Adjusting to Climate Change [Archive]

Yppej

8-21-21, 8:54am

Are you planting different things or otherwise adjusting to climate change?

I just cannot keep up with my yard work this year. It is either rainy or super hot and humid. After a day in the office I used to like coming home and going out and weeding. No more.

While I wouldn't want a condo where there are fees out of your control - or a homeowners association telling me what I can or cannot do - the idea of less yard work is appealing to me for the first time in my life this year.

razz

8-21-21, 10:53am

Just generally, I am looking at my veggie garden and deciding that I will reduce the size to just a few pots of tomatoes. I will buy my veggies locally. I looked at the cost of the original plants including the seed packets + soil amendments + water cost and decided it was a break even in $$$ with a lot less effort for one person. I still need to buy the 1/2 bushel of tomatoes, peppers and some garlic for salsa, 1/2 bushel cukes for dill pickles and 10lb beets for pickled beets, etc. When I had a big garden on my farm, I grew it all but my little veggie garden now is limited. It is going to be even more limited in future.

My flower beds are easily maintained and mostly perennials with some annuals for accent colour. With ample rain, my rain barrels supply water for most needs but town water is pricey and may become more so in future so I keep that in mind in my choice of plants.

catherine

8-21-21, 11:37am

No, not really. The rain did slow down my garden, and my asters were attacked by spider mites, but I don't know if a rainy spell is climate change or just a rainy spell. I'm just rolling with it because I've been so busy at work and then with my vacation. So the zucchini/squash is in dire need of help, and cucumbers have slowed down and my late-planted lettuce is going nowhere, but it's OK. I don't have much time to really think about it.

Teacher Terry

8-21-21, 11:54am

I have lived in 3 condos and all were prudent with money. I joined the board so I have a say. With a condo the board shouldn’t forego maintenance or be spend thrifts. You need to hit a happy medium. I am happy with what I receive for my money. Since I hate yard work it’s always my choice when single.

rosarugosa

8-21-21, 12:31pm

I don't know about climate change so much as finding that I am revising my expectations of myself as I get older. I no longer have the same degree of unbridled enthusiasm for relentless drudgery.

happystuff

8-21-21, 1:01pm

I don't know about climate change so much as finding that I am revising my expectations of myself as I get older. I no longer have the same degree of unbridled enthusiasm for relentless drudgery.

I'm curious as to what you mean by "drudgery"? In what aspects/regards and what are you doing instead of the "drudgery"? (Hard to ask the last question since I don't know what you mean - LOL)

I understand the changing "expectations of myself as I get older". I find myself being more "aware" of the choices I have made on automatic pilot for so long. For me, climate change has been making me more and more aware of my own actions, the products I buy, the garbage I dispose of, etc. I'm changing how I do things in response to these other changes. For example, - and I know I've posted this elsewhere - making my own laundry soap and using bar soap for washing dishes (handwashing - no dishwasher). We are almost done with the "stock-up" on each of these so there are fewer and fewer plastic bottles around. Plus, using bar soap, even stocking up takes up less space!

early morning

8-21-21, 1:06pm

... I am revising my expectations of myself as I get older. Yeah, I think my quitting things is as much about getting older as about climate change, although I do really really hate the "extra" heat. I've always hated working outside in hot weather, which conflicts with my desire for more self-sufficiency. And it IS getting hotter earlier in the season. I have not had a big garden for many years, we no longer raise/provide any of our own meat, and we pay for many things we used to either forgo, (A/C in the bedrooms!) or do ourselves (gutter cleaning a really tall house). Oddly, although I started revising my expectations quite a few years ago, when DH became unable to work, I have only just begun to let go of the guilt I feel for "giving up". I'll be 65 tomorrow (which I'm actually quite excited about, as in my younger years I never figured I'd live this long) so maybe this is weighing on my subconscious. We grow tomatoes and peppers in an old stock tank gifted to me by a neighbor, and it's easy to deal with. I also try to rely on perennials but I really like a wild-ish unstructured look, which actually takes a bit of work and relies partly on "weeds" I like. Not fond of mulch around single plants, but prefer a jumble of bloom/leaves/color/texture. I won't struggle to grow plants that take hovering over, so I do anticipate that the changing climate may dictate different plant choices going forward.

JaneV2.0

8-21-21, 1:07pm

I don't know about climate change so much as finding that I am revising my expectations of myself as I get older. I no longer have the same degree of unbridled enthusiasm for relentless drudgery.

Hahaha! I've always embraced Maynard G Krebs' attitude.

I prefer the wild profusion look to the alternative, but don't really bother with either. I never, ever water. If it dies, it dies.

If climate change keeps happening, I'm hoping to grow an avocado tree.

pinkytoe

8-21-21, 1:09pm

Here in the West, we watch the summers heat up year by year. It is a real struggle to garden here between the dryness and the wind. I will continue to do so wherever I live and for however long I can but...I do think about my $25 a pound produce considering the time and cost of water. I wish gray water systems were allowed and that my neighbors didn't worship their bluegrass lawns quite so much. I may be odd but I consider pulling weeds somewhat meditative - kind of like painting walls. I get lost in the activity.

Rogar

8-21-21, 1:09pm

Around this time of year yard and garden maintenance reminds me of the myth of Sisyphus, but I enjoy the flowers and fresh produce for the most part. I'm taking another chunk out of my traditional lawn. It's harder to keep looking decent with the heat and some years water restrictions. I've replaced some of the lawn with xeric perennials. I'd take more lawn out, but have not come up with alternatives that aren't costly and bleak looking. It's a project. The perennials aren't maintenance free but require less labor than lawns. No changes for the vegetable garden. I don't eat meat and having a few more fresh food options right at the doorstep helps to add variety and appeal to meals.

happystuff

8-21-21, 1:13pm

Happy Birthday early, early morning! Hope you have a fabulous day tomorrow!!!

razz

8-21-21, 1:20pm

Happy Birthday early, early morning! Hope you have a fabulous day tomorrow!!!

From me, too

bae

8-21-21, 1:58pm

Are you planting different things or otherwise adjusting to climate change?

At the vineyard, for years we have been experimenting with different cultivars to be able to continue to operate as the climate changes. Wine grapes are somewhat sensitive to climate, and the particular varieties we currently have planted wouldn't tolerate much change in temperature or moisture.

https://i.imgur.com/5yMNkpS.jpg

GeorgeParker

8-21-21, 2:56pm

I'm taking another chunk out of my traditional lawn. It's harder to keep looking decent with the heat and some years water restrictions. I've replaced some of the lawn with xeric perennials. I'd take more lawn out, but have not come up with alternatives that aren't costly and bleak looking.Have you considered some of the grass-plus-microclover mixtures? This one sounds interesting https://ptlawnseed.com/products/pt-769-r-r-eco-turf-mix (http://ptlawnseed.com/products/pt-769-r-r-eco-turf-mix) and there are a variety of other mixtures available from various suppliers that are designed for climate, location, and traffic/wear tolerance and low maintenance.

pinkytoe

8-21-21, 3:28pm

I have a small area in my backyard where I threw micro clover seeds among the existing fescue. I rarely water any of it and it stays green and fairly lush with the clover.

happystuff

8-21-21, 6:14pm

Whatever is in the yard (front and back) grows and we mow. Don't water don't seed. It is what it is. And, actually, it's not too bad looking! LOL.

razz

8-21-21, 6:59pm

I made a determined effort over the past four years to grow micro-clover in my front lawn mixed in with lawn grass as advised. Theoretically, the clover is to supply the nitrogen to the grass. It is strongly advised that no nitrogen be spread on the lawn as it will negatively impact the micro-clovers so none was spread.

The clovers grew but didn't spread as advised to expect, the lawn grass shrank without the usual nitrogen fertilizer and now I have a 'wonderful' (snarl and sarcasm) crop of crabgrass thriving. It doesn't help that the immediate neighbour's whose lawn abuts mine is solid crab grass. I am conceding defeat on the micro-clovers, will over-seed with lawn grass in early September as it is simply too hot right now and be glad as happy stuff says that it is green. It is what it is, for sure.

In reality, my lot is gravel-based, drains very quickly so needs a lot of watering and fertilizer or the opportunistic crabgrass will move in. My neighbour on the other side of my lot waters their lawn every other day from their private well, mows every third day, adding fertilizer and weed control frequently as needed. It does look lovely.

Am I prepared to spend the money for precious town drinking water, fertilize and mow as frequently, a very definite no. I think water is a precious resource that is being abused (different value system) so use rain barrels and occasional town water only when the gardens are really in need.

Rogar

8-21-21, 7:49pm

Have you considered some of the grass-plus-microclover mixtures? This one sounds interesting https://ptlawnseed.com/products/pt-769-r-r-eco-turf-mix (http://ptlawnseed.com/products/pt-769-r-r-eco-turf-mix) and there are a variety of other mixtures available from various suppliers that are designed for climate, location, and traffic/wear tolerance and low maintenance.

Thanks. First glance sounds interesting. I've done a little research on buffalo grass. It's also a thought but not quite the idea replacement.

GeorgeParker

8-21-21, 9:20pm

The issue with buffalo grass is that it doesn't form a strong enough turf to prevent aggressive weeds and grasses invading it during the first few years after you plant it. For that same reason, overseeding existing grass with buffalo is seldom successful because the buffalo isn't able to make the established grass abandon it's territory. Remember, even though buffalo grass is strong, durable, adaptable, and weather tolerant, the native prairies that existed before the white people came were a rich ecosystem of various grass species and other plants. Any one species taken out of that native ecosystem and planted as a monoculture is often an invitation for more aggressive nearby species to invade.

Like happystuff, I don't spray, feed, seed, weed, or water unless something really needs it. For example I'll water now and then during a drought, I'll till and seed if an area is bare dirt, and I'll chop/pull weeds if they are tall aggressive species that would need to be mowed more than once a week. Anything else, I just mow it once a week and figure most of the tall weeds will die from lack of leaves and seeds. And almost anything green looks ok if you keep it cut to normal lawn height.

Milk Thistle is a prime example of a weed I go after aggressively with a hoe if it gets tall enough for me it see it above the grass. It's pretty when it blooms, but it grows fast, spreads fast, and will stick you like crazy. So it gets rooted out (not poisoned!) as soon as I see it. https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/herbs/milk-thistle/milk-thistle-key-growing-information.html

rosarugosa

8-22-21, 7:32am

I'm curious as to what you mean by "drudgery"? In what aspects/regards and what are you doing instead of the "drudgery"? (Hard to ask the last question since I don't know what you mean - LOL)

I understand the changing "expectations of myself as I get older". I find myself being more "aware" of the choices I have made on automatic pilot for so long. For me, climate change has been making me more and more aware of my own actions, the products I buy, the garbage I dispose of, etc. I'm changing how I do things in response to these other changes. For example, - and I know I've posted this elsewhere - making my own laundry soap and using bar soap for washing dishes (handwashing - no dishwasher). We are almost done with the "stock-up" on each of these so there are fewer and fewer plastic bottles around. Plus, using bar soap, even stocking up takes up less space!

Happy: I was talking more about yard work (and housework too I guess). I used to be a little bit crazed about wanting everything to be perfect all the time, so I would weed every week, regardless of weather. I used to deadhead my Johnny-Jump-Ups, which probably qualified me as being officially deranged! I used to clean my entire house every Saturday, as in dust all the things in the house every week, etc. I take a more relaxed approach now. I have a rotating schedule for housework. If the weather is too hot for yardwork, it can wait. I would rather take a nice walk or sit in the gazebo with a cold drink and a good book. I am not willing to paint/stain the house any more; we hire that out.

happystuff

8-22-21, 5:57pm

Happy: I was talking more about yard work (and housework too I guess). I used to be a little bit crazed about wanting everything to be perfect all the time, so I would weed every week, regardless of weather. I used to deadhead my Johnny-Jump-Ups, which probably qualified me as being officially deranged! I used to clean my entire house every Saturday, as in dust all the things in the house every week, etc. I take a more relaxed approach now. I have a rotating schedule for housework. If the weather is too hot for yardwork, it can wait. I would rather take a nice walk or sit in the gazebo with a cold drink and a good book. I am not willing to paint/stain the house any more; we hire that out.

Ok. Thanks for the explanation. I agree that housework is drudgery - LOL. I try my best to avoid it. :|(

iris lilies

8-22-21, 10:09pm

Happy: I was talking more about yard work (and housework too I guess). I used to be a little bit crazed about wanting everything to be perfect all the time, so I would weed every week, regardless of weather. I used to deadhead my Johnny-Jump-Ups, which probably qualified me as being officially deranged! I used to clean my entire house every Saturday, as in dust all the things in the house every week, etc. I take a more relaxed approach now. I have a rotating schedule for housework. If the weather is too hot for yardwork, it can wait. I would rather take a nice walk or sit in the gazebo with a cold drink and a good book. I am not willing to paint/stain the house any more; we hire that out.

…Still trying to absorb the fact that you deadheaded your Johnny jump ups.…