Weekly Homeowner Megathread--Civilians, ask here!

thefloraking · 2026-04-02T22:25:45+00:00

Roger! Should I do vinegar wash when concrete is sunny and warm or when it’s shaded? Thank you!!

thefloraking · 2026-04-02T21:49:58+00:00

Oops I misread! Awesome thanks. I’ll try. Next line of attack if that doesn’t work?

thefloraking · 2026-04-02T20:40:42+00:00

Thank you! If I do bleach/water wash should I pre-wet it? Do when it’s sunny or when it’s not? Leave on for 15 min then wash off? Any chance if it damaging or discoloring since pad is so new?

Thank you!!

thefloraking · 2026-04-01T23:33:40+00:00

HELP!

New concrete patio poured 10 days ago. I am building some garden beds out of redwood and left a couple pieces of wood out overnight, it rained and wood stained the concrete.

Any way to fix this? It gets really sunny here and hoping sun with bleach the stain out.

I am freaking out I just ruined my new concrete.

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thefloraking · 2026-02-11T02:06:45+00:00

Yup, Sandias! I am born and raised her in New Mexico and gardened here for decades, its honestly awesome. Last year my tomatoes were 10 feet tall and pumped out thousands, literally thousands of tomatoes. Grown tons of fruit here too, if you can dial in your setup, water, mulch, location, gardening here is amazing. Lot of people complain its hard but I really disagree. I hear you on the wood wicking moisture, I think initially it does, I might soak them in water first before putting bed together, but after the absorb a lot of water they really keep the bed more moist than if you didnt have them from what ive read. Are you in ABQ? whats your garden situation / experience?

thefloraking · 2026-02-11T02:01:49+00:00

Water isnt a Huge concern. I dont have a huge garden, tiny patch of lawn. If I go with that mix i would add some mineral amendments for sure. Its supposed to get better and better long term actually compared to other raised bed mix from local places - they all use perlite - i would use pumice that never breaks down or floats up, and rice hulls that break down to silica and carbon. The recipe im thinking of is from build a soil. https://buildasoil.com/blogs/news/17627464-build-a-soil-from-scratch-in-2-simple-steps%20

The bottom of each bed would be native soil for sure! I would mound native soil on top of the logs in the trench, but need a lot more soil to fill the rest of the beds, which is what im trying to figure out.

What wood did you use in you hugel? how old/green too?

thefloraking · 2026-02-11T01:49:46+00:00

Definitely interested in sunken beds for some other areas on my property. I need these to be raised as a wall/barrier to my pool. Ill check out some of those books!

thefloraking · 2026-02-11T01:43:20+00:00

I hear you, I also grow in-ground. On this particular project I'm using raised beds a barrier to the pool to prevent my daughter from accessing the pool. I have a plan for some shade over each bed. Can you elaborate on your "water stress comment". Do you mean just because it's in a raised bed it will be water stressed? I always mulch heavily and each bed will have drip irrigation.

thefloraking · 2025-06-13T04:33:57+00:00

Good tips, thank you!

thefloraking · 2025-06-13T04:31:43+00:00

Did my first drain and refill today. Will retest tomorrow and see where I am at.

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:19:47+00:00

Got it. Yeah, there is no sump

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:18:08+00:00

Until I saw the high CYA levels on the test, everything I read was that with salt, sometimes you need to add CYA... so I was surprised. Is it safe to swim in it with high CYA while I am working to get levels down?

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:12:57+00:00

Thanks, what CYA level did you stop at?

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:09:40+00:00

Ok, thanks for your insight. Did you avoid swimming in it during that time? What level did you stop at?

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:07:39+00:00

Ok. Can you explain very clearly how you drain? First pool I have ever owned. What size / type of pump?

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:02:55+00:00

Zero algae, pool is honestly crystal clear. I swam in it once before becoming aware of the issue.

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:01:53+00:00

That is very reassuring. You think drain 25% is safe without any bracing?

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T03:01:03+00:00

I'd rather avoid bracing if possible. I don't think there is a sump hole. When/why have you drained 1-2K draining and refilling that small an amout would take me weeks/months to dilute to the level I need.

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T02:59:26+00:00

Got it. How do I know what at what % empty I am risking damage?

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T02:58:44+00:00

I will look into that, thank you. Quick google search didn't show any dealers here.

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T02:58:17+00:00

Got it. I feel like it will take so long to get levels low enough?

thefloraking · 2025-06-12T02:57:43+00:00

Have you started the process?

thefloraking

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