This is a great time of the year to work outside.

I have my compost bin that I will be filling with branches, leaves, and weeds as I clean up my two acre yard.

I am preparing for my first garden this spring so there is work to be done there, too. My neighbor has generously been putting her horse manure and leftover hay that was dropped on the ground over the fence and into my garden area. I will till this into the soil. It was an area that was previously my chicken yard so it is pretty much bare of grass and the chicken manure should add fertilizer to the soil.

I saw soil tester kits at the hardware/feedstore type places. I think I will get one and test my soil maybe by January. That way I can see what I need to add to the soil to get some crops to grow. My sandy soil doesn’t look like it would grow much. North Carolina soil is so black and rich. I think anything will grow there.

Now, I will need to decide what to grow. Only things I know we will eat. I am thinking potatoes, corn, tomatoes, string beans, zucchini or squash, and maybe onions. I just want to make sure I don’t grow so much that it becomes a job instead of a joy.

I am looking forward to planting some flowering bulbs this year, too. I need to research when they get planted. I saw a lot of stuff about squirrels digging the bulbs up. I certainly have an abundance of squirrels. Martha Stewart was showing how to plant the bulbs in wire baskets. Interesting.

I also have an area under a couple big oak trees that I have put a double chair made by my brother-in-law, James. I want to make that area surrounded by plants and flowers. Like a little flower garden. I believe the best way to do that is with potted plants. I have tried growing plants under those big trees and none have really flourished. I am thinking clay pots of various sizes would be nice. I am wanting a trellis, too and concrete blocks on the ground to make a porch look.

I have a book called “Home Landscaping Southeast Region” by Roger Holmes and Rita Buchanan which has some really creative ways to decorate your yard. It even shows you how to build a trellis, pond, retaining wall, and walkways, too.

I dug some crepe myrtles from my neighbors ditch a few months ago and planted them along my fence line. I have been considering starting my own home plant/tree nursery.
My daughter, Bonnie is moving here this week. I am hoping she will be interested in starting some projects with me. She is very creative and artistic so it could be a challenging, fun thing for her.

Good luck with your fall projects. I am looking forward to some cooler weather. It was mighty darn hot this year in Florida.