I'd forgotten how painful landscaping can be!

[Keith]

After cutting the lawn, I started digging up the area for our new patio area(12x12). I had a whackful of daylilies growing out of control, hosta's going wild, and our old BBQ needed to be removed for the new one coming in, the 4 24x24 patio stones for the BBQ moved 15ft to the East side of the yard and set in place leveled, 2 hanging plants hung.

So I have the lilies replanted, the hosta's separated and moved to another location, my perennials and annuals planted where I want them.

Last year I could have never done this. My knee being the culprit in this case. So now the knee is good as gold, but now it's the muscles that I haven't used in a long time that are causing the grief.. albeit a nice feeling none the less.

Tomorrow, I lay and set the limestone and sand, level and lay down the lock in place patio stones, lay down 6 rolls of sod, hit Home Depot for a gazebo, get the new BBQ and set everything up!.

I think I'll call in sick Monday.. I know I'm going to feel this come Sunday.

Anyone else doing some 'scaping?

[texastito]

Last time I tried to landscape my old town house - a simple planting of a few flowers and removing the weeds - I ended up kneeling on an ASP. It stung like my knee was catching fire, then about 15 minutes later my back started aching like I'd been punched in the kidneys. Shortly after that my man parts felt like somebody was squeezing them. A 4hour trip to the emergency room for them to tell me it was "some kind" of allergic reaction with symptoms that they never heard of, I was back at home in time to BBQ for my kids b-day party. That was about 6 years ago.

The few places I've moved since then has had landscaping that was fine enough for me.

In spirits to your story though, I've actually been doing some manual labor myself. We moved one of those huge wooded playsets, ya know, with the slides and rock walls and towers from 2 houses down to my house. H-E-A-V-Y!!!! Today I've been making ladders for it.

I too will be sore this weekend.

[Sonofarich]

Our yard (acre and 1/2) is mostly wooded and requires constant maintenance to keep the overgrown parts back and the manicured parts pretty for the wife. Although landscaping is pretty tedious and backbreaking, the results are worth it. Kinda like when you finish recording a new song...

[reissue]

I've been working in the yard too. The worst of it, and this was freakin' brutal, was planting two 4" trees. If you've done the tree thing before you know a 4" tree, which is the diameter of the trunk, is a sizable tree. I bought a tropical ash and a maple two weeks ago and decided to save myself some coin by transporting the trees to my house and do the planting myself. Big mistake. The ash wasn't quite as big as the maple so I took that one on first. It slid out of the truck somewhat easy and fell right into the brand new wheelbarrow I bought for the occasion; I'd left my old one behind when I sold my house last summer. It took about 20 minutes to dig the hole and the tree rolled right in, stood up straight and I filled it up with planting mix and some vitamin starter solution. The maple didn't seem like a problem at that point. That all changed when I tried sliding it out of the truck, a 20' tree with a 36" root ball weighs more than it looks. After a struggle I got it to the end of the truck bed and had a friend steady the wheelbarrow under it. The tree was too much for the 6 cubic foot wheelbarrow, it bent the fork that holds the wheel and tweaked the bucket as it fell to the ground. I soon realized that the tree likely weighed around 500 lbs and moving into the backyard was going to be a big job. After breaking the wheelbarrow, an appliance dolly and two tie downs I figured I'd better ask for help. It was then I remembered seeing a giant dolly at the tree nursery so I called to inquire, for $25 a day one could be rented. I thought my problems were over until I went to pick it up; this was a seriously huge dolly. Anyway 4 hrs after I started with the maple I finally had it in the ground. My body was shredded from manhandling the tree, even with the tree dolly moving that sucker back breaking. Digging a hole big enough for a 36" root ball nearly killed me after struggling with the tree. The dirt I removed was enough to fill the back of a Ford Ranger and I had to load it in before the rain came with my crushed wheelbarrow. That was two weeks ago and I still have scabs on my forearms where the maple beat me up. It was worth it, the trees made a HUGE difference in my backyard.

[stratman50th]

Originally Posted by Keith

Anyone else doing some 'scaping?

Um, no! As you may recall that was what I was doing the day I had my, um little problem.
I think I'm done for awhile Keith.
Have fun though and be careful. Oh yeah, stay hydrated.... it's easier to find the veins that way. Hurts less.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by stratman50th

Um, no! As you may recall that was what I was doing the day I had my, um little problem.
I think I'm done for awhile Keith.
Have fun though and be careful. Oh yeah, stay hydrated.... it's easier to find the veins that way. Hurts less.

I hear you there Don. There was a point today where I found myself a little short of breath, and when I stood up, a tad dizzy, so I took a 30 minute break, grabbed some Gatoraid and a vitamin. It wasn't that hot out, but man, was I sweating. Everything is done save for the gazeebo. I think I'll get to that later on during the week. There are more important things to take care of ATM.

[Plain G]

Originally Posted by Keith

Tomorrow, I lay and set the limestone and sand, level and lay down the lock in place patio stones, lay down 6 rolls of sod, hit Home Depot for a gazebo, get the new BBQ and set everything up!.

Holy overdoing it Batman!!

[BrettV]

i did heavy landscaping and maintenance for 7 years. I'll cut my own yard, but someone else can install the landscaping.

[Tingly]

Most of us go outside with a hose, spray some, and we are done for the day.

I can't believe you guys are moving patios and planting trees!

Then you wanna know why your back hurts?!

[FX]

Landscaping for me is mowing everything down that grows.

Have fun!

[Icewind]

Landscaping = sending my sons outside to mow.