservation is a good thing.

Get rid of the groundhog. I’ve seen a groundhog near my house for years. Since it didn’t really bother me, we have peacefully shared the territory. Recently, however, the groundhog overstepped his welcome. He burrowed under my house. While watching the animal’s habits, I researched the pest, reading about capture and about prevention. I found that this animal does not like ammonia, so last week I poured some of it around the crawl-space entrances and soaked the entrance of his burrowed tunnel. I don’t know for sure, but I don’t believe the groundhog has returned. If he does return, I am likely to have him removed – via live trap or buried in the back yard. It will be his choice.

Colin Powell said, “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work,” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/hard-work-quotes). And my late-summer-to-do-outside list will definitely require sweat, determination and hard work, but I have a few weeks. Home maintenance is kind of like the groundhog: sneaky and problematic.