A couple of months ago my neighbor came over one morning to inform me that the tree bordering our yards was going to be torn out.
She might has told me she was also ripping my heart out, because I freaking LOVE the tree she was planning to murder. In a huge backyard renovation, she is clearing most of the mature trees in her yard and the jasmine plants along her side of the fence.
I love this tree, because it is what I see when I look out my home office window. It is a 35 foot tall pine fern and it’s branches dip into my yard, making a gorgeous green wall where the local doves like to congregate. It make for a lovely, relaxing and extremely pleasant view out the window.
So I went to the nursery to try to buy a couple of vines and a replacement tree in an effort to reclaim my zen little window into greenery. As fate would have it, the plants that were on sale (50% off!) were…. Pine ferns and jasmine vines! Uhhhh, hashtag FATE?!
Now, a couple of months ago I connected with the lovely folks at Scotts and Miracle-Gro asking if they would like to help me out in my “re-green the sideyard” project, and they were awesome sauce and decided to lend me a hand! I was so excited to get started right away, and while the Central Valley of California is uniquely suited to planting hardy varieties year round, we had week after week of drenching rain. (Bad news for gardening, but GREAT news for our California drought!)
This last weekend we FINALLY had a dry spell, perfect for planting and yardwork! We got right to work on re-greening my little space! But first, more about the tools…
I had received a couple of MaxFLEX 5/8 diameter heavy garden hoses (CLICK HERE to view), and have since replaced ALL of my outdoor hoses with these beauties (although I still use my Gilmour hose, which I buried under the lawn for my garden drip line.. that sucker is staying buried until it bursts and I HAVE TO dig it up! haha).
This hose is crazy impressive. I mean, come on, it’s a hose right?! But I am homeowner now, so this pretty much elicits the same joy as comic books and playing dress up so SHARE IN MY JOY DAMMIT!! (Apparently other do, because this hose is one of THE highest rated hoses, enjoying 5 star reviews that number in the thousands on Amazon, Home Depot and Walmart and other online review spots!)
I had actually initiated contact with Scotts because I noted that their garden hoses are drinking water safe, being lead free. With little kiddos playing in the water all summer and drinking from the hose, having SAFE material was an absolute must for us. So with safety solely in mind, I was crazy impressed to see the hose was just so nifty in other ways!
Made from a tough co-polymer that features Lay-Flat technology, the Scotts MaxFLEX garden hose provides excellent kink resistance during use. I have been dragging mine around the yard, and around corners, and it has yet to give me a kink. (Haha, that sounds kinda dirty.) The exclusive co-polymer material makes the hose 30% lighter than similar hoses.
But my FAVORITE unexpected feature is that the hose features couplings that are made of GINORMOUS oversized XL crush-proof aluminum that is pretty much indestructible (at least to my standards)… it is advertised that it withstands daily use and trampling by heavy feet or heavy garden equipment, but I would through armored tanks onto that list for good measure. The couplings also easily attach to any spigot and feature innovative Hose Armour technology to prevent binding at the spigot when pulled. Win!
Now, the soaker hoses! Some of you know I recently discovered the water saving, time saving and labor saving joy of drip line watering systems for home gardens. (I know, I am pretty much like a home owning caveman in that regard.) Once I discovered this nifty resource, I knew I needed to bring in an easy and efficient kit suited to helping young trees and vines put down deep roots.
Soaker hoses are pretty much perfect, since the tiny pores along the length of the hose leak water at a rate no faster than the ground can absorb it. (Laying a soaker hose next to the base of your plants delivers water straight to the plant roots – right where you want it for a young plant trying to get established!)
The Miracle-Gro Soaker System Kit (CLICK HERE to view) allows you to create your customized soaker layout with a fool proof EZ-Connect System that connects to any garden hose with an included attachment.
The soaker hoses safely soak the root zone and conserve up to the 70% water. The 100 feet of hose sports high performance burst strength, and are included with detailed instructions to guide you through creating the soaker system with the 18 piece hose connectors (although it is so self-explanatory and intuitive that the directions aren’t really a necessity!) I grabbed an extra Orbit watering timer unit to attach to my Scott hose and Miracle-Gro soaker kit and VOILA!!! Work free and worry free watering!
So guess what? After months of warning that my tree would be ripped out, literally the DAY AFTER these photos were taken, the giant pine fern was felled… looks like I wasn’t the only one waiting for a dry spell for yard work! I literally spent most of the morning staring out the window at the crew my neighbor had hired to rip the tree out, feeling grumpy and staring like a creeper through the curtains, watching nervously hoping they didn’t trample my new baby plants. (They didn’t!)
It has been about a week since I installed my new plants and watering system and they are looking perky and perfect so far… Now I just need to wait for, uhhhhh, 3 to 5 years before my tree blocks the window with a lovely wall of green? Good thing the soaker hose has a 7 year warranty! 😉
Sounds like your shopping trip was fate. Perfect timing. Good luck with your growing. We’re still too cold here in the south to start planting but I am SO ready to start. Spring please come soon.
I am sending happy spring ju ju thoughts your way! hehe!
we love our soaker hoses! we even set them up on a timer when we went on our two-week honeymoon and were thrilled to have surviving plants when we returned! they saved our garden, for sure, and make watering a WHOLE lot easier!
I have had my share of plants die while on vacation.. I am super thrilled to have our whole yard automated now!!!
What a bummer about that tree! Hopefully your new plants will flourish with the help your soaker hoses.
Yeah, I am hoping these plants grow FAST!
Soaker hoses are the way to go. We use them here too. Wasting water is not a good thing, and we live in a desert.
I’m sorry your beloved tree is gone. You’ll have your own soon enough.
Have a fabulous day and weekend. ☺
The Central Valley in California is kind of a desert too… can’t believe I never used these things till recently!!!
That’s awesome that you were able to find some things to plant in your yard. I know how you feel about a nice big tree being pulled though. I live in an Apartment complex and a couple of years ago my manager decided to rip put a few of the big bushes around the courtyard and she had the tree trimmers take out one of the biggest Pine tree’s we had in front of our front window. The one that provided shade in the summer. Hated that it’s gone. Sorry to hear the tree you liked is gone but now you have control what greenery comes and goes.
Yeah, look on the bright side, right!? That sucks about your pine… we need a moment of silence for all the trees loved and lost in our lives… 😉
It’s too bad you couldn’t have transplanted the tree to your yard, but it probably would have been a bit too heavy to lift.
We discussed it, but it was too huge, and the roots went under the fence and house… ugh!
I’m totally not a gardener, but that hose sounds awesome 🙂
Hoses bring back memories of when I was little… And the summertime, when my dad would “work” around the pool. I put work in quotes because um, yeah, my dad kinda pretended to work, LOL! He hired people to do the STUFF STUFF – hahahaa! 😉 But man, I miss those kiddy days, however, my life kicks butt now too so… I think I am A OK
Hahaha, yeah, I remember drinking from the garden hose as a kiddo, it was so fun in a wierd way, I would just drink and drink till I had a tummy ache… haha. Kids are wierd…..
I can never understand why people rip trees out, unless they are alien species. Good luck with your new one.
Yeah, I feel heartbroken that so many trees that I enjoy from my window are coming down! I wanted to reason with her to leave them, but didn’t want to be “that neighbor”, lol
Great post! You are really well prepared for spring season 🙂 Have a nice weekend 🙂
So sorry about the tree, awful! 🙁 Great post and seems like all is going well with the garden refresh.
I love how many heartfelt condolences are coming for my tree! haha.. you guys are all so sweet and awesome!!
That is so handy, we had these kind of hoses as well!
-Kati
Almost Stylish
This is an amazing idea
kisses
Aw that’s so sad that your neighbor pulled the tree up! I hope your new one grows well and at least no one can take that one away now 🙂 x
Yeah, just wishing I had known to plant it like two years ago!!! haha….
LOL, we have a lot in common Gingi, I love trees. I have an emotional attachments to certain trees, especially ones that are on my property or in my eye site. Trees are so expressive and kind, it might sound weird but they are living breathing organisms, and they have feelings too. Maybe I took it too far, but I really believe that. It must be the California Girl in me, I also avoid killing bugs lol I know it’s silly, but bugs are just trying to live. I use Miracle-Gro it’s a great product and always works well.
*slowly backs away from the crazy lady*… haha, I kid, I kid!!! I fell the EXACT SAME WAY! I don’t kill bugs either! And its cool to hear you are a MiracleGro fan too!! <3
Interesting post dear <33
Oh I’m sorry about your tree! <3
Me too! I was sooooo cranky all day!!! lol!
;D
Bem legal!
Ótimo domingo!
Beijo! ^^
Stunning photos!
Have a nice new week!
http://www.recklessdiary.ru
Sounds like a great product, thanks for the recommendation!
Have a lovely day 🙂
Rosanna x
Oh no! I’m so sorry that your favorite tree will be taken down, but I hope the new one you’ve planted will grow bigger and more beautiful in your own yard 🙂 It was definitely fate, I mean what are the odds for it to be on sale right when you need it!? Also, that hose sounds wonderful! We’re not home owners yet, but I’l have to make not of this one when we are, it’s impressive how many 5 star ratings they have! Thanks for sharing, girlie, and I hope you have the best week ahead!
XO,
Jalisa
http://www.thestylecontour.com
Thanks Jalisa!!! Yeah, I am so happy to have a replacement, even though it is teeny tiny in comparison! haha!
Hope you’re cute little plants will grow fast.
Me tooooooo!!!
Aww, I would so bummed too- I have a few really gorgeous trees in my yard + in the surrounding area, and I would be so upset if they had to be torn out. But I love your re-green project, and those hoses sound like the perfect tools for the job!
-Ashley
Yeah, the tree and the vines are doing GREAT!!! Normally my plants are showing some wear and tear or signs of shock by this point. Never planting trees without a soaker hose EVER AGAIN!!! lol
What a great hose I need for my garden and it soaks evenly that its a plus.
That hose sounds great!
Kisses, Paola.
R.I.P. murdered tree! But it looks like your new tree will do superbly 🙂
*sheds a silent tear for the murdered tree*….