Last fall Matt helped me remove some overgrown hostas from the bed under the kitchen window that flows down to the basement door. I planted daffodil, crocus, and tulip bulbs in the area and then we covered it in mulch. It looked so good that I hoped to clean out all the flower beds and cover them with mulch over the winter.
My goal hasn’t happened yet, but late yesterday evening I decided to tackle one of my longest flower beds. It runs the length of the house on the porch side
I’ve been cleaning the bed out for over a decade and finally figured out how to make the process faster and easier.
The oak trees along the front of our house shed their leaves onto our garden area which is great for the soil, but the leaves also blow into the bed under the porch.
Last year as I cleaned the leaves out by hand I thought they probably make a little hand held rake that would work great for the job. I found one online and bought it even though I was finished with the leaves for that year.
Yesterday I used the little rake and it worked like a charm! So much easier and faster! And it is so small that it doesn’t hurt the delicate plants that don’t die back like lenten roses and geraniums.
I learned the other thing that really helped from Matt.
I always carry a bucket and stuff the debris of leaves and last year’s growth into it. Once it’s full I have to walk over to the bank and dump it. It fills quickly which means many trips back and forth.
Matt helped me do the greening of Christmas back in December. When our baskets were full he used his shemagh (a large piece of fabric he carries in his pack) to carry home the hemlock branches. He laid it on the ground and then we laid the laps on it. Once it was tied up it was very easy to carry.
That gave me the idea of laying a tarp alongside the bed and throwing all the leaves and dead vegetation on it. Once the tarp was full we carried it to the bank and dumped it all at once. So much easier!
The mulch came from the trees Granny had cut last summer. She knew we planned to use it on our gardens. I know she’d be excited that I got the bed ready for this year’s new growth. The green will be prettier against the mulch, the blooms will be easier to see, the soil will be enriched, and the blanket of mulch will help keep weeds at bay.
Last night’s video: 2 New Recipes That Are Amazing!
Tipper
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I have little rake like that that has a retractable handle so you can make it whatever length you want to fit your need. I love it! it works great in flower beds or small areas where you can’t get big rakes into. You can have it the length of a regular rake or shorter to get into tighter areas. I think it came from one of the dollar stores but it has been the best thing and it’s got to be 15 years old.Y’all work great together in the yard like my mom and I used to. Made me remember happier times of working in the yard together…
Tipper there are also small rakes that have an extendable handle that are very handy for that type of work. They are more of a metal type rake but still very light weight . The goat bluff is looking great !!! You guys are inspiring me !!!
I use a similar tarp transport method when I clean out the Poultry Palace, except now instead of shoveling the shavings out onto a tarp on the ground I line the clean floor with a tarp before putting the fresh shavings on it. To clean out I can gather up the corners of the tarp and haul it all out to the compost pile in one trip. My original plan was to put grommets along the edge of the tarp and put a cord through like a drawstring to gather up the tarp easily, but so far I haven’t done that.
I don’t have anything blooming yet. I need to get my beds cleaned out. So much to do but no energy to get it done.
I wanted to be right outside with you. it’s wonderful when we come up with a more efficient way to get the job done. Though I wonder why it took me so long to come up with the idea. It was so calming to watch the bed clean out and it looks fabulous. I often go outside and tidy up an area. It’s quiet and relaxing to be with nature and my thoughts. The job is done before I know it. Thank you for sharing.
We watched your recipe video last night and I must make that soup recipe for sure. Might do the cake one too but must use G/F flour as I am celiac. Anyway when I get these printed off and tried I’ll let you know if we love them as much as you and Matt did.
One of my snowdab bushes is blooming.
I’ll send pictures!
Hello Tipper, I have a question. What kind of beans did you use in last night‘s video? I know they came from Rancho Gordo. What are they called? You said a name on the video but when I looked on the transcript, it said castle so I couldn’t get the name from the transcript. Could you tell me exactly what the bean was called?
Dale they are cassoulet beans 🙂
A MYSTERY. My 2nd post today Tipper. But I hope you see this. I want to share something that happened in the garden today for you to think about & maybe ask somebody you think would know. —– I was turning the garden and turned up some nice-size Yukon Gold from last year, I think a complete hill. Later, when I washed them off, some were kinda rough and darker and some were smooth, thin skinned and bright like a new penny. Could it be possible that potatoes left in the ground over the winter can & will make “new” potatoes without ever putting up a top if the root system is undisturbed, being “fed” from the old potatoes? If so, could it happen anywhere, or only in certain areas such as here where growing potatoes in spring/summer is problematic because the tops die from heat in July and just barely get 90 days to make? NOTE: It might be possible there was a top this past fall but I really don’t think so. Thanks for reading if you got this far. Ron
Ron, fascinating! I’m just not sure of an answer. Seems like they did grow new ones from the old ones 🙂 Thank you for sharing your finding!!
So beautiful & inspiring !!!
The snow is nearly melted here in MI. I’m thinking about the yard work too. Mulch is my favorite garden tool. I’m very curious about the white beans in your soup. Are you going to plant that second pack I saw on the counter top? I’ve read that they are for sale by Walmart and Amazon as seed. That they are pole beans that need full sun. I wonder if they would like to grow in a row of the corn field? Thank you for what you do. Hope today lifts your spirits and carries you forward.
Thank you Patti, I haven’t thought about planting them but that would be nice 🙂
Morning everyone. Yes this warm weather even makes me want to clean out beds. My Hostas aren’t doing anything. Maybe they had too much snow? My Weeping Willow and Forsythia/Yellow Bells are full of leaves and buds. Today is supposed to be 73, Monday in the 30’s. I really enjoyed the driveway video. When Matt made the grilled cheese I jumped up and made me one while I watched the video. Son was working late, he didn’t get one. It’s nice that Granny still has so much of her spirit in your lives. I am glad you are all doing good. Anna from Arkansas.
That garden bed just looks wonderful, Tipper! We have had a lot of problems with mulch that was chipped up from dead trees causing fungus issues in our beds. I am not saying this will be any problem at all for you, just sharing about our issues. We spread it everywhere and sadly it festered and grew some very strange things, mushrooms, molds, etc and we have to start over and dig it all out. (We had gotten a huge load dropped from a tree company a couple years back). I guess a hard life lesson to learn! Your mulch looks beautiful and it’s so special it has a touch of Granny with it being from trees she cut. I greatly enjoyed your cooking video last night! Those might be my favorite videos you do. Thanks for sharing those recipes. I will be trying both! I cannot believe Matt said he would put the carrot cake up there with the orange bread! I think with that praise, we should all be running to make it! 🙂
I hope you share this with Matt……my 4yr old grandson has bn playin he’s Matt all mornin, he just went to get camo pants, work boots and his ball cap on, so he could be Matt. I watched your driveway video yesterday and he started watchin too and fell in love with Matt &Tipper and that’s all he’s been playin since yesterday. His favorite thing ever is dress up. He most often playes he’s being his Granddeddy, who has a Kubota just like Matt’s and who also just built a shop. Anyway, if you ever think “why would anyone want to watch us cook or garden or do up keep around the house,” you think twice! Our country is hungery for normal, for simple, for Godly ppl, so don’t you ever forget, you make a difference Tipper, and Matt is a huge hit!
Lorie, that is the sweetest thing! Thank you for sharing it with us. You made Matt’s day 🙂 Thank you for your kind words too!
Spring fever and gardening prep time is accelerating well in your little corner of our world Tipper! 🙂 I remember well what such days were like growing up, and later with my own family. Using a tarp to haul things on sure works well, but I recall when growing up, working with mom, we also used a wheelbarrow for a lot of our hauling. Because we lived coastal, gardeners often used kelp and seaweed added to the soil preparation as a fertilizer, along with other compost. It worked GOOD! Like everything we grew was on steroids the abundance of produce was so much. Living in the concrete jungle now, I look forward to seeing all your gardening tasks – the prepping, the tending, and results – be they floral or vegetable. May it all put forth abundance. I remain in prayer for you all.
Good morning, Tipper, wow the bed looks fantastic and great idea about using the tarp. I have an old one out in my tool shed and I am going to do the same thing. Just quickly I wanted to tell you I got my onions put in last week. Out here in Texas we plant onions in the middle of February since the can take a few light freezes. The problem is I want to plant everything else too. Ha ha
The mulch looks great and I can’t wait to see everything coming up. I always enjoy seeing your flowers and vegetable garden each year. You definitely have a green thumb!
Love your videos and blog! Your family values remind me of my family as I grew up in Michigan.
The mulch looks great and Granny would love how the flower bed looks!
I look forward to your posts and videos daily!
Thank you for sharing with us!
Your soup looked delicious so I’m going to try it soon. Matt surely was impressed with it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Your flower bed looks so good too. I’m going to get a big load of mulch for my flower beds as soon as I find someone to deliver it that doesn’t charge too much.
You always inspire me!
The flower bed will be so beautiful this summer!! Granny will be pleased you used the mulch. I stole your bucket idea when weeding. Works great!!
Good morning Tipper & Acorns! I’ve been working on some areas in my very large(my home sits on 12 acres, with a small pond and beautiful pasture ground) yard. My little garden patch is soooo ready for seeds/starts. One hosta bed is cleared of stalks and leaves. The gravel up near the house, where my neighbor cleared my lane, has been raked back into the drive. At the moment, when I stop and look around, it seems more than a bit daunting but equally exciting with plans and possibilities. Yesterday, I celebrated my 68th year on this beautiful planet and the temperature reached 68° which is unheard of here in west central IL. I’m battling another round of cancer but my plan (like 2 years ago) is to beat it, hopefully for good this time. Heading into spring with my seed packets and wish lists(a friend in a local garden club is going to save me some Cherokee purple tomato plants!!!!) makes me feel so optimistic. The rebirth and rejuvenation of life that comes with this time of year fills me with contentment ♡ That carrot cake has been added to my “to do” list!!
Kim, a late Happy Birthday to you 🙂 I will keep you in my prayers!
Enjoyed the video last night. We have large hedges between our backyard fence and a very busy road. My husband trims them and I gather the branches onto a large tarp. Then we drag it to the front of the house where we can dump it on the curb for the garbage collecter. The leaves, I rake up and bag. We started using the tarp trick for the inevitable debris cleaning after hurricanes.
Lot of truth in the saying, “We learn by doing.” But it is also true that we learn by what others have done, good or bad. There are so many items of “waste not, want not” and “make do” in your post and also care and stewardship. You all have been making a homeplace slowly and surely for a long time. That makes it a reflection of yourselves to a discerning eye. That’s its own kind of folk wisdom, the wisdom to see character in how land is treated. I think either “farmstead” or “homeplace” would describe your home on the ‘bluff’ but of the two I think maybe “homeplace” has the better claim.
It looks great. Why can’t you put the mulch on top of the dead leaves? Now that both of you have retired from public work you can really keep your home up and get all those projects done! Have a great week.
Sandra, you certainly could if you wanted to 🙂
Oh ok. Thanks for answering! 🙂
That looks great! I can’t wait to get out and play in the dirt again.
Glad to see Tipper doing something she enjoys. I have known about the trick of using a tarp for a long time but have never tried it, I carry anything too far away from my yard and would used a small trailer for many years. My son bought a JD tractor with a front end loader about ten years ago, it has been so useful, it makes me wonder how I got along without a tractor with a loader and bucket for so many years. Wood chips like this are very useful but do not put them in beds around /close to your home underpinning, I have been told they can cause termite problems. The mulch you buy has been treated to prevent termites. I don’t know this for a fact.
You could barely hold your excitement in as Matt was tasting the bean soup in the video last evening. It was so cute! It’s the most wonderful feeling to cook for your hubby and he loves it! The soup looked like something we would love too. I have to try it, and the carrot cake too. Your flower garden looks wonderful all mulched and ready to grow.
Good morning, Tipper, Matt, Paul and Acorns. I loved last night’s video. Your Soup looked so delicious. I also watched the Kefir video and saved the recipes for the soup and the cake. I just had an idea, you ought to take photos of all of the recipes you have from the drawer. Save them in their own file, “Recipes I Want To Try”. Give each photo the name of the recipe and then the clutter from the drawer will disappear.
I love your flower beds. I always spread a tarp when I’m clearing something out. I trimmed the boxwoods for my BFF and would spread the tarp to catch all the trimmings. Then I drag it to the compost pile and dump it. It is so easy. If I have something heavy to move, I have several sizes of cardboard saved that I can put under stuff and pull/push it along as the cardboard helps it glide.
I keep everyone here and up Wilson Hollow in my prayers. I love y’all.
I have a baby sister, Barbara Ann Miller. I was the 3rd child, Barbara Ann next, then another little sister, Julia Ann (Julie). Barbara Ann IS Barbara Ann. I cherish them all. Because of you, she came to the front of my thoughts this morning. Thank You. I (try to) care for a daylily garden; probably 100+ varieties that of course have a short blooming season; some early bloomers, then MOST in a prolific display of God’s glory (He didn’t have to give us all the varieties for the butterflies and bees to do their thing… yes, I know folks hybridize, but they didn’t start from nothing!), then some late bloomers, and even some re-bloomers. I’m also trying to do my part on reviving 100% American Chestnuts; NOT 99%. Have been trying for 3 years. Maybe it’s the “4th” time that will be the “charm.” Seize the day!
I know it feels good to have that big bed clean. It sure looks good. Just remember Winter isn’t over by far yet. Every February we get a taste of spring, but Winter will be back next week. Y’all have accomplished a whole lot this year! That’s to be proud of.
God bless you, I’m sure it will be beautiful, you work hard to prepare everything, I enjoyed the picture of the salamander, I have seen some red ones here, please continue to pray for my brother, he is in a lot of pain, he is nauseated, he has lost his appetite, my sister is trying to get him to come to Georgia, to her house I hope he comes soon, God bless you friends thank you for praying, I’ll tell you about my trip to the gallbladder doctor sometime later on
Thank you Norman. I will keep praying.
I can’t wait to see your garden coming to life. We had to move in late November because my husband got a job at a church in this city. I’m so sad to leave my garden..it just about broke my heart. This home has nothing, a clean slate. It will be a lot of work and I’m not sure I want to do that all over again. Please pray for me.
I will pray for you!! God bless you!
Thank you and I’m still praying for you too. God bless!!