The Giant Lowes Rock - who would buy that thing?

Ah Saturday December 19th in Columbia, S.C.  The ground is sopping wet, the temperature is hovering around 38 degrees, and everyone is bustling about getting ready for my Son's 3rd Birthday Party Today.  In the spirit of doing what-I-can as the man of the house, I get the bright idea that maybe now is a good time to cover that water well in the back yard that has been exposed now for over a year.  Time to head to Lowes and get that giant, over priced rock that people surely ask themselves as they pass - "who in the world would buy that thing?"!

After talking the Lowes Associates into unscrewing this, the last remaining well cover rock, from the pallate, I threw it over a shopping cart and proceeded towards the checkout counter.  Shoppers were pointing and laughing, associates at the customer service counter were peeping over their cubicle wall, and the checkout lady snickered and asked "where's the sku number?!".....LOL

I must say, it was heavier than I thought...and unweildy as anything I've dealt with in a while.  Nevertheless, I chucked it up into the Busy Bee Lawn Care Truck and slowly drove home...

So I finally get the thing home and ceremoniously, my wife and I take our new pet rock to the back yard to its final resting place - under which is now a home for frogs, snakes, and all sorts of gooey things.  The well Saga is Over!  What a long and expensive journey it has been!  So if you have ever wondered what kind of clown would buy that big rock at Lowes, now you know :)

 

Happy Birthday Brennan - Daddy Bought you a Rock! :)

Lawn Services in Columbia SC

Lawn Services in Columbia S.C. can take care of anything from a simple "mow and go" to the more complex tasks such as sprinkler system repair or turf chemical treatments. Here are some tips (that go beyond just prices!) on how to pick a lawn company in the Columbia, S.C. area.

If the sole purpose now and in the future of you hiring a lawn maintenance company is to mow the grass, then be very careful who you pick as this point, although seemingly simple, can cost you alot of money in the long run. Cutting the grass is not as simple as it seems. If your turf is cut too short, bagged too often, or cut in the middle of a drought, you could be making a very costly mistake by hiring a low paid, inexperienced, fly by night company. Replacing sod can cost you thousands of dollars and the uninsured lawn maintenance company is not likely to ever accept liability for mistakes.

On the other hand, lawn companies who are expected to go beyond a simple mow and handle grounds maintenance should not only cut grass, but also handle landscape maintenance tasks such as proper shrub pruning, soil analysis, roof cleaning, mulch installation, the more intricate tasks that come with working in any given yard. These tasks are a learned, professional skill that comes with experience and education.

In addition to being able to do the laborsome tasks, a company of quality has a well developed and managed system in place to take the burden of your yard away from you - isn't that what you are paying for?! A good company manages the route where jobs are done in a timely, reliable fashion, bills you accurately and in a timely and simple fashion, and employs trustworthy, well groomed professionals to service your property.

So the next time you are in the market for yard services, dig deep, ask questions and save your valuable time by picking the right service with the right lawn care prices the first time.

How to Remove a Dead Tree Without Calling a Tree Removal Service

If you're looking for a way to remove a dead tree and avoid calling an experienced tree removal service there are several things to seriously consider. Tree work, although it looks easy, is full of many uncontrollable and unpredictable forces.

If the tree to be removed is near a powerline, a house, a fence, a septic tank, or any other item of importance, it is generally a good investment to simply call on a tree company. If the diameter of the tree is less than about 6 inches or so, keep reading.

At 6 inches or less with little brush to handle, to be sure the tree falls where you want it to fall, attach a rigging rope ($50-$100) to a point on the tree towards the middle to top whereby you can have someone pull on the tree (someone strong and agile) to coax it in the right direction. Once secured, making sure that everyone is paying attention and clear of the fall zone (or ready to quickly clear the fall zone), make your notch cut on the side of the tree in the direction you want the tree to fall. In other words, if you want the tree to fall to your left if you're looking at the tree, make a "V" shaped notch in the tree on the left side.

Once your notch has been cut, proceed to cut the other side of the tree to be removed inwards towards the "V", making a "hinge" whereby the cut is slightly above the "V". This hinge will help prevent the tree from sliding backwards and help you direct the fall. With the helper pulling the rope attached, give warning when you feel that it is going to drop and yell "timber!".

It is quite an exhilarating moment when the tree falls to the ground!

If the tree is larger than 6" or so in diameter or if you simply want to leave it to a company who has experienced climbers and linemen, call on a tree removal company. Experience in climbing, saws, ropes and knots, and those unpredictable moments definately count, in my opinion, where tree work is concerned.