My hands hurt...
 

From planting three 15 gallon trees in my front yard. I have 36 plants to go 'til I'm done with the front landscaping. I forgot how much manual labor hurts. Landscaper says he'll buy the plants and put them in the ground for me for $4300. I know I can buy everything, including tools, for less than $2k so I am saving myself over 2 grand. Now I'm thinking $4300 is worth it, especially if I end up with carpal tunnel.

Digging, trenching, crouching, kneeling and lifting never used to bother me. Sucks getting old.

Great work! Nothing more fulfilling than landscaping and particularly planting trees! Trees are IM(peculiar)O the mirror of long life and the most important feature in any garden.

If it had not been for us living an ocean apart, I would have been very happy to give you a hand.

Thanks Markus. I do like gardening/landscaping. It just hurts now that I'm almost 45 y/o.

I know what you mean. I am 42. Last week I decided to single handedly move a six years old 12 feet high Metaseqoia glyptostroboides tree from one end of the garden to another. Took me the better part of two hours in order to dig out a large enough chunk of the root system. Then decided to drag the whole thing on a plastic sheet. So heavy could hardly move it. After spending 30 minutes dragging it no longer than 20 feet I called a neighbor and fetched a six pack.

An hour later we were all done. Slightly intoxicated in the middle of the day. Fabulous.

Try all that at 51 ;) Might as well post a few pictures and showoff all your hard work. I have planted a few trees also. In 1968 I planted a maple from the seed. It is now one of those trees you see in older neighborhoods, beautiful. I do lots of stone work myself. Last year crushed/broke a finger tip building a wall. Not to steal your thread, but here's what I've been working on, MarkPark...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1212057905.jpg

You guys are a bunch of pussies

Where you at? Why don't you have work party? Get a gang of people, buy them beer and food. Many hands make light work, or so they say.

So what are you buying for the p-car with that $2300 you just saved?



Am i the only one that thinks that way?

Agree nicely laid out trees really add a lot. We (meaning I) recently planted 3 trees in the back yard. 2 maples and a flowering pear. staking them was a bit of a challenge but so far they are standing up to the 15-30mph winds we get here on a regular basis.

Moderator, moderator, he just called us a bunch of pussies !!!!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/cat.gif MEOW :D
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1212069720.jpg

We ain't no stinking pussies ;)

The soil around my home is filled with granite, clay, and hard dirt. I once tried to dig a hole for a 15 gallon palm tree using a pick and shovel. I worked 1 hr and was 1/4 done with a very sore back and blistered hands. Now I run down the hill to the local tool rental place and pickup an electric hammer with a dirt spade.

I hire a backhoe when I need one...

(Edit) I hope you checked with the utilities to see where the lines run...electric, gas, water, telephone, etc.