…he soil surface and percolating to the roots. In areas where fresh mulch is applied every year, an impenetrable shell can form, causing all water to run off. The proper thickness depends on the mulch you use. In most cases, 3-4″ is fine. Some mulches, such as cocoa shells or buckwheat hulls, will break down over the winter and can be turned into the soil. Other types of mulch, such as shredded bark, do not break down sufficiently. Before applyi…
There are lots of good reasons to mulch your vegetable garden. Covering the soil with mulch conserves moisture, suppresses weed growth and helps control soil borne diseases. Here are some tips for choosing the best mulch for the job. Pro Weed Mat There are lots of good reasons to mulch your vegetable garden. Covering the soil with mulch conserves moisture, suppresses weed growth and helps control soil borne diseases. Here are some tips to…
…eding though, especially during May and June. However, after many years of landscaping for clients throughout northern Vermont, I’ve come to see the benefits of mulch. Yes, it does help prevent weeds, but it’s not 100 percent effective. You still have to watch for weeds. To me, the main benefit of mulch—as long as it’s not spread too thick—is to help the soil retain moisture during dry periods. This is especially clear when you…
lace for compost. With austerity in mind, and wanting to repurpose used materials rather than buy new, I pitched the idea of a new bin made out of wooden pallets. The photo above shows the result. This new bin will hold about 35 cubic feet, so it will easily accommodate everything I can put into it from now until the snow flies. At that point, I’ll leave it sit for the winter and put a smaller enclosed bin, such as our Deluxe Pyramid Composter, c…
A letter to the editor warns dog owners to cover their compost piles so their pets can’t eat what’s inside. These are the four paws that “protect” my garden. I’m in the office today, but I’ll bet my dog is in the vegetable garden right now. And I doubt she’s staying on the paths. Unlike the family dogs that have patrolled my garden in the past, this one doesn’t like paths. She’d also rather…
high; weighs 12 lbs. Made of post-consumer recyled plastic. Comes with instructional DVD. Includes compost thermometer, rake, scraper and bedding material (coir and shredded newspaper). Red Wiggler Worms are sold separately. 3 Reasons to Try Worm Composting Composting kitchen scraps in a worm bin is easy and rewarding. Even if you already have an outdoor compost bin, having a worm bin makes good sense. Here’s why: Worms Work FAST: Worms…
…of year-round pick-ups. For a one-time start-up fee, Revolution Compost provides a kitchen bin, compostable bags and a sealed outdoor bin for pick-ups. As a bonus, the company will deliver a bag of Intervale Compost for every 30 gallons of food waste they take away. One Revolution has been delivering food shares from Community Supported Agriculture farms (CSAs) to households in Burlington by bicycle. Picking up compostable waste the same way exte…
…at the same time. Another great use for the bags: dog poo. Responsible dog owners are diligent about picking up after their pets, but plastic bags are usually the tool of choice. Biobags are a better option, because they are 100% biodegradable. When I start making dinner, I put a Biobag on the counter, rolling the edges a bit to make it stay open. You can even use it to line a mixing bowl. All the trimmings go into the bag. After the prep is don…
…new patio at the back of my house. I had imagined letting the meadow grass grow right up to the wall, but once the wall was finished, I didn’t want to hide an inch of it. The same week the wall was completed, I removed about 30 square feet of creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) that had been covering my rock garden like a lavender lava flow. I was able to lift big, 2-square-foot square sections intact, and stacked them on the grass nearby. Because…
…ato Towers in them and all survived Hurricane Irene!” PJ Benoit, customer service, gardens intensively in her small urban yard. She’s been growing potatoes in eight Potato Grow Bags for several years. “I use 100 percent of my own compost and add our organic All-Purpose Fertilizer. I have wonderful results and haven’t had to buy a potato since I began using this system.” The garlic on the left spent the winter in its…