Just me and my bucket of death

I mixed up this a little concoction today to get rid of the weeds on the driveway:

1 gallon vinegar
1 cup salt
2 tbsp dish soap

It's too potent to the yard. I think this shit will kill just about anything. We'll see the results.

So this weekend, despite the pitiful amount of work I got done on the yard, I did some research on the cost of a bunch of the work that needs to be done. Tony and I agreed on green siding (when we get the money to get it done) with maroon shutters. Siding costs a mere $1 per sq. foot (not including any supplies for attaching or labor). We have about 1300 sq. feet of siding that needs to be done. We plan on doing the windows at the same time and they cost about $200 a piece. We need ten. A new carport is debatable since they can cost between $1000 to $3000.

I was thinking about doing a brick facade on the lower part of the exterior wall where the foundation was showing. There would be about 510 sq. feet (low estimate) but I've seen estimates that it costs between $5 to $12 per sq. foot. So even at a low end figure it will cost more to do the foundation than to put up new siding. So, I think we'll stick with paint for now. I'm now looking into the feasibility of molding facade bricks on my own. So the plan is seal cracks, paint, put down a new border for the plant beds, then add dirt to the sides.

The yard itself is going to be a lot of work too. I guess I didn't figure that in order to plant seeds I need to loosen the soil, put down some new soil and then plant seeds. That's going to take some work. Go, go mighty muscles! I guess it's all a bit overwhelming. Tony also thinks we should try fixing the fence, for now, and repainting it. I still say knock the thing down.

Anyway, sprayed the last of the weed killer over the weekend. weeds in the front yard are looking very dead. The back isn't looking as good as the front, but it has had less time to work. I am overall pleased with the spray. I didn't get a chance to caulk because Tony was sick and didn't get to show me how. Got part of the front beds tilled.

Sprayed front yard for the second time today. I was scared a little that the weeds were recovering. They are looking like they are drought stressed. The strange thing is that larger plants shrivel up faster than the smaller ones. It makes me wonder how the weed killer actually works. It must have something to do with surface area, not getting sucked up by the roots.

Four weeks until I can plant new grass on the front yard. I'm planning on doing a second coat on the back this weekend.

Weed Update: Day 5

Weed Status: shriveling

Most are pretty withered. Even the tougher weeds are feeling the pain. Catnip is starting to shrink. Clover isn't dying, but isn't getting larger either. Going to douse the backyard Monday and then re-apply next week for good measure.

Die weeds, die!

Healthy catnip plants not sprayed

Sprayed catnip

Healthy dandelion plants not sprayed

Sprayed dandelion

Also I finished hanging the towel rack in the bathroom (yay, minor victory). The wall needs a little sanding, but it looks good.

Weed Status: Day 4

Condition: distressed

Most of the weeds are taking a turn for the worst. The large leafed weeds are curled up and withering. Most of the others have taken a turn for the worst. The only things that haven't shown any real signs of death are clover and dandelions.

I finished spraying the rest of the front yard today. I'll be starting on the back this weekend.

Weed Status: Day 2

Status update on the weeds, condition: slightly wilted

The large leaf weeds are looking like day old salad. The rest are still kicking. I'm not entirely convinced this isn't due to the heat. We'll see.

Choose Your Poison

Well I have been (boring) raking the yard the past couple weeks and pulled out a lot of dead weeds and trash. Wish I'd been more exciting than that. And I got part of the side tiled and weeded to plant the hops. Ooooh! Today I finished screwing the toilet paper holder so that it isn't about to fall off the wall.

Anyway, that most exciting part of the day, buying poison to nukes the yard. Wooooo poison! Let me introduce you to my two new helpers.

Contestant #1!

Ortho Weed B Gone. this product guarantees to kill over 250 different kinds of weeds while not killing grass. I doubt that we have any lawn that isn't weeds, so no big loss if we nukes to whole lot of it.

Directions

Spray, watch weeds die, don't roll in the grass or let any critter roll in the grass until after poison has dried.

I would like to take this time to apologize to any little bun-bun's who happen to eat the grass in my yard. I only hope you have the sense to not eat the grass that tastes like poison. Though I would have to eliminates your furry asses when you started crewing up my garden anyway. Moving on...

Contestant #2!

Stump out. I does, well, what they name implies. It gets stumps out by causing whatever it is that hold the layers of stump together to not connect anymore.

Directions

Step 1: Drill holes in stump

Step 2: Pour Stump out on holes. Wait 4 to 6 weeks.

Step 3: Pour gasoline or kerosene in stump. Wait until it has saturated stump.

Step4: Ignite stump to burn into harmless ash.

*romantic sigh* You had me at pour gasoline in stump. But since we didn't have a drill long enough (the holes have to be 10 inches deep) I can't start until later. No playing with power drills and fire today :( I guess size does matter.

Going back, the Weed B Gone says that you should see results in a few days (though I can't plant new grass for four weeks after application). So stay tuned for updates on how the condition of the weeds.

Before

front of house

front of house (only the left third of the grass here has been treated (due to time) and I'm hoping to get a good comparison shot)

side of house