The rental house update for 2011

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rickr

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Joined
Mar 12, 2003
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Remember when we bought this for $3500.00 a few years ago? It looked like this....

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and this

YUK! And this was after we cut the brush and scrub trees down and added the a/c system. And had started to tend to the neglected lawn too!

rickr++6-3-2011-21-42-1.jpg
 
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At any rate, we have worked very hard the last few years trying to kill the weeds and do a bit of landscape work. This year we planted a few small trees.

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Newport purple plum trees, and miniature spruce trees. The purple plums don't look like much this year... Sure hope they do better next year. They are a beautiful tree, and grow quickly.

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True to form, true to form. From restorations to landscaping, everthing you do is top-flight. Is your tenant behaving? I do hope so.
 
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Another view.

I need to get some stuff from Tractor Supply that you put on old stumps, and it turns them into compost. It has been so wet this Spring that I have not even bought the stuff yet. It's kind of costly, and I don't want the rain to wash it off, and waste it.

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Very nice and neat.

It was a bad idea for the previous owners to let so much growth up against the house.

It is possible to dig out old stumps by hand (and with judicious use of axe and chain saw). The worst I had to deal with was a persimmon stump. Although the tree was only about 7 years old, it had a huge root system.

I took down a ten year old almond tree that was growing too close to the garage (yes, my fault, cause I planted it there to begin with). Another huge stump, but this one I left in the ground, with a big V-cut in it. I use it as a platform to chainsaw other tree trunks/limbs.

And of course the most impressive work you did on this property was inside the home. It was a near total loss when you got it... and you have transformed it into a cozy, clean, and welcoming home.
 
close up of lil spruce tree

They are so cute! Can't wait to put some LED lights on these lil spruce trees this coming winter! lol!!

There are some weeds in the lawn that I cannot seem to kill! They look like little ivy leaves here and there within the grass. Anyone know what that could be, and how to be rid of it with out killing the grass?

BTW Yes, thats my car up on jackstands. I was installing another 02 sensor. That car has ALWAYS ate them like popcorn....

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Thanks for the nice comments everybody!

The tenant is fine,and loves the house! He always pays a week or two late, but always calls to tell me prior, and he always pays when he says. I always cut him some slack, and never charge him the late fee. It's a tough world today, and I feel people need a break. He has a couple teens, but they do not live with him. He does not have a lot of people over, keeps quiet, keeps the house clean, and does not tear it up. I leave him alone, but if he sees me outside when he is coming or going, he usually comes over to chat for a minute. He is my partners cousin. I think we really lucked out...
 
The Work of Master

Rick the reflection of what you do with humans, houses and all things mechanical is quite simply the reflection of who you are.  You have always inspired me, given hope that the world might make a turn for good and through it all you keep giving, never judge and seldom ask anything for yourself.  I would guess if an MRI was taken your images would be neat, perfectly functioning and not an ounce of clutter.  The law of circulation always works for those who give which allows the Universe to give more back.  It is so good to have you back with us and I look forward to more examples of your meticulous craftsmanship.
 
The little weeds look like they may be violets. I have them and they are almost impossible to eradicate entirely. I've had some luck with Bayer Advanced Weed Killer for Lawns, but you have to keep applying it. It isn't one shot deal. The violets have bulbs and they regenerate easily. The Bayer stuff at least keeps them in check. It hasn't hurt the grass at all, but I don't use in in a drought or in very hot weather, when the lawn is under stress.
 
Looks great, Rick, as usual!

 

It does sound like wild violets, they have small purple flowers on them in the spring. I've tried weed and feed, doesn't phase them. I've tried weed killer, some brands will turn the leaves brown, but not kill them. I've had limited success with Roundup, but you need to be careful around the grass. Most times I just dig 'em out, time consuming, but it works.
 
Rick,
Thanks for the new pics! I was wondering not long ago what became of this great little cottage - now we know. You and your team have done a great job of bringing it back to life. I don't know if I could put that much effort into a renovation and turn it over to a renter, but it sounds like you've found a good match.

If what you're seeing in the lawn is wild violets, I agree with Supersuds comment above about the Bayer product. It takes many applications and several growing seasons, but just keep re-applying the product and eventually you can get rid of those pesky plants. Ortho also has a similar product that will do the same thing, both can be found at Lowe's.

Lawrence
 
Wild violets--the scourge

I found a product through Gardens Alive that's pretty effective. It is a natural, corn-based weed killer. I was surprised at how well it worked, after trying for YEARS to get rid of these pesky plants. It didn't touch the wild strawberries, however.
 
Wild violets! So thats what these are. They did have purple flowers on them this spring. I will try the Bayer stuff, and see if I can find the Gardens Alive product too. I have been fighting these damn things for three years now. The edges of the leaves turn brown with the application of weed killer, but they just seem to "spring back" out of it in no time at all.
 
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