We share a 10' tall palm tree with a neighbor. The tree needs to be trimmed (dead fronts, some rotting areas, etc.). At least one, and probably a whole family, of squirrels has made its home somewhere in that tree. I don't want to see them get injured, but I don't know how to get them out before the tree-trimming service people come and start whacking at it.
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posted by StrawberryPie
on May 18, 2013 -
5 answers
What is that commercial that's currently running where a woman steals a bite of her friend's cookie? They are standing at a fence and she steals a bite. Her friend says, "You just bit my cookie!" And she replies with her mouth full: "No way!"
posted by cmp4Meta
on May 14, 2013 -
4 answers
I've recently moved from renting an apartment in a complex to renting a privately-owned duplex. It has a little (8 ft by about 15 ft) yard-ish thing right now that I would like to transform into a real yard. The owners won't pay for it, but would be fine with whatever I do to it. The problem is, right now the yard is completely overrun with weeds; everything else gets choked out by them. I don't know what kind of weeds, there's a variety of them. The other problem is that I live in Phoenix and the ground is very hard and dry so pulling the weeds by hand is going to be... difficult if not impossible. I've seen previous yard questions, but I am a special desert-dwelling snowflake and a little bit of a hippy, so I'm looking for more ideas than the "poison the whole thing" that I see in some of the other questions and also Phoenix-specific advice.
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posted by Weeping_angel
on May 5, 2013 -
20 answers
My new house has some nice flowerbeds that are covered in decorative white stones. They have been a bit neglected, and a lot of dry fallen leaves have accumulated in the flowerbeds and mixed with the stones. I tried gently raking the leaves out, but I couldn't get all of them. I can't seem to rake them out without removing the stones too. I think it looks messy like this. What's an easy way to remove the leaves?
posted by (F)utility
on Feb 7, 2013 -
12 answers
We live in a rural New England house on a wooded lot and we don't actually know a whole lot about taking care of trees. Other than 'you should call someone and learn about taking care of trees' what will be useful for us to know?
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posted by A Terrible Llama
on Feb 6, 2013 -
14 answers
Ms. B and I live in our first house. We'd like to do some stuff in the yard, but don't know where to start. We're in the U.S. What do we need to know? [Some details inside.]
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posted by Boxenmacher
on Sep 25, 2012 -
10 answers
Why can't I hire a landscaper? I know how to find one. I know how to show what I want done and how to ask for bids. Why can't I get one of them to accept the job?
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posted by caryatid
on Jul 31, 2012 -
20 answers
I have a house that needs creative landscaping—but I'm in over my head. Can you recommend inspiring photos or magazines or websites, or some guides to getting started choosing ground cover, hedges, flowers, etc, for a landscaping newb?
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posted by deern the headlice
on Jun 7, 2012 -
12 answers
I want to fill or cover a large water feature on my property so it's child-safe, does not require maintenance, and ideally, allows planters/planting. Advice? Online guides? Experience?
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posted by bq
on May 2, 2012 -
13 answers
I need advice on loading and threading the string on a gas-powered weed-eater/string trimmer. I have owned many of them in my adult life, and either they all suck, or I'm doing something fundamentally wrong.
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posted by aabbbiee
on Apr 10, 2012 -
17 answers
Spring cleaning/maintenance recommendations, please! I want to hear about companies you've hired and been really happy with in Toronto. Detailed list of services desired inside.
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posted by lizifer
on Mar 28, 2012 -
2 answers
Last week I asked about creative hedge fence ideas because our neighbor has a trashy yard. We thought it would be too rude to put up a fence. Well...now we want the fence. What type of fence? Details inside.
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posted by MayNicholas
on Mar 25, 2012 -
30 answers
What color to paint the frames of some neat little animal prints from a yard sale?
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posted by klugarsh
on Sep 25, 2011 -
8 answers
Gravel on one side, grass on the other. What's a good border that's kid friendly?
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posted by smelvis
on May 29, 2011 -
4 answers
What ground cover will best defy the incursion of my nemesis, grass? Shady (under tree) area in Quebec, Canada.
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posted by Shepherd
on May 28, 2011 -
10 answers
What is the best thing to do about all the weeds in my yard? There's hardly any grass remaining.
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posted by rahnefan
on Apr 14, 2011 -
6 answers
I can't seem to grow grass in my front yard. Is there a kind of grass seed that is foolproof? I don't care what kind of grass it is, I just need it to grow!
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posted by rglass
on Mar 21, 2011 -
13 answers
RecologyFillter: Those of you Bay Area residents who've received the Recology yard scrap and recycling carts, how do you manage your kitchen scraps in a way that doesn't muck up the inside of the cart too badly and create a stinky mess?
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posted by choochoo
on Dec 20, 2010 -
12 answers
How to quickly mitigate a somewhat busted lawn and garden -- and maybe get a small vegetable harvest out of it?
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posted by zvs
on Sep 1, 2010 -
6 answers
Can I let my (full, covered) above-ground pool go a few years without opening or swimming in it? Will the pool still be OK should I wish to reopen and use it at some point in the future?
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posted by Bardolph
on Jul 13, 2010 -
6 answers
What do I need to know before overhauling my packed-dirt backyard? Bonus points for inexpensive and green/sustainable suggestions.
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posted by emilyd22222
on Jul 10, 2010 -
6 answers
I have skunks in my backyard. What can I do about it? I mean besides running inside and screaming like a nine year old girl.
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posted by rileyray3000
on Jul 9, 2010 -
15 answers
I want to buy something fun for the family to play with, either in the backyard or at the park. I have about $100. Water balloon cannon? Bocce? What have you played outdoors that is tons of fun and holds up to repeated playing?
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posted by mecran01
on Jul 1, 2010 -
31 answers
Urban dwellers with concrete yards: Have you had any success repelling cockroaches? I'd prefer less creepy-crawly company in the summer when I'm relaxing in my garden, thanks.
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posted by desuetude
on May 30, 2010 -
8 answers
My garden hose was recently stolen from the side of the house and I really need to have a hose there. I've looked on the internet for some sort of hose protector and can't find anything. Can you guys think of any sort of way to protect a garden hose from being stolen?
posted by flarbuse
on Apr 1, 2010 -
17 answers
Mefites I would like to solicit advice in penning a polite yet firm grievance letter to an unknown person (or parties) in my apartment building.
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posted by sequin
on Jan 24, 2010 -
14 answers
I am doing a lot of landscaping gigs lately, and want to start planting Edible Landscape for folks. How much should I charge for an edible tree package?
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posted by Sentus
on Dec 6, 2009 -
9 answers
I'm being offered $100 to remove "Ornamental Grasses", any experience with the removal of plants would be greatly appreciated. I need the money, badly, I just have never done this kind of work before.
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posted by guptaxpn
on Sep 9, 2009 -
11 answers
My Ryobi string trimmer doesn't feed well. Should I just buy a new head for it or try one of those alternative string trimmer heads?
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posted by mecran01
on Aug 25, 2009 -
7 answers