Dr. K’s Compost and Mulch Tips
Check in here for seasonal and general compost and mulch tips to better manage your soil and landscape using our compost, mulch, and specialty soil products. 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.
Compost is the Solution!
Improve the local environment and economy while meeting California regulatory mandates using our locally produced premium composts
Communities in California face environmental and economic challenges that can actually be remedied using compost. You read that correctly… compost is the solution to many of our challenges! Some areas of concern to everyone are water resource management objectives, fire damaged lands, climate change, waste reduction, and environmental justice. It is all a little overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
California has implemented regulations to address mitigating these issues while helping our economy grow at the same time. The Association of Compost Producers (ACP) has compiled a ‘Compost is the Solution!’ List of Resources to make it easy for Californians to learn about these issues and become involved in improving our soils, waterways, air quality, and the local economy while reducing waste.
And you can be a part of that solution by learning what steps you can take to make our world a better place using compost. Community leaders and organizations have created easy-to-follow guidelines on how to use locally sourced compost to improve our watersheds, fire damaged lands, air quality, climate, and solid waste systems. The Association of Compost Producers provides website links to all of these leader organizations in their ‘Compost is the Solution!’ List of Resources for you.
Now is the time to get involved. Together, we can create a healthier San Diego with a stronger economy. Click on the link below and see how easy it is to do your part.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a document on the many uses and benefits of compost. Read the EPA’s “Environmental Value of Applying Compost: Improving Soil Health for Stormwater Management, Contaminated Site Remediation, Ecosystem Restoration, Landscaping and Agriculture” document to see why compost really is THE SOLUTION!
Compost enriched soil helps prevent plant disease!
Soil enriched with compost not only improves soil health and soil structure, it will also help prevent plant disease. Compost feeds the microbes in the soil which in turn produce natural compounds that can suppress and prevent plant disease. Studies have shown that compost enriched soil helps you grow healthier plants that are less susceptible to disease like wilt and root rot.
The University of Vermont publication, “Compost use for plant disease suppression“, from their Composting Handbook provides detailed information on this subject. It also include lists of the pathogens suppressed and the plants affected.
A BioCycle article by Deborah A. Neher, “Compost And Plant Disease Suppression“, provides more information on microbes, microbial ecology, and soil health.
So if you are looking to grow healthier plants, make sure to amend your soil with compost! We have three premium composts to choose from! Ask us which one is the best option for your garden.
Soil Health vs Quality Soil
Do you know what the difference is between soil health and soil quality? Soil quality refers to the physical properties of the soil, like its density and color, whereas soil health refers to its ability to function as a living thing or ecosystem. Soil ecosystems are complex and include biological, chemical, and physical properties. In short, your soil is alive and needs to be fed and nurtured in order to function and grow healthy plants!
Dr. K put together a presentation to help us learn what it all means and why we should care. Click on the link to watch Dr. K’s presentation, “Soil Quality vs. Soil Health: A Paradigm Shift & Why We Should Care“, and then start feeding your soil.
Learn more about creating healthy, living soil through the following articles prepared by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Feel free to reach out to Dr. K with questions:
Soil Bulk Density Moisture Aeration
Unlock the Secrets in the Soil: Principles for High Functioning Soil
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.”
San Diego County Recommends Using Compost and Mulch for cleaner Waterways
San Diego County is recommending that residents use compost and mulch to promote healthier plants and cleaner waterways in their latest bulletin. Compost and mulch use will help retain water, restore soil health, reduce chemical use, and reduce waste going to the landfill. Read SD County’s Department of Public Works Watershed Protection Program’s, ‘Composting and Mulching for Cleaner Waterways‘, for tips and recommendations including information on composting at home.
Recycling food and green waste for home garden use will reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill… which is great! We encourage everyone to reduce, re-use, and recycle. If you don’t have the space or time to compost and you need a professional grade product, we have a variety of composted mulch and compost products to choose from.
And we can deliver it in bulk if you need large quantities!
When you purchase compost and mulch in bulk from SPV Soils, you are getting a premium quality product for less money than you would pay for the same quantity in bags elsewhere. And we will deliver it to your jobsite, business, farm, vineyard, orchard, ranch, or home. We can also deliver larger quantities for landscaping and special projects.
Why pay more for less when you can purchase a superior grade product from SPV Soils and have it delivered… saving you time, labor, and money!
Thank you to San Diego County’s Department of Public Works for encouraging all of us to live sustainably!
Compost Blanket Solutions for Rainy Season Problem Areas
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.
Dr. K Compost and Mulch Videos
Click on the video title to watch Dr. K’s presentation.
Tools & Tips for Creating Green Infrastructure Using Compost – SEP 2024 | SPV Soils | Storm Water Awareness Week (SWAW) – Forge
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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