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Misc Gardening Thread

My uncle tried to grow one awhile back but it didn’t take well.

Just curious, why the metric?
I'm on a multi-year habit of using metric units. I generally try to use units that I know the person I am talking to will understand. Sometimes in written communication I use both. I probably should have used both for this post, but I guess I just forgot or didn't feel like it. I've been using metric for most woodworking projects for years now (other than home construction related stuff) and metric in exercise metrics (ha) for years as well. They say to be the change you want to see in the world, right?
 
Just to confirm, you are growing a true redwood in AL?

I can't speak for the genetics of the specific specimen the TN nursery provided to me, but it certainly appears to be a true redwood (sequoia sempervirens). Now, could it be from a more inland cultivar that sees higher temperatures? Possibly.
 
I considered a deodar cedar. May get one eventually, but I'm kind of out of space at my current house. i have a 10 year old blue spruce and a young norway spruce as well.
Blue Spruce looks great! They usually struggle in the South, outside of the mountains. I’ve seen many planted and dead within a few years around Greenville in the past, but they thrive around Asheville and the mountains, and they are WVERYWHERE up here!
 
Bald cypress are awesome . There is a large swamp of them at Robertson millpond in Wendell. One of my faves. I like Tulip Poplars , Live oak , Bald cypress , and beech trees alot. Tulip Poplars get so insanely freaking tall and girthy! I think tallest tree in eastern us is a tulip poplar in the smokies . Man what a sight it would be to walk in an old growth forest of towering tulip poplar !!! My favorite forest type by far is coastal se . Love that environment with the oaks and moss . Going camping in goose creek state park which is filled with the live oaks , moss , and Sabal minor .
 
Here's a picture. It can be tough to get a good picture due to it blending in with background vegetation. The redwood is in nearly full sun but I planted the blue spruce in a way that it's shaded in the afternoon.
PXL_20220923_153654840~2.jpg
 
Bald cypress are awesome . There is a large swamp of them at Robertson millpond in Wendell. One of my faves. I like Tulip Poplars , Live oak , Bald cypress , and beech trees alot. Tulip Poplars get so insanely freaking tall and girthy! I think tallest tree in eastern us is a tulip poplar in the smokies . Man what a sight it would be to walk in an old growth forest of towering tulip poplar !!! My favorite forest type by far is coastal se . Love that environment with the oaks and moss . Going camping in goose creek state park which is filled with the live oaks , moss , and Sabal minor .
I’m going to see the redwoods in California, one day! Bucket list
 
I'm on a multi-year habit of using metric units. I generally try to use units that I know the person I am talking to will understand. Sometimes in written communication I use both. I probably should have used both for this post, but I guess I just forgot or didn't feel like it. I've been using metric for most woodworking projects for years now (other than home construction related stuff) and metric in exercise metrics (ha) for years as well. They say to be the change you want to see in the world, right?
I hear you. I do a good bit of healthcare construction including installing MRI's and such so we deal a lot in metric. I haven't been able to make the change in woodworking though. I'm on the Christopher Schwarz train on that as the Imperial was made based on the human body and makes it easier to make things for us to use if that makes sense.
 
Bald cypress are awesome . There is a large swamp of them at Robertson millpond in Wendell. One of my faves. I like Tulip Poplars , Live oak , Bald cypress , and beech trees alot. Tulip Poplars get so insanely freaking tall and girthy! I think tallest tree in eastern us is a tulip poplar in the smokies . Man what a sight it would be to walk in an old growth forest of towering tulip poplar !!! My favorite forest type by far is coastal se . Love that environment with the oaks and moss . Going camping in goose creek state park which is filled with the live oaks , moss , and Sabal minor .
28B5BB8D-BDB2-4F55-9785-32F66A8056C3.jpeg
 
My house sits on a quarter acre in northeastern Cobb County at 1135', I think most know roughly where that is around 20 miles NNW of downtown Atlanta as a the crow flies. My house was built in 1973, and the woman that lived here before us had let the entire back part of the lot become overgrown. I cleaned out all of the English Ivy and small trees. I left all the large trees, some small select trees, and planted a few more. I like total shade. I took a basic inventory of what I have, as you know this whole area is a transition zone.

Rough count of native trees, its pretty diverse, and very representative of what a forest around here would look like without all the clearing.

1. White Oak - 10
2. Scarlet Oak - 6
3. Mockernut Hickory - 5
4. Pignut Hickory -4
5. Black Oak - 2
6. Sourwood - 3
7. Red Maple -2
8. Beech - 4
9. Post Oak - 3
10. Black Tupelo - 3
11. Black Cherry - 3
12. Loblolly Pine - 1
13. Shortleaf Pine - 1
14. Red Cedar - 1
15. Tulip Poplar - 1
16. Virginia Pine - 1
17. Southern Red Oak - 1
18. Flowering Dogwood - 1
19. Virginia Pine - 1
20. Sweet Birch - 1

Planted

Virginia Pine - 8 (3 feet of growth in two years)
Red Maple - 1 (9 feet of growth in 4 years)
Eastern Hemlock - 1 (2 feet of growth in 2 years)

I'm considering planting some white pines in the understory since they are shade tolerant.
 
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Here's a picture. It can be tough to get a good picture due to it blending in with background vegetation. The redwood is in nearly full sun but I planted the blue spruce in a way that it's shaded in the afternoon.

It sure looks like a baby redwood, but as stated it's not going to grow well in Huntsville AL. They grow rapidly in a temperate oceanic climate, if you are looking for longevity I would replant a cypress or preferably a white oak type. Poplars are softwood and maples do not live as long as oaks or cypress, and both the previous mentions are gang busters for wildlife. Your Red (coastal) will not live beyond 20 years.

I have a stand of 12 bald cypress in my back acre, between 10 to 20 years old, they are already starting to sow offspring in the 600 acres behind me which is a highly conducive environment for them. In the front, mainly oak, 2 whites and 2 swamp chestnuts, about 15 years old, now producing acorns and the swamps are humungous, largest acorn of any oak species.

That is an impressive tree!

Indeed it is, ~13' in diameter, ~1000 years old, very challenging drive early Dec 2021 to see it, alone in a stand clearcut of his brothers that once stood. 97% of British Columbia's old growth rain forests have been logged, he stands as a symbol and should be protected. Active logging was noted in the area, including another virgin stand we visited in the area. Pretty sad.
 
Its experimental, of course. I am aware its not in an appropriate climate. I will enjoy it while it grows. I'm kind of out of space at this property anyway, and won't be staying here more than a few more years. If I were to replace it I would consider a dawn redwood, which do well here.
 
Anyone else sow cover crops? I'm a big crimson red clover fan in the main beds, early to mid Sept, with cutting and tilling post peak in late March / early April after the pollinators had their fill.
 
Anyone else sow cover crops? I'm a big crimson red clover fan in the main beds, early to mid Sept, with cutting and tilling post peak in late March / early April after the pollinators had their fill.
I’ve wanted to do so, haven’t gotten round to it but it’s too lat snow in the season.
 
Anyone else sow cover crops? I'm a big crimson red clover fan in the main beds, early to mid Sept, with cutting and tilling post peak in late March / early April after the pollinators had their fill.
I’ve done it a couple times with very good results
 
I’ve done it a couple times with very good results

During the offseason, I'd like to see some equipment. I own a 1025R, gatorade type tricked out. 2 Stihl CSs, 180 and 290, with a 500i on order. Also a FS 131, BG 86 CE.
 
During the offseason, I'd like to see some equipment. I own a 1025R, gatorade type tricked out. 2 Stihl CSs, 180 and 290, with a 500i on order. Also a FS 131, BG 86 CE.
I've got a decent Stihl with a 20" bar. Can't remember the model but I love that thing and it will eat anything. My family has agreed to give me my grandfathers 50s era Farm All tractor to help with the garden dutys this spring. Its been covered but hasn't run in 20 years. As soon as we get a good freeze I'm going to get it transported up to the casa and get to work on that thing. I've been wanting to restore it for years.
 
Brought the sugarcane indoors and beyond surprised it's still growing. Got a indoor sugar factory now :)
Update: it died. Root rot. Rather not water than water it, lesson learned. Trying again this season. Planting Grape, Coffee, Avocado, Fig, and Pineapple this year too
 
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