Dr. K’s Compost and Mulch Tips
Check in here for seasonal and general recommendations on how to better manage your soil and landscape with our compost, mulch, and specialty soils. Healthy soil is the key to a beautiful, thriving landscape and a successful crop harvest. Our goal is to help you in your quest to attain that.
Anytime is the perfect time to mulch!
No matter what time of year it is, adding mulch to your garden is a good thing! During warmer months, insulate plant roots from the heat and help retain valuable water at the same time. During cooler months, use mulch to insulate plant roots from cold weather and to help manage erosion during winter storms. We have many different types of mulch to choose from for different applications and aesthetics. No matter which one you choose, mulch will give your landscape a clean and polished look while providing many awesome benefits for your plants and soil. Not sure what you need for your garden? Ask us!
“Mulch: A protective covering spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, and enrich the soil.“
— Merriam-Webster
Fire-proofing Your Property with Composted Mulch
Dr. K was recently featured in a Ramona Sentinel article for providing guidance and tips to the Ramona Garden Club on choosing the best garden materials for fire protection at their August 8th meeting. During his presentation, he emphasized that selecting the least combustible landscape materials is the key to protecting your landscape from fire threats. Our composted mulch is a great choice for this application. For more information and tips on fire-proofing your landscape with our composted mulch, check out Dr. K’s blog post. He also suggests that you read the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s, “The Combustibility of Landscape Mulches Publication”. Check out the video below compliments of Good Morning America, “How plants on your property could save your house from a fire”.
“Compost is the product manufactured through the controlled aerobic, biological decomposition of biodegradable materials. The product has undergone mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures, which significantly reduces the viability of pathogens and weed seeds (in accordance with EPA 40 CFR 503 standards) and stabilizes the carbon such that it is beneficial to plant growth. Compost is typically used as a soil amendment, but may also contribute plant nutrients. (AAPFCO definition, official 2018) Finished compost is typically screened to reduce its particle size, to improve soil incorporation.”
Compost Blanket Solutions to Combat Problem Areas During Rainy Season
Check out Dr. K’s Tips to help you with problem areas during the rainy season in his Compost Blanket Workshop video and the US EPA’s Compost Blanket Publication!
Get compost and mulch in place and reduce the impact of rain on your property!
Use California Native Mulch® to create a compost blanket!
Did you know that you can use the California Native Mulch® for more than just mulching your orchard or landscape? It is also the perfect material for creating an extremely effective erosion control best management practice.
You can create a Compost Erosion Control Blanket (CECB) for use on slopes/hillsides where the blend of this coarse and fine compost is ideal for holding soil in place when heavy rainfall and run-off can become a major problem. It is also great for supporting vegetative growth. A layer of compost mulch (i.e. CECB 1-2” in depth on sloped areas) when combined with a grass seed, is particularly effective at anchoring soil in place, mimicking Nature in how to best conserve valuable topsoil through intimate contact with the underlying native soil. For complete instructions and tips, open the pdfs below from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Let us know if you have any questions.
Guidelines for using Our Manure-based Valley’s Best Compost®
Get amazing results when you follow Dr. K’s guidelines for using our Valley’s Best Compost® for:
- Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
- Turf Establishment & Top-dressing
- Vegetable and Flower Beds
Click on link or download the pdf below to see Dr. K’s guidelines.
San Pasqual Valley Soils’ Guidelines for Using Our Manure-based Valley’s Best Compost pdf
Dr. K Compost and Mulch Educational Videos
Click on the video title to watch Dr. K’s presentation.
San Diego County Farm Bureau – 2 part Webinar Series
A Plant Pathologist Looks at the Health of Peri-Urban Agriculture in San Diego County; What it is and why it is important – And what it will take to sustain its future:
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