A flagstone path is a wonderful addition to almost any outdoor space. It looks terrific connecting a door to a driveway, as a decorative element in any garden space. And while it does take hard work to lay out the path, it is a project that is both simple to build and can be built using a few tools. Here’s how. First, call the utilities company to mark the locations of underground wires—there is digging required. Lay out the area where you plan to place the walkway. Use a landscape string and stakes to determine the course—both width and length—(You could also lay out a garden hose to mark the ..read more

When the uninitiated see a pile of compost they may see just a pile of regular dirt; but there’s more to compost than that. Quality compost is a dark color, usually richly colored, and it should have a sweet, earthy smell. If you were to make your own compost, at home, then you would find the compost takes approximately three-to-six months to mature. And you can add the compost at any time of year to achieve a healthier and happier garden. Benefits of Compost Compost builds quality soil structure. When compost is added to soil it enables the soil to retain water and air; it can protect the pla ..read more

Compost is an extremely popular and useful soil amendment that most gardeners can’t go without. Perfect for adding nutrients and breaking up heavy soil, it’s often referred to as black gold. So if it’s so good for your garden, why use soil at all? What’s to stop you from growing plants in pure compost? Keep reading to learn more about the wisdom of vegetable growing in compost without soil. Can plants grow in compost only? Not nearly as well as you’d think. Compost is an irreplaceable soil amendment, but that’s just what it is – an amendment. Some of the essentials in compost are only good in ..read more

Beginning seeds indoors is a fun way to get the garden going early; imagine being able to extend the harvest of springtime plants; imagine being able to put out the tomatoes and cucumbers that have grown to a full foot-high at the annual Memorial Day planting session. All that work, usually, begins indoors. The indoor seed-starting-setup doesn’t need to be overly complicated; a baker’s rack in a hallway, or a windowsill in the kitchen, will work for a location. The most important aspect of the setup is the grow lamp. Here’s a few of the options to think about when you choose lighting. The inte ..read more

There are numerous winter chores that can help to expedite the spring planting season. Too often the frosts of fall lay everything flat, and folks wait for spring before they clean the beds, tools, structures, etc. But the fall and winter are the perfect time to prep for spring’s growing season. In fact, the cleaner everything is when spring arrives, the better the chances that pests and disease won’t have too firm a foothold in your growing efforts. If you have a structure such as a greenhouse or sunroom then it’s a good idea to clean and disinfect the windows, both inside and out. Cleaning t ..read more

A great garden typically requires a thoughtful preparation. There is an adage that says that the best garden is the one you will plant next year. One of the reasons for the adage is that preparation and experience are key components to successful gardening; gardeners have to control some of the variables in their garden in order to have great success. Consider the countless possibilities that mother nature can throw at the gardener throughout the growing season. The gardener who has the garden bed cleaned and perfectly-fertilized, the soils in perfect balance for the plants to grow and thrive ..read more

When planting season arrives, it’s always good advice to make a thorough plan and stick to it. If the plan is executed well, then all or most of the problems that could potentially derail the planting will be negated. But for those who rely on organic methods of pest control, there are methods, both commercial and non-commercial, that can help both to keep the pests at bay and to eliminate them when they do arrive. Here are a few tips to keep those pests at bay this growing season. There’s a motto that if you see a bug in the garden, and it’s anything other than a beneficial insect such as an ..read more

Besides helping your landscape stay beautiful, mulch is a great insulator for your plants, helps retain moisture around their root system, and can also prevent loss of water from the soil evaporation. Mulch also suppresses weed growth and keeps your soil cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It also reduces erosion and adds nutrients to your soil as it decomposes. Any way you slice it, mulch has many benefits besides keeping your outdoor living space looking pristine. Contact Rocky Mountain Compost for all of your mulch needs! The post What is Mulch Great For? appeared first on Rocky Moun ..read more

Here are some general tips for mulch installation that may benefit anyone, regardless of what type of mulch you’re using. Tip 1: Before mulching, your top priority is to clear the area you’re going to mulch of any weeds or grass. This is imperative – if you skip this step, it’s likely that the mulch will not be as effective at preventing undesirable weed and grass growth in the planting areas. This can be done either by hand or with herbicide. If you plan to use herbicide, please check to make sure the brand used will not harm any other plants nearby. Tip 2: Another good tip for mulch insta ..read more

Using mulch in your garden is one of the very best ways to ensure success, especially if you’re growing vegetables. Mulch is inexpensive to use because most mulches are composed of organic materials that you can easily gather yourself, or which don’t cost much to purchase. Wherever you happen to live, city or suburb, north or south, mulch can make an enormous difference in both the quality and yield from any plants grown in your garden. Here are some of the advantages provided by mulch in gardening. Benefits of using mulch in your garden The single greatest benefit of using mulch in your garde ..read more