Yes, we've had a lot of rain lately, and it time to get the ol' pool ready for the summer

I've had a pool at a previous residence and thought that they were a lot of trouble, but this shouldn't be a problem - an ice cream scooper should be about all I'll need.
Got to go check the filter, be back in about 2 hours - any suggestions???

Hey Randy,

It looks like something could be missing. I know you moved, but this looks a lot different than your old place.

What do all your Pond Boss friends need to do, to get that thing filled with fish and water? And, what are you using for a pond?

Don't forget -- I told you that you needed to move to WV!

Ken

Hi Ken, I moved to East AL about 3 weeks ago. I bought a little cabin out in the woods with about 10.3 A. The previous owner filled the pool when someone told him that they would buy the place if he did. He did, and they didn't, but then I came along and bought it. To be honest, I wouldn't have bought it if the pool was operational - been there.
The reason for this post is to ask for suggestions for the pool. I've thought about a little landscaping and just planting a tree, a nice garden, or an aquaponics set-up. The property has a 1/3A pond that has been drained (to fill the pool!!!). I'll start a thread on that tomorrow. The place has real possibilities, and I look forward to the challenge.
Ken, you're very creative and unconventional, what would you do with this?
Also, anyone else with ideas - I'll consider anything.
Thanks, mi amigos...

Wow Randy! This seems like a great opportunity. Aquaponics seems like a real possibility. I think we need to schedule a Pond Boss mini-conference at your place so we can decide what would be best.

Hey -- the rest of the PB community -- what do you think?

Ken

P.S. I just need a little advanced notice. Sunil -- you want to come here, and we'll take my truck, or do I dare ride with you? Cody -- can you get to Sunil's? I've still got Scott's (ESSHUP's) ham in the freezer waiting for an "occasion."

Congrats Randy - what great news. I think you should definitely go aquaponics...and please share your pond plans with us all.

Congrats Randy. When I read the subject, I was thinking you were asking about what patch kit we recommended.

Another vote for aquaponics. Do you know if the pool will hold water, or was the bottom broken so it won't hold water?

Ken, you'd better eat that thing before it gets freeze dried!

If you go aquaponics I hope your really hungry for fish and veggies
With that volume of water you are looking at a serious number of grow beds
Bordering on the size of a commercial operation

How do you keep the mosquitoes down when you do aquaponics?

Dave - that is a real good question. I didn't see any mosquitoes in my small aquaculture experiment, but then we don't have a lot of mosquitoes in this area. I doubt I get as many mosquito bites per year living here, as I get in 30 minutes of fishing back in Minnesota or northern Wisconsin.

But, the 300 gallon water tank had a bunch of bluegill in it, so they may have kept the mosquitoes under control.

The pool won't hold water. I'm going to leave it full of dirt, and either just plant a
tree (any suggestions), or flower garden, or regular garden, although I have a better
spot picked out for that. I like the aquaponics idea too, and if I go that direction,
I'll probably cover the pool (concrete, railroad ties etc) and set up in that spot. I don't
want a big operation, just a new project to fumble around with...

Dave, the fish will take care of them.

If it were me, I'd look into planting a few dwarf fruit trees. If the sides are still in the ground, that will prevent the root system from spreading, and it wouldn't offer a large support base for a tree that gets big. I see windblown trees taht have roots that go out 15' in diameter, but nothing blown over with larger root systems.

Peach, pear, apple trees...great suggestion Scott. Want something smallish and ornamental that close to the home agreed.

I like that too, but what I'm not familiar with "dwarf" (in this context).
Scott, do you have any info on them?

Randy dwarf types are available for many cultivars of fruit trees - just means they grow a little smaller and are easier to grow in smaller spaces. I don't have any experience with them, but have read a lot about them. I bet Scott can provide some first hand experience

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought to myself, "This could be trouble for Randy".

Then I put my computer glasses on and saw that it was, "a little slit in my pond".

I was wondering about drainage, so it must be OK???

Go figure, I was going to suggest PPV mud wrestling

Dwight, I guess my typo could have been worse. I meant silt........

I habe bought fruit trees from both Miller and Stark Brothers. The Stark Brothers Supreme trees fruited a year earlier than the trees that I bought from Miller, and also the non "Supreme" trees that I bought from Stark Brothers.

Typically a dwarf will be 20%-25% the size of a "standard" fruit tree, semi-dwarf will be 40%-75% the size of a "standard" tree. I planted all semi-dwarf trees, with a few standards because they weren't available in semi-dwarf size. Here's some reading material. Pay attention to how far apart you plant the trees. At first you'll say "no way, that's too far apart" but after 5 years you'll say "I'm glad that I didn't plant them any closer together."
http://growingwithstarkbros.com/?p=2692

Another source for apple trees is Century Farm Orchard at http://www.centuryfarmorchards.com/. Many varieties, great trees, and cheaper than stark bros. Also lots of info on the web site on how to plant, support, prune, etc. Most of my trees are from them and I have 18 more coming the end of March.

I'll have to check them out. Thanks

When I saw the title I thought, pool liner with a slit cut in it. So it could have gone in several directions

Thanks for that tree info. Looks like I have a lot of studying to do, but I'm
definitely going to plant some. I hear you on the "plant far apart" - I could maybe
get two in my "pool". I do have a lot of room in the front with plenty of sun so
I'll probably plant a 2-3 each of 3-4 different kinds. Thanks again -here I go again!!!!

If you plant dwarfs, pay close attention to how deep you set them. The "union" where the tree was grafted onto the rootstock must be set above ground level. If it is under the dirt, roots will sprout from this area and you will lose the advantage of the particular rootstock the tree was fashioned from. It's pretty obvious, as it makes a bulge where the trunk and rootstock come together.

Speaking from my personal experiences, I have planted my last dwarf fruit tree. I find them highly susceptible to various diseases and fungi.... more so than standard fruit trees.

I've planted only Semi's and a couple of standards. I've about given up on stone fruit trees. Can't seem to have the success that I do with Apples and Pears.