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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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Mamas, don’t let your vines grow up to be cowboys (if you plan to ever replace your fence)
Posted Mar 19, 2010 by Loren Omoto
Updated Mar 20, 2010 at 12:05 AM
Who would’ve thought replacing a 30-year-old wooden privacy fence would be a life-or-death decision?
It can be. As I’ve learned. Lack a firm hand with your rambunctious vines and you’ll be sorry 20 years from now.
I had no death, but I did suffer sleepless nights, headaches and bowel irritation. (TMI? This is The Dirt. We get real here.)
We had about 128 feet of wooden privacy fence, abutting neighbors on two sides. The “bad side,” (which is really the good side if you’re a gardener) faced in to us. I thought it looked fine. Weathered, rustic, and mostly covered with vines.
But back in November, a neighbor with a view of the “good side” asked if she could help pay to replace that portion. They’d pay anything, she said. It looked that bad.
I figured February would be a good time. It’s the most dormant month for my garden. Who knew thinking about a new fence could be so prophetic? Along come 11 nights of freeze and, hey, February is a great time to replace the fence! (Yes, it’s now March. I started in February—it’s been a process.)
I didn’t have much left after January, but my Carolina Jessamine vine was still gung-ho. Beyond it, one of the three huge plumbagos that had covered several yards of fence was still sort of hanging in there.
Today was a big day. akin to out-patient surgery (not serious, but hey, anything can go wrong!) That’s the Carolina Jessamine in the background. And see? The fence doesn’t look so bad, does it?
Some quick tips if you’re fence shopping: Don’t randomly look on-line. I called three companies. None would give me a ball-park figure over the phone, and the third one totally skipped the appointment to come out for an estimate. And never called back!
I asked for recommendations on Facebook, and one of my friends suggested Danielle Fences in Mulberry. They have a great Web site, so you can figure out what you want by looking at photos, they offered a ball-park figure over the phone, and the estimator guy actually arrived early.
The price was more than I expected. We wanted them to pull the old fence out and install the new, with concrete on the posts (optional, but it shouldn’t be), aluminum frames on the gates so they’ll still open in a year, and a double gate where we had a single. That came to about $2,700.
But saying “Yeah, come fence me,” is not all there is to it. In some areas, you have to get a permit (not unincorporated Hillsborough County, thank goodness.) If you have deed restrictions or a homeowners association, you have to get an OK from them (again, not us.) The Verizon, Bright House and other utilities folks have to come out and mark their lines.
And you have to clear your fence of all yard art and ... vines.
The Carolina Jessamine was thoroughly wound around everything. It’s one of the two plants I have blooming now, and one of the very few to survive the freeze. I couldn’t hack her!
I showed my husband and told him I couldn’t bear to cut it. “No problem,” he said.
I showed Louis, the crew leader, when they arrived (at 8 sharp) this morning, “Gotta cut it,” he said.
Cramps!
Bless his heart, my husband went out, swinging a dangerous-looking sledge-hammer type tool, and when he came back in, they’d figured out a way not to cut my Jessie. (Thank you, sweet husband!)
Listening to the pounding and cracking destruction noises was painful. So was looking at what we’d have if there were no privacy fence. (We like our neighbors and I think they like us but, uh, yeah, we all need some privacy. Marla, who lives behind us, would like to use her pool “any way I want.”)
By about noon, the old fence was out, the new posts were in, and the new boards were lined up and ready to go. This is what it looked like—poor Jessie slumped on the ground in a huge, ungainly heap. (The big cord-looking thing going over the fence is not Jessie, but a power-tool cord.)
By 2:30, we were done, and by 4, I had my Jessie back up on the fence. (Thanks again, husband.) Totally ignoring all I’ve learned about allowing vines to run amok, she is again tied to trellis, fence slats and posts.
She was a wreck when I put her back up. More dead stuff showing than live stuff, but she’s alive! And bless the Danielle Fence guys’ hearts, they heeded all my exhortations about not trampling my little survivors. A few broken branches here and there but really nothing to complain about at all. Even the baby black-eyed Susan vines are looking at me like I was crazy to worry.
Here’s what we look like now. Not a candidate for a garden tour, but working toward it!
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Reader Comments
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on March 19, 2010
Penny, You guys did a great job putting Jessie back up on the new fence. Like my husband always says “it looks like it always been there”.I was looking for you today now I know where you were, a day off.Have a great weekend. Pumpkin
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 19, 2010
Congratulations, Penny! Jesse looks right at home, and I’m so glad that the fence ordeal is finally behind you. You were a trooper!
Posted by (kgardens) on March 20, 2010
I’m so glad you were able to save your Carolina Jessamine. Your new fence looks great and you’ve new plants to plant. Today will be a much better day!
Posted by (Chip) on March 20, 2010
Thing’s like building a new fence Take on a life of there own. I hope your plumbago will be ok we had one beside our front steps I pruned it just to keep from blocking the steps and that killed it! Diane still has not forgave me for this. I could understand if I hacked it to death but all I did was prune! The spot I pruned turned brown then spread. Now when we see a Plumbago in a garden shop Diane will tell anyone who will listen ” I used to have a beautiful plumbago” then shoot me a dirty look ,in all fairness she warned me not to mess with it. I hope you have better luck than I did ....“Chip”
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on March 20, 2010
2118312896. whatcom.wsu.edu/ag/compost/Easywormbin.htm
Penny, This is what the kids and I did yesterday in Positive Park. I am going to post the pictures and how I got the idea on my blog this weekend. I am going to start one of my own as well. Red worms cost about $37.00 dollars a pound to get started so I asked Shells to order some and they sell a smaller amount for $11.50. I am excited, again. This would be an easy and cheap project for all of us, our soil is bad in Tampa you will be growing good compost or the worms and then just add to your plants. Pumpkin
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on March 20, 2010
I just have to tell you guys the whole story, how I got the idea to do this worm bin. The Autistic kids at Hillsborough High have a coffee cart and sell coffee and Hot chocolate to the kids and staff,so they are going to add the grinds to the worm bin. The Journalism kids have old copies of the Red and Black (oldest school newspaper in the south)they can add to the bin and the Culinary Art kids have old vegetable scrapes they can add the the bin. Dirt readers go out and start a worm bin today. I am.Penny this is what you missed, I just wanted you to know. Pumpkin
Posted by (Chip) on March 20, 2010
I have been harvesting for three days now and I am officially sick of it. Our Daughter came over to help yesterday and that is the part she truly love’s to do and she is good at it fast to! It is still amazing to me how much you can really fit in a small space you get it when you harvest and put up just how much is in there. And I still am not done but I have to take a break from it so I will be preparing the beds I have cleared out. The next full moon isn’t till the 31st most calenders have the moon phase’s on them you can look it up there…..“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on March 20, 2010
So you have started a “bob” ranch at your High school Pumpkin? Great way to show nature recycling we had a worm bin a few years back. My bobs are free range now but I can always use more I think you are right, now maybe a good time to start them back up. I am also considering bee keeping on a small scale but that is problematic but I hope to work it in somehow if I can put a small hive up in a tree something like that then maybe…“Chip”
Posted by (Janna) on March 20, 2010
Love the new fence, Penny! Glad you (and hubby) were able to save your vine. I know you’ll be as happy as a worm in dirt to get your plants in the ground today!
I went to the Northdale Home Depot today, again looking for the orange marmalade and bulbine. They only had two small marmalades that were part of larger container gardens. I saw someone at the tables counting and checking out the plants and asked if he was from Riverview Flower Farm. Yes, he was. I asked about marmalade - no, sorry - not at this store yet. I told him I knew the red hots weren’t ready yet, either. Then I asked about the bulbine. Dear Chuck took pity on me and fetched two of them for me out of the truck that was on the way to another store. Thank you, Chuck!!
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 20, 2010
Chip, what size is your veggie garden? You really sound like you know what you are doing, I love to read your posts. I read recently about how people with backyard gardens in this area are starting to sell their vegetables to local restaurants.
Kgardens, thanks for the info on the Bloomingdale HD, I have been constantly checking for blue porterweed (to feed my hummingbirds) and haven’t found any yet. BUT my porterweed IS coming back, it is one of the last plants to show new growth.
I just want to say to all of you, I LOVE to come to this blog and read all your comments, and you have all helped me a great deal already. Thanks!
Posted by (Janna) on March 20, 2010
I’m with Gardendipity. I love all the comments and info on this blog!
Btw, the Northdale HD did have some nice angelonia…
Posted by (Chip) on March 20, 2010
I did a double check and you are right Penny! The next full moon is the 29th I was looking at an old calender [and tossed it out]. Gardendipity our Garden is just 25ft x 35ft a good reason Diane christened it the shoe horn garden. If we ever get a place with some acre’s to it we would dangerous. Diane and I our daughter and her husband my step son and three grandsons have been eating out of this garden. The Brussels sprouts was the hands down biggest producer after untold meals picked off of them by all of us when I did a final harvest I filled two five gallon buckets! And they had no trouble with the cold I did not cover them even once. ...“Chip”
Posted by (buzzbee) on March 20, 2010
Hi Penny,
Have been “catching-up” on reading some of the blog posts the past couple of weeks. While I always read The Dirt on Sundays…keeping up with the posts timely just doesn’t happen.
Your Fence article caught my attention because I will have a similar problem - at some point my fence WILL need to be replaced - and I too have all my plants and garden stuff lining the fence.
Today was such a great garden day that I was planning and preparing for all the new plants I intend on picking up at Greenfest next Sunday! Looking forward to your article tomorrow morning.
And thanks for the list of Florida-friendly vendors. Loved your comment about “give me perenniels with a will to live”
Shelle
Land O Lakes
Posted by (Chip) on March 20, 2010
We gave a lot of our harvest to family. I packaged up the onions and Brussels sprouts into meal sized portions in zip locked bags and they got put up in the freezer. The carrots are going to be canned that is why I have been saving them for last. We made a meal of what was left of the cauliflower and broccoli and I eat my tomato’s and strawberry’s as they ripen. I know making the compost beds are hard work but it has paid off I got three more beds ready today and have two more to go…“Chip”
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 20, 2010
Penny, thanks for the link to Chip’s garden article.
Chip, WOW am I ever impressed!!! Really. I had in mind that your garden was this little tiny adventure tucked away in some corner of your yard…but holy moley that is ONE IMPRESSIVE VEGGIE GARDEN, and such a work of art too. And I just LOVE the garden art. Is that lavendar growing in the bird cage? What a clever idea.
I am super-duper impressed.
How does it help to plant your veggies on the full moon? I am wondering what difference it makes.
Thanks for sharing this.
Posted by (Iluvpumpkins) on March 20, 2010
Penny, Yes the worm web site gave me the idea and how to start the Worm Bed.The Worms do all the work, plus I think it cool.Yea worm poop. Janis
Posted by (Chip) on March 21, 2010
The best part of having our garden like this has been being able to go out pick what you want to have with your diner and cooking it up. Our Daughter loves to harvest so she would pop in at lest two times a week my Stepson and three grandson will come by at lest once a week for the strawberry’s. The only way you can get a lot in a small space is companion planting tomato’s and carrots just love each other. I am sure the same thing is true for ornamental plants. And if we ever get an other plumbago I will treat it like it has kryptonite that happened over five years ago and still get “the look” whenever the subject comes up…“Chip”
Posted by (Susan Gillespie) on March 21, 2010
Your fears were unfounded. The fence and Jessie look mahvelous! Try to plant some of your things not as close to the fence, except for the vines, of course. I did that with some plumbago and it started growing on the other side of the fence. I don’t think my neighbors wanted one there. Then the armadillo’s burrowed under that plumbago and made a home. I’d fill up the hole and they would dig it out again. All that activity killed the bush and now I have a gateway under my fence for the neighborhood cats to visit. Ah Nature!
Posted by (Chip) on March 21, 2010
All of that was due to Diane’s planing a skill I lack. Ironically I think the carrots save my tomato plants you all know I covered but after all of the many cold nights everything above the tops of the carrots died but the base and everything low and inside the carrot tops was fine and now is loaded with blooms It seamed for a while every time my tomato’s had blooms on them a freeze would come and the only ones that stayed on was covered by the carrots I am going to call that a double bonus well triple, the carrots crowd out weeds as well. ....“Chip”...
Posted by (Chip) on March 22, 2010
A few of the cats still hang around and like to play while I work in the garden. Just wait till the catnip gets big enough. I have learned to keep those in pots you have to put it away to let it grow back or the cats will uproot them now that is my idea of entertainment you have not lived until you have seen a bunch of cats on catnip they look like they are drunk! and had to chase down a few pots they would pickup and try to keep for them self’s so this year they are going in bigger pots. ....“Chip”
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 23, 2010
This is very interesting to me because one of the main concerns we have about starting a veggie garden are the cats and raccoons that hang out in our yard.
But it sounds like Chip isn’t concerned and he’s certainly an expert gardener. Chip, do you have a fence around your veggies to keep all the critters out?
Are raccoons okay too, or should we worry about eating anything that they may have gotten into?
Thanks!
Posted by (Chip) on March 23, 2010
Gardendipity I am not an expert a skilled amateur maybe, Diane is the one with all the skills she grew up on a farm and even as long as we have been married She can still surprise me. I wish I had a fence we can’t have them where we live, and you can’t keep cats or anything out that wants in any way the only thing you can do is plant more than you need and hope for the best. People can do more damage than any animal one year I had all my tomato’s and pepper plants wiped out by a tobacco virus if you never seen it it is awful every thing turns black and gooey then dies simple hand washing can stop this after smoking ...“Chip”
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 23, 2010
That is a really great idea, I never thought to call a feed store to see if they had a solution. Thanks!
Chip, you never cease to amaze me. You are really talented and I’m learning a lot from you. I don’t smoke, but I am really surprised that cigarettes can leave something on your hands that kills veggies. I’m absorbing all of this, when I get ready to try my first veggies I’ll be a walking encyclopedia! (did I spell that right? haha!)