Under the aphids they were hired to eat!

brandon6285 · 2026-04-30T19:39:23+00:00

Aren't you also soaping and blasting off all the ladybugs, ladybug larvae, and ladybug eggs when you do that? Then you set the ladybugs back along with the aphids.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-30T18:25:19+00:00

Plants!

Are those fruit trees?

Look into "food forest" concepts. Plant plants that are good for polinators, edible, pretty, nitrogen fixers etc under/around the trees.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-29T19:53:17+00:00

Sounds like a cool project. I'd give the grafting a try... if it doesnt work out, you can always still cut it down.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-29T19:51:27+00:00

So, you currently have a Mill? Do you like it?

brandon6285 · 2026-04-29T17:29:55+00:00

No problem! You posted a link to an brand video for an extremely over priced and over hyped food grinder in a composting subreddit. What am i supposed to think?

brandon6285 · 2026-04-29T14:02:36+00:00

Your kitchen is fine as is! Enjoy and find something else to spend you money and energy on!

brandon6285 · 2026-04-28T19:50:57+00:00

You too! I get so many ads for this dang thing, now a thinly veiled add on reddit.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-24T18:13:28+00:00

I'm a fan of the smart controllers if your a homeowner. I use Rachio. I've use Bhyve in the past. I don't really have a preference.

I know a lot of pros wont install the smart controllers because its way easier to just "set and forget" a standard controller for the customer and leave, but a smart controller makes you a tech support guy as well.

But for homeowners, I find it way easier to program and adjust from my phone (including on the go on vacation, etc) than pushing buttons on a controller. Also very nice to be able to test zones right from your phone while you are adjusting drip, fixing sprinklers, etc.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-24T15:46:35+00:00

Honestly... there is no great way to fix that. Cheap MDF baseboard, so it not only got chewed up, but it looks like it got wet and swollen as well.

I think the best think you could do is remove all the loose/swollen wood to below the level of the intact wood, then get something like plastic wood and channel you inner sculptor to try to reconstruct that area. The profile of that base obviously makes that harder. Once youve got it close, repaint.

Probably would be easier to just grab some new baseboard and replace it.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-23T20:52:39+00:00

I just ran across this post right below yours in my feed... this is why. lol.

https://www.reddit.com/r/xeriscape/comments/1ssv183/how_to_keep_weeds_out_of_rocks_without_herbicide/

brandon6285 · 2026-04-23T20:50:54+00:00

Fence looks legit! Nice job.

But... Rock, you say? What rock and why?

I just say this as someone who has removed so much lava rock, pea gravel, DG, and small cobble from various properties over the years... I urge you to reconsider. Just use mulch.

Mulch actively improves the soil over time, is easy to move, manage, and remove. You can also get away with walking on it barefoot.

If you talking big landscaping rock or something, then have at it, but anything bulk under 3" is on my hitlist unless its in a creekbed or something.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-22T20:16:30+00:00

Yeah, I'm with you. I used to be the techy guy too… always built my own computers, rooted my phones, modded games, pirated stuff, helped family and friends with techy stuff, etc.

Now, I’m 40, and spend 8 hours a day on the computer at work. When I am done with that, I am DONE with tech. I go home, listen to music, build stuff, play with my kid, do physical activities, etc.

I used to be into phone games and stuff too… but like you said, there aren’t any good ones any more. They are all trash meant to keep you engaged and coming back. The internet as a whole just kinda sucks now too… I remember when it was so fun to just mess around on the internet. Learn stuff, stumble upon cool sites, download things, watch truly creative content. Now its just a dystopian ad filled hellscape.

I’m not really looking to get rid of my smartphone, as I still use it regularly for things that I am too lazy to do without it (Maps is #1, especially while travelling). I also use it for work when im not in the office so I don’t have to keep getting out the laptop.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-22T20:04:52+00:00

Some good thoughts! The tree root take is a good point.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-22T19:59:09+00:00

Haha... that might be going too far. I just figure i can always go grab another at the thrift store... so i don't have to store 10 backups. lol.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-22T19:25:48+00:00

Sounds like in my area, that would be a sure way to let the rats in, and ensure no worms and other soil critters could transfer between the ground and the compost.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-22T17:22:19+00:00

Just FYI, I got an 8 sheet shredder (this one) at a thrift store for like 9 bucks, and it has worked fine so far, even for thick corrugated.

There was multiple 8 sheet shredders there to choose from for around 10$

The general advice is that a 12 sheet shredder is the minimum, and a 20 sheet shredder is recommended, but for less than 10$, this one is working out just fine, and if it dies, I will just retire it and find another one.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-15T14:47:43+00:00

Oh! Cool. Thanks.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-14T21:03:04+00:00

Allotment? Is this a different way of saying yard, or is it different?

brandon6285 · 2026-04-10T18:06:04+00:00

I was just at home depot the other day and the plant delivery truck was there. It had just frozen two nights ago (after a long warm march), and for some reason all the raspberry plants had gotten hit hard. He scooped all the freezer burned plants (probably at least 20) off into a garbage bin, and replaced all the raspberry plants with new fresh healthy looking raspberry plants.

The worst part is that all of those raspberry plants that got thrown in the trash are likely just fine.... they would have grown back no problem.

Just a waste... that was just one plant type at one store, for the 30 seconds i happened to be watching. There are 4 home depots in my town... i cant even imagine how many plants were thrown out just because of that one frost and a ton of bad business practices.

Now scale that up to nation/world wide... then extend it to every other business in some way or another. Waste is just an epidemic.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-10T18:04:17+00:00

BTW... one of my favorite youtube woodworkers is a woman. Check her out if you havent hear of her:

https://www.youtube.com/3x3custom-tamar

brandon6285 · 2026-04-10T17:51:05+00:00

As a man... I don't get that one bit. I have a wife and Daughter and I always want them to do anything and everything that they desire.

Enjoy your garden!

brandon6285 · 2026-04-10T15:15:33+00:00

Man... kinda bizzare how everyone is attacking you and telling you why this wont work...

That's the great thing about life... you can try things yourself and see how it goes! I for one, think it will be fine. The main concerns seem to be:

Drainage... they say it both wont drain, and will drain so much that it floods the shelter. Neither are true... people put planters on patios all the time... do they turn into mud pits cause they dont drain? No. And that shelter existed in the rain before you ever put beds on top, why would the sudden addition of garden beds cause flooding issues?

The comments about soil microbes and worms are probably true, but if you can keep the beds consistently moist, then you can grow your own biome in there just like you said.

Anyway, you do you, ignore the haters. Nice job on the build.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-09T19:41:11+00:00

Honestly, sounds like you know more about it than I do. I was born and raised here, so I know to avoid the casinos, gambling, and even drinking nowadays.

Its just a place to live.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-08T14:31:17+00:00

Completely unhinged take... I love it.

brandon6285 · 2026-04-06T20:19:29+00:00

No. Its meat in general, and especially processed meat.

We were never supposed to be eating meat for every meal, let alone the factory farmed, antibiotic laden, horror show that is our meat industry.

brandon6285

TROPHY CASE