grass

[jeric2]

I've recently received permission to detect on a very old, very historic and very well kept property. My question has to do with digging plugs. Generally, no matter how careful you are in digging a plug, the grass at the very least shrivels up a bit and turns a little brown after a few weeks before it starts to recover. Is there a secret to keeping that from happening? Does anyone have a tip to keep it green and lush after a plug is dug?? Thanks.

 

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[Shaw]

Green spray paint!

I kid, That is a good question. There are a few areas around here that have nice grass so I will be watching this thread.

 

[funkman]

maybe bring some water and grass seed with you and when you close the hole, sprinkle some seed and water. I know it is more things to carry but might help.

Funkman

 

[DirtDevil]

Those well kept private homes, on very dry days, I use a 7" screwdriver to retrieve my finds. I'll only dig the deeper targets knowing that it will rain that day, or put on a raincoat and detect in the rain. Give it a try, never had a problem with the grass on private property.

 

[jeric2]

I thought about taking some grass seed and water, but what if it's very cold out? that really won't take if it's too cold, will it? What about some of that grass fertilizer or whatever that you can get at Walmart?
I don't like to use a screw driver due to the fact that you increase your chances of scratching whatever it is you find. This is a VERY old place and I don't want to ruin any potentially valuable finds.

 

[jeric2]

by the way, I've detected and dug small plugs on many historic homesites before. This one is just an exceptional piece of property and I want to be able to go back when I get the chance. I don't want them to look out their window and see a small brown spot where I dug and change their minds. The one thing I have going for me is that ALL lawns die in the cold weather, so maybe I'll just go when it's cold out. hahaha

 

[funkman]

paint the bottoms of their windows green

 

[jeric2]

sorry, looking for serious answers

 

[funkman]

i know...just being silly...actually the grass seed and water was supposed to be serious.

HH and good luck

Funkman

 

[jeric2]

I guess for the first trip up there, I will do the grass seed. Wonder if I can put some sort of feed n seed on it to entice it to grow faster? If it grows at all in the cold.

 

[funkman]

maybe even the patch stuff that they sell on tv...or some seed mix has fertilizer already attached to the seed I think.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I wouldn't carry grass seed, unless you can tell by looking at their yard which Variety of grass seed will match their lawn!

I always cut as small of a plug as possible (pinpointing is key!), and I make sure that the plug is Hinged on one side. 


I will NEVER hunt a lawn when it is dry, or will be dry in terms of weather.  Make sure you have had plenty of rain, and will have plenty of rain.  You can even hunt the lawn in light rain. 

If the soil is too wet, the plugs can become unsightly--so it can't be a slop hole when you dig.  Let it dry out a bit, but make sure more rain is on the way. 


You can also hunt yards in the winter months when the grass is more dormant.


Another thing--when I hunt fields, I hunt completely differently than when I hunt yards. When in yards, I'm conscious of how much digging I'm doing. I generally try to cherrypick a bit first (whereas in a field, I dig it all). That way I can make return trips, establish trust between the owner and myself, perhaps get tips on other spots to detect, and in the process don't dig so many holes in their yard that it looks like a twelve-year-old with Acne.


Regards,



Buckleboy

 

[DJ_Quinn]

Make sure you dig your plug deep enough so you don't harm the roots.

 

[sqwaby]

Hinge the plug, and time your hunt before a good rain is due so the plug gets plenty of water. Wait till the spring thaw when the whole lawn looks crappy then your plug won't stand out.

 

[jeric2]

planning on going in a few weeks. I think it will be ok since the grass will be going dormant anyway. And i hope/plan on going back here a few times. over 100 acres on this property

 

[BuckleBoy]

planning on going in a few weeks. I think it will be ok since the grass will be going dormant anyway. And i hope/plan on going back here a few times. over 100 acres on this property

My advice is to start at the sites in the fields, and do the yard last. You don't want to screw yourself out of all the sites if anything happens with the yard!

Just ask ModernMiner (Doug) about his experiences with this! I have had similiar experiences as well.


So now I hunt the fields sites first.



-Buckles

 

[jeric2]

Geez, that's going to be hard to do looking at this site and simply 'seeing' all the targets in the ground. this is going to be a site with tons of targets. 150 to 200 year old trees lining the driveway all the way up. ugh, your advice is fantastic. I will have to see if I can adhere to it though after I'm actually on site with the targets calling my name.

 

[johnnycat]

My homemade coin popper is made from an old, brass, rifle cleaning rod. I just cut a length of rod and inserted into a fat screwdriver handle. Then I rounded off the tip and it works just fine. My rule when digging coins is, if I can't reach them with my probe, they just stay there. I probe for the coin until I touch it and then wallow out the hole enough for a finger to reach in and grab the coin. Of course this is just for areas like you are talking about, (nice lawns). I have used this process for a couple of years and have never found a brown spot upon returning . Yes, in some nice lawns I have walked away muttering to myself about what type of coin it was I couldn't reach.

 

[DirtDevil]

I don't like to use a screw driver due to the fact that you increase your chances of scratching whatever it is you find. This is a VERY old place and I don't want to ruin any potentially valuable finds.

Been using a screwdriver for years, never scratched a coin or other valuble find. Can pop out items 5-6 inches down and then pinch dirt back together. Can't get any easier than that and not ruin a perfectly manicured lawn.

 

[jeric2]

the end of your screwdriver is not sharp, is it? Do you round it off? do you have a pic you could share?