I mowed some more. When I say I “mowed“ I really mean reclaiming the yard after it became overgrown when I was hurt and sick. I have a relatively normal mower, but I have a really great Weedwhacker that I got when everything was being converted to batteries. It was a $150 model that I got for $29 on close out. It’ll damn near cut a 2 x 4.
Each time I get to the edge of what I’ve mowed already, my “mowing” also involves a chainsaw. The woody weeds and privets that are too much for the Weedwhacker get cut close to the ground. I work from the top down, so the mower will mulch the pieces.
Also, I have a giant bald Cyprus growing next to my garage. The roots run shallow under the surface, and every few feet a knob comes up, which I guess would be the start of another tree at some point. If I catch them early, they’re the size of a golf ball or baseball, but I have a few that are the size of a softball, and a couple the size of a football. So when I mow in the reclaim areas, I have to weed whack first, then mow until I bump into something, then take the chainsaw and cut it off flush (without damaging the chain), and then go another foot or two with the mower. Once that’s done, I can then mow it relatively normally
The final challenge, the biggest challenge, is that the entire rear part of my property is overcome by wisteria vines. In the winter and early spring, I get these beautiful blooms of flowers that are like wispy clumps of grapes, high in the trees and landscaping, all over the property. The aroma envelops you like the wings of an angel. It really is amazing.
A week later, you realize it’s one of those hateful eternal levels of hell in Dantes Inferno. They cover everything and choke it, and when you go to cut it or whack it, it’s like trying to whack nylon cord. As you whack it, the bits get all over you and itch you like crazy. Once you cut it back to the ground, it could get two or three or 4 feet long in the week until the next mowing. If you spray it with round up or such, it will yellow some of the leaves and everything around it will die, so then it grows 10 times as fast from eliminating the competition. I’ve had other things like that, but I was able to divorce them.
Except for that first week or two, it has a sour pungent odor, especially as you cut it, which makes cutting it even more miserable. And when you are mildly successful at whacking it, this happens.
I have a designated utility knife with a hook blade for cutting it off the weed whacker, off the fence, off the trees and bushes, off my legs, etc. I hate using the hook blade when I’m hot and sweaty and tired, which usually means I’m a little shaky and pissed off. I have to focus so I don’t get rid of one of my fingers at the same time I get rid of the damn vine.
Even with all of that, the main vines run flat along the ground right on the surface at the root of the grass. The only thing I found that kills it permanently is that leftover gas/diesel mix I have from my friend who thanked me for borrowing the 7.3 by topping off both tanks with gas when he returned it. Problem is, it kills everything else, and there’s a lot of stuff I’d like to salvage. But right now we’re in the attack mode, so anything goes and I know there will be casualties.
I really haven’t worked out a long-term solution yet, that will be first thing after I actually get to my fence line.
Lincoln loves sniffing around the freshly cut areas looking for a little critters and whatever, so as much as I love him, he’s under foot at the same time, and I have to worry about cutting his tail off
At the end of the day, I have to admit I’m very happy with each little patch I reclaim. I think this is the year that I’m not only going to clean up my house, but also reclaim the yard. If I can get that done in the off-season, I’ll paint the trim in the spring and maybe live like a normal human being.
my sad tale, thanks for letting me vent.
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