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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Got Compost: Got Compost: A Cubic Yard of Compost = ?

Got Compost: Got Compost: A Cubic Yard of Compost = ?: Got Compost: A Cubic Yard of Compost = ? : You visit your local nursery and ask how much compost it’ll take to amend soil or top dress your ...

Affordable Summer Gardening

We’re often asked questions about gardening and compost use. Thought it might help to share some Q&A’s with you. And hey, if you have any questions you’d like answered, or just want to share your gardening stories, pleas ‘Like’ us on Facebook and post away. We’d love to hear from you!


Q: My kids want to plant a vegetable garden this summer. I’d like to get started on this project but gardens use a lot of water. Is there anything I can do to conserve water, hopefully not see an increase on my water bill and still enjoy fresh, healthy veggies from our own garden?

A: You bet! There are many ways to use water efficiently in your garden and significantly reduce your use. First, you'll want to consider what vegetables you want to grow. Peas and corn need more water, while vine plants and tomatoes require less.
Make sure to group water dependent plants together. This way, the majority of your water is directed to the areas that need it most, while keeping the rest dry. Your next step is to come up with strategies to use water more efficiently.
Drip lines and raised bed gardening are two excellent ways to conserve. Drip lines deliver water close to the base of the plant, which allows for deeper penetration and encourages the development of a strong and more extensive root system. They are easy to install and can reduce your gardening water needs up to 50 percent. Growing plants in raised beds will decrease the amount of weeds in the garden, which will draw water away from your vegetables.
Many cities offer rebates to residents and businesses taking part in water-wise landscape methods. Check out the Smart Landscape Rebate Program available in Santa Barbara County. Program requirements may vary slightly depending on your service area, so please see the specific details related to your area http://www.sbwater.org/landscape.aspx?id=446
Soil amended with compost is a great way to manage soil moisture! Growing plants in garden beds containing soil that’s been enriched with compost is another way to increase efficiency. Soil that contains compost is able to hold significantly more water than the typical California soil. Click to locate Harvest Blend Compost near you.
Harvest Blend Compost builds healthy soil; adds soil organic matter, improves soil structure and increases water holding capacity. Naturally!
For more info on compost visit www.GotCompost.com.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Got Compost: A Cubic Yard of Compost = ?

Got Compost: A Cubic Yard of Compost = ?: You visit your local nursery and ask how much compost it’ll take to amend soil or top dress your lawn. The clerk asks for measurements of...

A Cubic Yard of Compost = ?

You visit your local nursery and ask how much compost it’ll take to amend soil or top dress your lawn. The clerk asks for measurements of your lawn, does a few calculations and voila! You hear you’ll need approximately 1 cubic yard of the stuff. Oh sure, one cubic yard. Sounds good, but now you’re asking yourself if you have room to store 1 cubic yard of compost. How can you know just how much space one cubic yard of compost will use? We’ll give you an easy way to envision the answer to this question shortly, but first -
It could be this ‘unknown’ element of compost buying that intimidates many homeowners; driving them to purchase the higher priced bagged product that had been gathering dust on a shelf for weeks. Don’t let yourself be lured by the apparent ‘easy choice’ when bulk compost is clearly the better option.
Bulk compost is a fresh, nutrient rich product; produced locally with quality organic materials. Because there aren’t any plastic bags to rip open, it is the most environmentally desirable product for lawn and garden. Plus, it costs less! Of course ‘out-of-the-bag’ compost can’t be easily tossed in the trunk of your car like the bagged stuff, but your local nursery or landscape center will usually be happy to help out by delivering the product to home or garden. How great is that!
Oh, yeah, we promised you an easy way to estimate the amount of room a cubic yard of compost will use. Look at your dishwasher. One cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, the same size as the average dishwasher.
If you live on the Central Coast, Harvest Blend Compost is the natural choice for lawn and garden improvements. Check out our dealer map for a location near you.
For more info on the uses and benefits of compost, visit www.GotCompost.com
To speak with a Harvest Blend Compost Field Rep, call (805) 925-2771 and ask for Jim or Chuck
Thanks for choosing Harvest Blend Compost. Naturally!