Boy, I wish I weren't so very spatially challenged. I had the very bright idea to get some large pots to put three arbor vitae in while we relocated them in order for the dump truck to be able to fill the pool chasm. We waited until the last minute to move them, so they'd hopefully be a wee bit less stressed, and so that is how we found ourselves out by the pool last night to move three arbor vitae. We won't mention the fact that I was at church earlier in the day, when my pager went off on vibrate, and I had to leave in the middle of the sermon to go into work, yet again, and treat a guy with a soft tissue infection in his leg, nope. Anyhow, bottom line is that I did not get home until almost 6PM, and so there we were at the fence line, shovels and mattock in hand. Once I realized quickly that the pots I purchased were way too small, the only other thing we could do was to go back to the tree line behind the house and dig three holes. Uh, did I mention it has not rained really well in a couple of weeks? And, that we live on a chert hill? Never mind. Dig we did. Three large holes.
Now, maybe I am naive, but I thought getting the 4 1/2-5ft. arbor vitae out would not be that big of a deal. Ahem. Those suckers put down some rather strong surface roots, they do. And the smaller one, which was the last one we dug up, was heavier and better rooted than it's neighbors! By 8PM, I had scratches all up and down my arms, smelled like a Christmas tree, but by golly, they were moved. Bring on the dirt!!
Hope these three arbor vitae can survive back here for a few days!
11 comments:
This is so exciting! I feel like I'm doing all this landscaping but amazingly without getting scratches, sore muscles or dirt under my fingernails. Take care, Jayne.
Oh my goodness--Jayne--you are spatially challenged!
I do have to laugh (kindly) at your thought that it would be easy to move well-established arbor vitae. Yes, they put down good roots. PLUS dirt is heavy--so any root ball would weigh a lot! Hope too that they survive.
Can't wait to see how the hole gets filled, etc.
Oh my, Jayne...you have my sympathy. I just recently had to move a fairly small rose bush (with many, many thorns), and it was far more of an ordeal than I ever would have thought. We have this hard-packed clay soil that necessitates using a mattock to dig rather than a shovel. What a job. But nothing, really, compared to your task. Kudos to you and your husband for tackling such a job!
My days of digging tree holes are over, especially after a long day at work. What a big project, but I am sure it will turn out beautifully.
You are the most intrepid home improvement participant I know! Sorry the arbor vitae were such a challenge, but the good news is that they are moved! And I do think they'll be just find until they are back in a place where they will be able to settle in and thrive. Good on ya!
I think that was an excellent idea to put them where you did. It solved a big problem at the time. You may have to haul some water out there at least right at first. Good luck with your huge project, Jayne.
This is why my husband is in charge of all things spatial in our house - I have no concept of what will fit where & what a task will entail. I start in willy-nilly & realize that my 2 hour project has morphed into a month-long extravaganza. So mostly I just sit back & watch hubby take charge. Hmmm - failing, or strategy?
I think they will be just fine. Just water them well once you get them planted where they will be permanent plantings. OMG Jayne you do so much. Take care of yourself.
Hope they all make it. Moving them at that size is quite an undertaking...much more involved than meets the eye.
Oh Jayne, I'm sorry you had to go back into work. Hope you at least caught up with some sleep on Saturday.
Hope your hard work trying the save the arbor vitae works for you.. That is a BIG job for sure.
Hope you don't get called in to work tonight.
Hugs,
Betsy
With all the work you guys are doing the end result will be superb.The scratches will heal,but don't overdo it.
Blessings,Ruth
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