MAINTENANCE BLOG (April 19 -April 21, 2013)

            On Friday April 19, Jeff gave Cassie and Sijia a tour to Dwarf Conifer Garden where maintenance was needed. Our first task was to move the Bosnian pine that was located on the west side of the conifer garden and it was to be relocated into a more open and sunny location. Because of the size we needed the help of Denise and Eric, who were also doing their weekend maintenance practical.

We dug a trench around the root ball so we could get our shovels beneath it and release it from the ground. Once the root ball was out of the ground we placed it on a piece of burlap so the ball would stay intact. We filled and leveled the hole that was made. Meanwhile, another hole was dug in the new location and the Bosnian pine was placed into it, the excess burlap was cut off and we began refilling the hole and compressing the soil every few inches with our feet. We put a ridge around the outside of the tree well to ensure that water doesn’t run off.

Once the heavy work was completed Eric and Denise continued on their weekend duties, while we staked the tree laid down some mulch and cleaned up the area.

            The second task of the day was to de-winterize the garden. The snow fence was removed and rolled up neatly, all stakes were taken out and all string wrapped trees were untied. The winterizing materials were taken to the compound for storage. We then began weeding the dogwood beds on the west side of the garden as well as creating an edge between the sidewalk and garden bed. Lastly, we cut down a limb on a crabapple tree that was also on the west side of the garden and it was loaded unto the trailer and Eric took it to the compound.    

           

            On Saturday April 20, a circle check was completed before we drove RTV, and picked up the tools we were going to use for the day. Then we spent entire day digging up the Euonymus alatus ‘Compactus’ hedge and relocated 4 chamaecyparis pisifera filifera aurea.

            On Sunday April 21, a circle check was completed firstly and got the tools we needed. Next, Cassie and I finished digging, relocating the 4 Juniperus squamata 'Holger'. The pathways and stair corners in the area were swept and in the morning.

After lunch, we started to weed at the Iris border along the residence building. We used garden forks to lift the soil and removed the weeds. The dead foliage was taken off as well. All weeds and dead foliage were taken to the compound and dumped into the compost area. Last but not the least, we washed the RTV and all the tools we used, and swept the tractor bay. We were done for our maintenance practical and school!