lawns & sullies

[Wirewehear]

I think they like dirt, so make them a dusty spot and a muddy spot where they can get at the dirt. They look happy out there on the green.

Considering they use to live in a quite small dirt/cement area and not a blade of grass on the entire property, I'd like to think they are happy now.
I have 2 opposite corners that are just right for a "dusty" spot and "muddy" spot. Its pretty warm out here right now so they've opted to hang out in the wet shady corner most days.

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You mam/sir are doing it right! What state is that?
Thats like a little tortoise paradise!

Thank you ... I'm in Palm Springs, Ca. I have a couple areas planned to fix up for them but its been too hot to do much for them. Our summer finally hit and its been around 115 this week. (and its been a mild summer) I put them in the bathroom a couple days ago because I was worried about the heat ..... They 'trashed' it ... it was an absolute mess. Lol ... I wont do that again. It took me 2 hrs to scrub it down. Hubby is home for a few weeks so I have him keeping a eye on them, wetting them down every couple hrs and keeping the shade corner wetter than usual. I'll be setting up a mister system for one of their areas.

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They may dig in a spot of thier lking tho.. and they do like a mud wallow, so if you provide that and plenty of hiding places, they shouldnt dig where you dont want them to.

Moe started to dig up in the rocky area along the back fence line. I filled it with rock and made a hide up there for him. He hasnt layed up there since but Kona seems to like it. I've made little hide shelters in spots where I often find him but he'll move away. He seems to like to be up against the fence under the shade of the Junipers and Cyprus' but not really closed in. I'm going to plant some shrubs along that side so he can hide behind them but still be in the open air. Hope he is smart enough to go "inside" his winter shed ... once I get it up.
There is a wealth of knowledge here and I appreciate every bit of advice and comment given. All my dogs and torts are better for it.

 

[kfb]

My goodness, I have yard envy big time!

 

[DeanS]

My email address is [email protected]...I think I'd better rethink that one...gorgeous yard...jsut what every tortoise deserves

 

[Annieski]

Bob is 80 pounds and I just don't know how big my yard is, not very and he is not even close to eating it to bare dirt.

Yeah, now tell her where you live,
Its different when they are outside year round and its 80 in January and you live in the desert.

Well that was a short-lived "I feel much better" moment.
Tom, did you see my tort shed thead? I had some questions on there and since you live in the desert as well, maybe you can advise? Or should I move it to the "enclosure" forum?

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RV enjoying a soak in the sprinkler in the area she crops close to the ground...

I plan to put out mixed seed a little later in the fall, and hope the birds leave it alone so it can grow and provide a different food source for her. In winter my bermuda grass dies off, and I really want the yard to be a year round graze for RV - she doesn't eat hay and I really need an alternate winter food source.

Whoa ... RV is a really pretty girl. Good job.
I'm going to plant a lb of tort grazing mix too. Can the seed be covered with seed starter soil to keep the birds from noticing it? Thats what I planned to do.
I have a blend of bermuda and rye. I reseed the winter rye every Oct. and bermuda in March. (I think I have fescue under the shade trees) The mixture keeps the lawn green for the different seasons. The icky times are right when the bermuda dies back and the rye comes back..... and vise versa.

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A long time ago[before the seed- infused "blankets" and lawn STARTER kits were available] we used "HAY" to cover new seeding from being discovered by the birds. It was just a light covering and since it was "biodegradable", it solved the problem--- also, an additional "food source" if the guys get bored with all that beautiful,lush lawn. JMT