How Much Topsoil is in Ten Yards?

This is a large delivery of ten yards of topsoil.  How much is ten yards of topsoil?

Well according to the Internet, 10 yards of soil is equal to
27 cubic feet of material, 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, 27 cubic feet.  It will cover an area of 10 feet by 10 feet to a depth of three inches, a third of a yard per 100 square feet for every inch of depth.

I covered the huge pile with a weighted tarp until I had a day off to spread it around.  Topsoil should be screened before you get it by a reputable nursery.  This topsoil was wonderful, light and fluffy and east to shovel and spread.

Why did I need this topsoil?  I had to fill tracks made by trucks last December when two very large trees were removed.

At first I tried to fill the ruts with soil from the way back in the garden.  I had to dig it up, then haul it over to the spots and then dump it.  My son, a very smart fellow, suggested that I order topsoil.

Sometimes when you do a job, other jobs result.  Here is the huge rotted tree that was felled in one piece.  It was too damaged so that climbers could not cut it down from the top to the bottom.  It left large depressions.

Wood from these two trees was carried out to the back by trucks and Bobcats for future splitting, resulting in more ripping up of the back yard.

Now fast forward to March.  This is the rotted tree trunk.  Even before I started to spread the topsoil I had to remove debris from the lot line and yard.

This is the footprint of the felled tree and how much soil it took to level it.

The first day.  About 75 percent of the pile remained, and I knew that I needed to get some help.

 Fortunately, I knew a few young men that could work along side me and tackle the pile.  The weather  here has been mild, and we really got it down a lot.

 They filled in much of the lawn.

 This was the pile on day three of shovelling, and I finished it by myself.

The pile raked and gone!

 I use old fashioned tools, but ones that really work well.  The wheelbarrow comes from a farm out east in Mastic, Long Island.  Unfortunately it has closed, by the good news is that Suffolk County bought the development rights, so it will be kept as open space.  

 I have seen plastic rakes in the big orange store, but old metal ones work best for me.

 Although there was much to repair, I had some extra which I used to fill in other low spots.

 This area up front was  mashed up due to the removal of the first tree.  We did replant the large Azaleas, which seem to be fine.  During the removal of this tree, we set them aside and I covered the roots with a blanket.

So here we are today, and its raining.  It is a little too cold to sprinkle the grass seed, but my lawn is full of natural plants, or weeds, so I can do that when it warms up later.  It has been an unusually warm winter here in the Northeast, but with grass seed so expensive, I will wait and follow the instructions on the bag.  The real question should be:  how long will it take to spread 10 yards of topsoil.  With help, it took me three days.

Early Spring 2012 Flowers in the Jarvis House Garden

We have had an unusually warm winter here in the North East.  As a result some of the spring flowers are a little ahead of themselves.  Crocus bloom.

 Different varieties of Daffodils break out.

 Small Blue Grape Hyacinths near the walkway.

Ice Follies which will fade in the center as the week goes by.

 King Alfred, the largest Daffodils in the Jarvis Garden.

A bi-color and a mini bloom near the foundation.

Cuttings of Hydrangeas that were transplanted this week into separate pots.  I rooted them two seasons ago in large plastic pots.  They were just stems, and the soil was kept wet all summer long.  Roots developed, the experiment worked!

 Chrysanthemums that  rooted  as a result of drooping over and self propagating.  Here I moved them to a large pot.

 Crocus,  deep Purple, Striped White and Purple and pure White.

 These cheerful yellow flowers are actually the blooms of a very invasive weed known as Marsh Marigolds.  They are impossible to remove from the garden.

 The Pussy Willow tree near the back patio.

 Whle I was outside with my camera I heard a lot of garden birds chattering.  Looking up,  I saw a pair of Red Tail Hawks circling the Jarvis House Garden.  These two will keep the population of rodents that were not eliminated this winter due to the warm weather, in check.  Unfortunately they will also deplete the Mourning Doves and Rabbits.

 The lovely Crocus and a cast iron side chair.  Here's hoping that the weather continues to be mild. 

St.Patrick's Day with Nick the Boxer

This is Nick the Boxer all dressed up for the annual Huntington St. Patrick's Day Parade.   The little red sock is protecting stiches he received during a small operation on one of his toes. 

 Nick is a rescue dog and has a very nice disposition, and loves people.

 The Huntington St. Patrick's Day parade is one of Long Island's oldest and largest  parades.

Of course many volunteer fire departments send their amazing trucks and brave men and women.

 Bag Pipers are the soul of this parade.

 Vintage muscle cars and motorcycles are included.

This vintage army truck belongs to the American Legion post 1244 of Greenlawn.

 The Kiwanis Club puts their antique cars on display.

Proud members of the Halesite Volunteer Fire Department.

Nick meets a drummer and member of a bag pipe group.

All in all, Nick was well behaved for the Huntington St. Patrick's Parade.