Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

You can do a mock up and use fiberglass but on the other hand you might want to see if you can find a power wheels jeep that doesn’t work and modify the front end to accept a handle. Those things usually run into electronic problems when left outside so it might be pretty easy to find. We have three of them at work that don’t work if you’re anywhere near manning,sc I can probably hook you up with one.

The only time you want to use bondo is for finsh work and filling in imperfections. If you use bondo it will weigh a ton. Glass on the other hand is actually pretty easy to work with but its messy. You can do your mock up out of anything. I use 2″ thick blue or pink foam board. You’ll have to paint the foam so the resin doesnt eat it (Cheap latex house paint works well.). Use chopped glass sheets. Chopped glass sheets will cover complex curves better than woven sheets. Cut your pieces in advance. You can cut a piece for the hood, the front fenders, the sides, ect just remember which is which and lay them out how you’ll install them. Lay on the hood, (Just an example.) mix the resin and either brush it on or pour it out and use a spreader. Don’t use too much hardner. It will decrease work time so follow the mixing directions. Once you have it covered and the glass cures dig the foam out and add more glass to the inside for strength also if you see any places you think will need more strength you can add wood to help support it and glass the wood in (Say the seat and dash). You can use woven sheets for this if you want because you won’t see it. Once it’s all cured sand and bondo out any dips or waves then paint it. (Flames baby flames!)

Good luck, hope this helps

GardenersCardiff answers:

MULCH! In the walking areas, you can put down carpet, which will block the sunlight and keep the weeds from growing. You can put grass clippings pretty close to the plants, or use black-only newspaper — weigh it down with rocks to keep it from blowing all over the neighborhood.

Actually, I use both — newspaper (three or four layers) and then grass clippings on top, because it looks nicer. You’ll have to hand-weed close to the plants.

And don’t be afraid to use a hoe! It’s not that hard, as long as you keep it sharpened. It’s a lot like sweeping. And it will give you lovely, toned arms, and a little bit of exercise (so you’ll save money on the gym!).

There are so many problems with weed killers — many kill the plants you love, and even if you kill the weeds today, the little seeds will still germinate, and you’ll have weeds again next week. And spraying really isn’t much easier work than hoeing.

Once your plants get big, though, they’ll fight the weeds for you — it’ll get easier later in the summer! Good luck!

GardenersCardiff answers:

If the pool is not on too much of an incline, say a few degrees in either direction, then sand is definitely your best choice.

Do not use the expensive sand made for pool filters. Simple red coarse sand will work fine. Avoid sand with pea gravel in it. You can order sand delivered to your pool site by many landscape companies or garden supply companies. Sand is sold in bulk by the ton. One to three tons should be enough to level your pool. Any excess sand can be spread on your lawn or garden, to improve drainage and turf quality. Or, it can be used for a sand box, if you have children.

Using a shovel, spread the sand from the location of what will be the center of the bottom of the pool outwards towards the end of the pool that is lower (declining). Continue to add sand, filling in any low spots with extra sand. Use a long board (like a 2×4) to smooth out the top of the sand so that it is relatively uniform and flat across the top of the sand.

Use an 8′ 2×4 and a level to make sure the top of the sand is level in all directions before erecting the pool on top of it.

If the incline is more than a few degrees in any direction, you must relocate the pool. Otherwise the pool could colapse resulting in injury or death.

Remember, if you plan on digging in your yard, ALWAYS call your local utility companies first to make sure there are no buried cables, or water or gas lines in your yard BEFORE you dig.

Good luck, and enjoy your pool.

Peace,

–Louis