Lava Rock

Same here. Dead roadkill all over. Saw couple squirrels swimming in the lake last weekend. Didn't know they could do that.

Ugh. More of this crap next week Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Bunch of wuss bags Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I think we've finally made a decision as to what we'll do with the lawn. Going to add 8-10" topsoil/fill in area depicted and add some erosion type matting. Use small (1-2' high) boulders to outline, then plant some blueberries, perennials, creeping juniper. Top it off with mulch. We'll be careful not to backfill around the trunk of the oak. Total cost $3,000. The only downside to the above is we don't have the money to fix and re-seed all the other bare and thin patches in the lawn. Will have to wait till Spring. The other option would be to skip the above and fix all of the lawn now including the area around oak, hydroseed and see how well it all takes, especially around the oak. While I understand the oak is partly responsible for the bare area around the tree, I think part of the lower bare area is due more to poor soil, insufficient depth. It's possible if we went ahead with this 2nd option, the area for which we'd have to put mulch and plants maybe much smaller if the new grass were able to "grow in" and establish on the slope.

see my reply above yours. I was thinking of just what you suggested. Only issue might be being able to dig planting holes deep enough (typically 12-16") to drop new plants into. The granite isn't too far beneath the grass.

What about skipping the backfill, just putting in some boulders then planting a bunch of shrubs, blueberry bushes, then put down some mulch. Good or bad? Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

the tiller option was another consideration in combo with bringing in 4" loam. The landscape guys are pushing the rock wall because they believe that if we try and just put loam/grass around the oak, the grass will eventually die due to too much competition for nurtrients/water from the oak. The other concern is erosion again, althogh our lawn on the backside of house is much steeper and once the grass took hold there, there were never any erosion issues. I think most of it is due to the oak. Thought about cutting the oak down, but it's a nice tree, adds some character to the property and a bit of shade.

The $2800 which is straight up 4" loam and no wall would be for ~7000sqft, so the entire yard, not just around the oak. I probably could do the wall myself but limited time is part of problem, plus not 100% confident in doing it right with proper drainage, etc. What kind of "items" are you referring to? The $4450 was not broken down, but includes the wall and backfill. The $3600 is for 5800sqft and includes anywhere from 1-4" loam and then hydroseed. Never even thougtht about the death of the oak with the backfill. A few trees have died, mostly pines around our propoerty line from too much backfill when we built the house. I think the thought is they would taper the depth of the loam from ~4" at the base of the oak to as much as 36" to the edge of the wall. Of course, at the wall, not all will be loam; only the top 4".

So we got one of two estimates to install retaining wall, backfill and repair remaining lawn damaged ares. See pic. To install 40' retaining wall using natural 3' high boulders, backfill with clay, sand, then loam, they want $4450. Seems high. This doesn't include adding any shrubs or plants in the area. To fix remaining lawn damaged areas outside of the backfilled area is another $3600. Last year, I got a quote from our excavator guy for $2800 to bring in 4" loam and cover existing grass. For another $1000, they would hydroseed. I was ready to spend ~$3500 max, but no way to afford $8000+.

Couple maples along road are already turning Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Sebago Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

I don't care how great the beer is, I'm not waiting an hour for a beer Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Are these dews pulling out today? Up to 71. Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Looks like some decent stuff moving in if it holds together Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Did the antenna come with amplifier? Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

are those shrooms in the lawn that look like puff balls and "smoke" when u step on them dangerous?

Local met doing weather on the ice Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Sick of the dews. Going to Ireland?Channel Isl (Jersey) next month on vaca. Maybe I can escape it there.

Pretty close to us. 2.82" thus far

Damn! You'd think they'd mention it on the news, even up here.

0.32" overnight Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Lol, I think we should call "coc" days something else Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

We've got this. Started in the flower garden then onward to lawn. Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Yes,the mice are bad. Look where they built a nest in my brand new truck Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Pics?