Embracing yard work in retirement

[audreyh1]

No leaves here, ha ha.

 

[disneysteve]

We used to have a ton of leaves every year but little by little we've removed all of the trees. Now whatever we get is what blows in from nearby properties, and that's been lessened because over the past couple of years, the neighbors on both sides put up new fences. Anyway, our lawn guy takes care of them anyway but it's minimal now.

 

[audreyh1]

We don’t have deciduous trees here. They are mostly acacias and their leaves are small and don’t drop in the fall. Easily blow away otherwise. We have lots of palms too, and they get trimmed annually.

 

[aja8888]

Years ago, we lived in rural Connecticut on three heavily wooded acres full of oaks, maples, hickories, etc and each fall, leaf work was a giant work affair. I don't miss any of that. Period.

 

[audreyh1]

If it’s really woods, isn’t it better to just leave the leaves?

 

[disneysteve]

This thread turned out to be a lot more popular than I expected. Thanks to all who have shared their stories.

I'm still sticking to my once a week schedule. The past 3 weeks I've filled 3 trash cans instead of 2. The front of the house looks great. Everything has been trimmed nicely and I probably won't need to touch it again until the spring. Maybe one last trim before winter but no major work to do out there.

The back yard is probably 70% done, maybe more, which I'm pretty happy about. I think I started at the end of August so maybe 10 weeks total. One intermediate goal has been to be able to look out the window and see the entire top line of the fence and after today, I'm just about there. Just a few spots to finish up. Another goal is to uncover all of the fence. I cleared a few more spots today and that's probably 60% done or so. I had no expectations of finishing everything before winter. In the spring, I'll finish whatever needs finishing and then start attacking the ground ivy. Hopefully I'll have at least a few more weeks of decent weather before it gets too cold to work out there.

 

[TripleLindy]

I do the yard work, but can’t say that I embrace it. Finally got around to replacing what little grass we had in the back with artificial turf. The tree canopies continue to expand and the grass areas were shrinking and turning to dirt. It’s so nice to only mow and edge the front lawn now. We have tons of trees and leaves will be dropping for weeks. Cedar elm leaves are the worst because the are small and get all the way to the ground, making raking strenuous. But at least it’s usually cool when I’m doing it. Leaf blower takes care of the back - another checkmark for the turf.

 

[aja8888]

If it’s really woods, isn’t it better to just leave the leaves?

We had an open and landscaped I.5 acres with several large scattered trees, a 1/4 mile driveway and some decorative plantings. The leaves got everywhere.

Unless you have lived in a place with literally hundreds of big trees around the immediate area, you have no idea what massive volume of leaves can end up in a small landscaped area!

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

If it’s really woods, isn’t it better to just leave the leaves?

I have to rake my driveway and sweep out the carport at least once a week throughout October and November until the snow starts falling heavily.

I do not have any oak or maple trees, but there are a ton of them across the street.

 

[Route246]

The most important thing I've found that works for me is to buy professional equipment if I'm going to tackle a task. If I don't want to spend the money I outsource it to a professional.

It may cost 2x or 3x or more but for me it is worth the investment. I have professional gardening tools, mostly referred by the gardeners who work the neighborhood and have no regrets investing the extra money to get the correct gardening tools. These tools do require some care and feeding, especially the gas powered ones but parts are always available and worst case you can get them repaired by professionals. I have discarded so many consumer-grade tools in the past as they don't justify repair or repair and parts are not available.

I have to drive to Nevada now to get 2-stroke gas tools since they are banned in California. My most useful tool is a Shindaiwa (same as Echo) DH232 hedge trimmer. I've probably had 10 hedge trimmers in the past that all went to the graveyard and were really junk. This professional model cuts with a single pass and is really powerful compared to the consumer grade ones. I can get parts and repairs from a local shop, too. I think I paid $550 for it but it will never need to be replaced and the resale market on Craigslist is strong for these professional models so it holds its value well.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

The most important thing I've found that works for me is to buy professional equipment if I'm going to tackle a task. If I don't want to spend the money I outsource it to a professional.

It may cost 2x or 3x or more but for me it is worth the investment.

I was just saying this to DW about 10 minutes ago when an ad for Bosch™ rotary hammers came on the TV. Back when I was w*rking, I once needed to drill four 1" holes about 6-8" deep in 28,000 PSI concrete at a military hospital in Virginia. I was originally on a testing trip, so I did not bring many tools with me. I called back to the shop and asked if I could go out and purchase a $300 rotary hammer to fix the issue. Of course, I was denied, and they said they'd send me one from the shop. I asked them to make sure it was a rotary hammer and not just a cheap hammer drill.

They sent me a cheap Milwaukee hammer drill anyway.

I think I got about 4-5" into the first hole before the motor overheated and melted through the side of the drill case. So, then I had to go to the nearest Lowes and spend $400 on a Bosch rotary hammer and two 1" SDS carbide bits to get the job done.

Once I got back, I sent the new rotary hammer and bits along with the melted one down to the shop on a transfer truck.

They did not appreciate getting the melted one back. But they did approve the expense report and reimburse me for my purchases.

 

[Out-to-Lunch]

I picked up a used Hilti TE-60 a number of years ago. Talk about a beast. But I also have a "small" Dewalt SDS+ rotary hammer, so, in practice, the big boy never gets to do much!

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

The most important thing I've found that works for me is to buy professional equipment if I'm going to tackle a task. If I don't want to spend the money I outsource it to a professional.

It may cost 2x or 3x or more but for me it is worth the investment.

I was just saying this to DW about 10 minutes ago when an ad for Bosch™ rotary hammers came on the TV. Back when I was w*rking, I once needed to drill four 1" holes about 6-8" deep in 28,000 PSI concrete at a military hospital in Virginia. I was originally on a testing trip, so I did not bring many tools with me. I called back to the shop and asked if I could go out and purchase a $300 rotary hammer to fix the issue. Of course, I was denied, and they said they'd send me one from the shop. I asked them to make sure it was a rotary hammer and not just a cheap hammer drill.

They sent me a cheap Milwaukee hammer drill anyway.

I think I got about 4-5" into the first hole before the motor overheated and melted through the side of the drill case. So, then I had to go to the nearest Lowes and spend $400 on a Bosch rotary hammer and two 1" SDS carbide bits to get the job done.

Once I got back, I sent the new rotary hammer and bits along with the melted one down to the shop on a transfer truck.

They did not appreciate getting the melted one back. But they did approve the expense report and reimburse me for my purchases.

I picked up a used Hilti TE-60 a number of years ago. Talk about a beast. But I also have a "small" Dewalt SDS+ rotary hammer, so, in practice, the big boy never gets to do much!

The Hilti TE series is a nice unit, too.

The Bosch fit in my travel toolbox better, and was lighter, which was better for checked baggage.

 

[robnplunder]

I enjoy yardwork. I become relaxed and peaceful.

 

[TheWizard]

I was just saying this to DW about 10 minutes ago when an ad for Bosch™ rotary hammers came on the TV. Back when I was w*rking, I once needed to drill four 1" holes about 6-8" deep in 28,000 PSI concrete at a military hospital in Virginia. I was originally on a testing trip, so I did not bring many tools with me. I called back to the shop and asked if I could go out and purchase a $300 rotary hammer to fix the issue. Of course, I was denied, and they said they'd send me one from the shop. I asked them to make sure it was a rotary hammer and not just a cheap hammer drill.

They sent me a cheap Milwaukee hammer drill anyway.

I think I got about 4-5" into the first hole before the motor overheated and melted through the side of the drill case. So, then I had to go to the nearest Lowes and spend $400 on a Bosch rotary hammer and two 1" SDS carbide bits to get the job done.

Once I got back, I sent the new rotary hammer and bits along with the melted one down to the shop on a transfer truck.

They did not appreciate getting the melted one back. But they did approve the expense report and reimburse me for my purchases.

28,000 psi concrete sounds a bit high, but okay...

 

[Amy T]

After 3 hurricanes in 13 months, one tornado and two floods...I have been overwhelmed with yard work. Spending two winters with my chainsaw in the woods. I was very happy to hire someone to mow this summer and they just did major bush hog work. The best money I have spent so far in retirement. Small areas left for me. Very satisfying and looking good finally! Now I am focused on the invasive vines but making progress.
North Florida is a great alternative if you like rural living and summer travels.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

28,000 psi concrete sounds a bit high, but okay...

It was on a military base. That's what they told me it was. I know it was a PITA to get those holes drilled for the 3/4" X 10" anchors I had to install with Hilti ceramic epoxy.

 

[surfFL]

It’s a great and relaxing exercise. I enjoy caring for my lawn / plants. It’s a 1.5 year old garden. It was very challenging to get it from where the builder left it in March 2024 to where it is now.
7000sf of Bahia grass on top of dirt fill.
I have added:
45 clusias (did the planters / pavers framing and tree positioning and mulching and drip irrigation, landscaping company planted the trees).
20 tropical flowers with drip irrigation
3 roses with drip irrigation
4 cactus.
100+ sods of St Augustine grass where the Bahia died / thinned out.
50+ bags of garden soil for top dressing the lawn on the weakest zones.
Well and lawn sprinlers were added by 2 companies.
The clusia are 8’ (from 3’ in 2024) same thing with the Allamanda and Cape Honeysuckle (from 2’ in 2024).
I’d just trimmed the clusia. It’s a full and straight line hedge in 70% of the hedge span (80’+40’). The landscaper told me it will take 3-5 years to grow that big! I think another year and I will have 100% privacy!
The tropical flowers look like a botanical garden and bloom year round for most plants - I’ve selected them for that purpose: now it is the Panama Roses peak blooming time (they are 5’ from 2’ in 2024).
All this thanks to scientific DIY gardening: soil tests with App, well irrigation with App and with Rain Gauges App, proper mowing, fertilizers with App, weed management with App, fungus management with App.
I’ve tried a robot mower with no success, see here

Do you mow your own lawn?

I've seen a few robot mowers show up at the local golf courses and they seem to do a very good job. I'd definitely consider one if I wasn't in the process of moving to a condo. I'm sure they're expensive, but given the cost of paying to have someone else mow the lawn, I'm sure the payoff would...

www.early-retirement.org

So I’ve hired lawn care company for the summer once a week, I’m doing the other summer weekly mow (2 cuts a week in the summer) (30 mins in winter, 45 in summer including trimming) with a self propelled mower once a week year round.
I’m also raking the pine needles / pine cones before mowing (they will shade the grass on the long run and it would die): 30 mins
My lawn is green, full, disease and weed free. It’s more a meadow look with multiple grasses than golf course; but compared to what is around… Night and day.
My neighbors told me the clusia hedge is ‘beautiful’ and others told me ‘it (the garden) looks fantastic’.

Very fullfilling project.

 

[JohnnyPHX]

We had an open and landscaped I.5 acres with several large scattered trees, a 1/4 mile driveway and some decorative plantings. The leaves got everywhere.

Unless you have lived in a place with literally hundreds of big trees around the immediate area, you have no idea what massive volume of leaves can end up in a small landscaped area!

You need someone like Stella to help you with your leaves.

 

[target2019]

Temperature dropped into the 30's last night. I am not embracing any yard work today!

 

[disneysteve]

Temperature dropped into the 30's last night. I am not embracing any yard work today!

Fortunately I did my weekly session on Saturday because I checked the forecast. It was going to rain on Sunday and Monday (and it did) and then get really cold today (and it did). Trash gets picked up on Thursday so I'll have my cans empty for the next round which will probably be on Friday. That's looks to be a nice day and we're going out of town on Sunday for a few days.

 

[EastWest Gal]

I was going to clean up the leaves in my front yard one last time, but a strong wind came along and did the work for me. I feel sorry for the people at the end of the street. They get all the leaves and tumble weeds.

We get most of the neighbors leaves. They pile up on the driveway and our lawn. We'll try to blow them into a piles along the curb tomorrow. Our township does leaf pickup. A funny thing-the leaf pick up truck came by a day early last week due to rain on their usual pickup day. DH was out blowing leaves to the curb. The truck slowed down and told him to blow the leaves directly at their vacuum. Very efficient!

 

[reneeh63]

...it's a lot easier to do when you're only deterred by weather and not by a work schedule. I'll never clean out my own gutters but mowing, trimming shrubs, and mulching leaves is easy enough on my own time. I'm fine with paying when I'm out of town.

 

[ArmchairMillionaire]

We had an open and landscaped I.5 acres with several large scattered trees, a 1/4 mile driveway and some decorative plantings. The leaves got everywhere.

Unless you have lived in a place with literally hundreds of big trees around the immediate area, you have no idea what massive volume of leaves can end up in a small landscaped area!

The property we bought to fix up and sell was on a small city lot, but had two mature maples in the front yard.

That was a lot of raking for such a small lot.

 

[doneat54]

I enjoy landscaping somewhat, but really enjoy the result. We have 1.6 acres on a small lake. When we bought it 6 years ago, it was HORRIBLY overgrown. From the vantage point where I took the attached pic, you literally could not see the lake at all. It took 5 years just to get it to this point.

To another posters point above, investing in the right equipment is key. I used to have a riding tractor and felt like mowing nearly a full acre was going to wear me down.... until I bought 54" cut zero turn mower. EFFORTLESS, and I never mow it all at once. On the mower 20+ mins 2-3 times a week in the summer manages it.

The barn basement is full of power equipment, virtually all of which I use including a 2006 Kubota BX front end loader/back hoe. Not much more satisfying then spending 2-3 ours in the New England summer working in the yard and then popping a cold one and going down to sit on the dock for a while....