• February is Time to Plant Bulbs, Bare Root Trees in So. Cal. - Friday, January 29, 2010 at 1:48 PM
  • Whether February brings buckets of rain or drought conditions to Southern California, there is much to plant now for beautiful spring and summer gardens, says experts at Agromin, an Oxnard-based manufacturer of earth-friendly soil products made from recycled green material from more than 50 Southern California communities.

    Summer Bulbs: Time to pull out summer bulbs from the refrigerator and plant them. These bulbs include tulips, crocus, gladiolus, calla lily, caladium, amaryllis, daffodils and delphiniums. Stagger your gladiolus planting so you will get new blooms throughout summer. Some bulbs can be purchased and planted without the chilling process and should be in stock at nurseries. They include Dutch iris, lily, gladiolus and begonia. Bulbs may start to grow early if the winter is mild. Don't worry--growing bulbs can withstand cold and even freezing temperatures.

    Last Chance to Plant Bare Root Trees: February is typically your last opportunity to purchase and plant bare root trees, including roses. For existing rose bushes, prune to encourage fuller springtime growth. Using a sharp tool, begin at the base of the bush and cut limbs at 45-degree angles, one-fourth inch above a bud. Make sure the cuts are clean, not jagged. Strive to open the center of the plant to let in light and air circulation. Remove dead branches and straggly branches.

    Deciduous Trees: Deciduous trees require cold temperatures during winter to produce flowers and fruit in spring and summer. These trees include hardwood such as poplars, birches, maples and oaks, and fruit trees including apricots, peaches, plums, apples, pears and cherries. If rain is light during February, make sure the trees are well watered. Water is needed now so they can begin to produce leaves and blossoms March.

    Pop in Color: Fill in garden bare spots with spring color plants already in bloom in four-inch or quart pots. Pansies will last until summer. Violas and primrose, snapdragons, calendulas and primroses provide good winter and spring blooms.

    Plant Tomatoes: In warmer inland areas plant tomatoes at the end of February. You can expect to see fruit by Memorial Day.

    Plant an Herb Garden: Mild winters enable Southern California gardeners to begin planting herbs in February. Plant chive, cilantro, dill, fennel, mint and parsley even if more rain is in the forecast.

    Upgrade Your Gardening Equipment: Gardening equipment upkeep is sometimes neglected during the prime growing months. Winter is a good time to clean and sharpen shears and replace belts and oil in trimmers and lawn mowers so your tools are ready to go for spring.

    For more gardening tips, go to www.agromin.com.

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  • New: Buy Agromin soil products in bulk at Green Thumb in Ventura - Friday, January 8, 2010 at 3:11 PM

  • Need soil amendments, mulch or bark to enhance your landscape? Green Thumb in Ventura now offers Agromin mulch, garden humus, bark and soil amendments in bulk. Stop by Green Thumb (1899 South Victoria Ave.) to order and have the soil products delivered directly to your home. For smaller projects, Agromin products are available at Green Thumb in bags.

    Agromin soil products are made from recycled local green materials so you'll not only enjoy great-growing trees, flowers and vegetables, but you'll be doing your part to help the environment!

    Green Thumb
    1899 South Victoria Avenue
    Ventura, CA 93003-6505
    (805) 642-8517
    Open daily: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

    Green Thumb has been a fixture in Ventura County for over 30 years. Ventura County Star readers voted it as the best place to shop for garden needs.

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  • Las Colinas Middle School Students Grow Their Garden & Spruce Up Their Campus - Monday, December 7, 2009 at 5:46 PM

  • The Las Colinas Middle School garden, maintained by student's from Laura Whittington's special education class, is producing a bounty of fall vegetables. They include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, onions, sugar peas, radishes and four types of lettuce. The class will be harvesting most of the salad vegetables and making salads, not only for the classroom but also for the staff at the Camarillo school. Soil used in the garden is made from locally collected recycled green material processed at Agromin.

    Two months of hard work has also created a beautifully landscaped front area of the school. Agromin donated the wood bark that helped complete the project. B&B Do-It Center and the Muklevicz family also donated products for the project. Spearheading the planting and landscaping is Dianne Polen, the campus beautification and Life Lab chairperson. Her dedication is instrumental creating a wonderful learning environment for the students.

    These projects teach kids about nutrition and eating healthy, as well as the environmental benefits of using soil from recycled green materials. It's a sustainability lesson that we hope will stay with the students for a lifetime.

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  • Lincoln Elementary School Receives 2009 Green School Award - Friday, December 4, 2009 at 12:57 PM

  • Ventura Mayor Christy Weir and Agromin CEO Bill Camarillo presented Lincoln Elementary School in Ventura with the 2009 Green School Award for achievement in environmental excellence. Agromin is the award's official sponsor.

    The November 16 presentation at Ventura City Hall Council Chambers included Agromin's donation of a check to the school for $500. The school was recognized for its recycling collection system that helps fund the school's art program and an impressive gardening program.

    Green School Awards was created three years ago by the City of Ventura to encourage schools to become more environmentally aware. Agromin partners with Ventura to recycle its green waste into soil products available to residents, landscapers and farmers. It was a natural fit for the city and Agromin to join forces. Kids "get" the importance of recycling--hopefully it will be a life-long habit!

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  • How to Winterize Your Lawn - Monday, November 23, 2009 at 10:26 AM
  • A healthy lawn needs care and attention all year long. Winterizing your lawn is especially important so the lawn can thrive the following year. This is particularly true in areas where snow is likely to cover the grass for long periods. If you live in an area where there is little or no frost, these tips work just as well and will help keep your grass healthy through winter. Many people assume lawns die during winter; actually, they are just "napping" through the cold. If your lawn isn't thriving to begin with, winterizing is that much more important for its health.

    Be careful not to winterize your lawn too early. Doing this can rob the lawn of its ability to collect and digest the last of the nutrients available before the ground freezes.

    1) Rake leaves, grass clippings or other debris from the lawn. This allows winter sunlight and nutrients into the soil. Raking will result in better aeration, resulting in greener grass when spring arrives. Raking also keeps disease and mold at bay.

    2) Remove weeds. Weeds allowed to produce seeds in fall and winter are guaranteed to flourish and wreak havoc in spring. Also remove thatch, (living matter, mostly roots and dead grass between the green grass blades and soil) if it is 1/2 inch or thicker. Heavy thatch can harbor pests and block out nutrients, water and oxygen from roots, preventing lawn growth.

    3) Lay down compost over the lawn that is specifically formulated for winterizing. This compost, fortified with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, will penetrate into the roots and will mean a quick start for spring growth.

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  • Time to Get Creative in Your Vegetable Garden - Friday, November 20, 2009 at 2:19 PM
  • Think of planting vegetables and most of us envision traditional summer fare: squash, beans, corn, peppers, tomatoes and melons. It's fall and now is the time to think outside the box and become adventuresome in your garden. In fact, in areas of little or no frost, fall represents a completely new planting season for gardeners. Well-known vegetables do best when planted and cultivated in fall: beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas and spinach. All will do well through the fall and winter months when planted from seed or from transplants. But how about the not-so-well-known vegetables? If you're itching to plant something different, fall is the ideal time to try your hand. By planting the vegetables below, you'll not only grow something new, you'll also get to try all the great recipes that call for these vegetables.

    Collards - a southern favorite, the leaves are often added to a pot containing salt pork or ham hocks.

    Endive - leaves can be used in salads, sautéed or served in a hot dish

    Kale - a member of the cabbage family, kale is often used in soups and stews.

    Parsnip - long and slender like a carrot, they can be mashed like potatoes or added to soups and stews.

    Rutabaga - like a turnip, they are mashed, or are boiled or eaten in stews or casseroles--and even taste delicious in pie.

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