• November Gardening Tips for Southern California - Monday, November 3, 2008 at 9:45 AM
  • Winter gardens have a beauty all their own and November is the time to plant hearty cool season flowers, trees and vegetables, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo-based manufacturer of premium soil products.

    Certain Flowers Thrive in Cool Weather: Plant fall annuals such as pansies, violas, primrose and calendula so they will be in full fall and winter bloom. Perennials including nemesia, godetia and schizanthus are also good choices for a richly varied fall and winter flower garden.

    Keep Lawns Healthy: Rake falling leaves from lawns as leaves could impede lawn growth. If a lawn is looking "tired," sow in annual rye seeds to cover brown spots and to introduce new growth. After seeding, scatter a light covering of soil amendment and water thoroughly.

    Plant Trees Now: Fall is the ideal time to plant trees. Our fall climate, with cool nights, mild days and moderate rainfall, gives trees a strong beginning that will serve them well when growing season begins in spring. Just about every tree type can benefit when planted in fall. The key to success is to select a planting location that is best suited for the tree type. Take into account the tree's rate of growth, root configuration, leaf type (evergreen or deciduous), tree shape and ultimate height at maturity. Make sure the site you select has enough sun. Other issues: is the selected location on a slope where watering may be difficult? Is it near a walkway or patio where in a few years roots may cause a problem? Will the tree at maturity be too big for the site? Better to answer these questions now or you may find yourself trying to extract a tree and its roots when it outgrows its location.

    Winter Vegetable Garden: You can enjoy fresh vegetables even during winter months by planting cool-season vegetables including beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, turnips and rutabaga. Plant fall herbs including oregano, garlic, rosemary and thyme.

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

    About Agromin:

    Agromin manufactures premium soil products for the agriculture and horticulture trades and for consumer use. For more than 30 years, Agromin has provided quality soil amendments and products to some of California's largest vegetable, citrus, avocado and strawberry growers. Agromin is also the green waste recycler for 19 cities in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Each month, Agromin receives and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions.

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  • Fall Planting Keeps Landscapes Looking Fresh & Vibrant - Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 8:00 PM
  • Planting cool season flowers and lawns in October will keep backyard landscapes looking fresh with vibrant colors throughout fall and winter, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo-based manufacturer of premium soil products.

    Cool Weather Flowers: About this time of the year, many summer flowers have lost their luster and gardens need an infusion of hardy new growth that thrive during the upcoming cooler months. Flowers that do particularly well in fall include sweet peas, pansies, violas, primrose, calendula, chrysanthemums, cineraria, dianthus, delphiniums, Iceland poppies, nemesia, snapdragon and wild flowers. Wildflowers that thrive in Southern California are California poppies, larkspur, linaeria and gypsophila.

    Spring Bulbs: Plant daffodils, hyacinth, tulips and crocus bulbs. Planting now should result in resilient, bright flowers in spring. Make sure your soil's clay content isn't too high. Till soil conditioner into the top 12 inches of soil. This should help break up the clay and make the soil more conducive for planting.

    Lawns: Lawns are still growing vigorously in October. Mow weekly. Now is the time to replant or patch with cool season grasses such as fescue, ryegrass and bluegrass. If planting from seed, use a topper mix to help keep seeds moist and to stimulate growth.

    Fall Gardens: Gardens can thrive year-round. Pull out summer vegetables that have stopped producing. Plant such herbs as oregano, cilantro, dill, fennel and thyme. Garlic, peas, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce and rutabaga do well when planted in fall. Apply a two-inch layer of organic mulch over plantings to help conserve moisture and encourage growth.

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

    About Agromin:

    Agromin manufactures premium soil products for the agriculture and horticulture trades and for consumer use. For more than 30 years, Agromin has provided quality soil amendments and products to some of California's largest vegetable, citrus, avocado and strawberry growers. Agromin is also the green waste recycler for 19 cities in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Each month, Agromin receives and processes hundreds of thousands of tons of urban wood and green waste. Agromin then uses a safe, organic and scientific system to formulate its soil products from the processed recycled green waste. The result is more vigorous and healthier plants and gardens, and on the conservation side, more room in landfills and less greenhouse gas emissions.

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  • September Gardening Tips for Southern California - Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 1:28 PM
  • September can be a question mark when making landscape and gardening plans. In Southern California, summer can easily extend into September or the month can bring cooler temperatures. Still, there is much to do and plant in the garden during early fall, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo-based manufacturer of premium soil products.

    Lawn Care: Lawns are still growing in September and October. Mow weekly. For cool season grass such as Kentucky bluegrass and fescues, now is the time to fertilize as they grow rapidly in fall. Also, consider aerification (coring) with an aerator that can be rented at equipment rental shops. Coring allows for better water and nutrition penetration.

    Plant Trees: The best time to plant trees is when they are dormant--in fall or early spring. To reduce transplant shock, dig a hole for planting at least three times the size of the plant's root ball is wide, but only as deep as its roots. Don't plant the tree too low in the ground to allow for some settling. Firmly pack the soil around the tree to eliminate air pockets. Cover the soil with mulch to keep in moisture and help moderate extreme soil temperatures. The mulch should be one to two inches away from the tree trunk.

    Flowers for Fall: Warm Septembers allow gardeners to plant flowers for fall blooms. These include chrysanthemums, sweet peas, snap dragons and asters. Also, plant bulbs such as autumn daffodils and crocuses

    Add to Your Vegetable Garden: Some vegetables can still be planted in fall for a winter or early spring harvest. These vegetables include peas, fava beans, kale, leeks beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, radish, carrots, celery and winter zucchini.

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

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  • August Gardening Tips For Southern California - Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 5:10 PM
  • Many gardeners believe that if you don't plant flowers and vegetables by June or July, planting season is over. That's not the case in Southern California, say experts at Agromin, a Camarillo, Calif.-based manufacturer of premium soil products. Many summer flowers and vegetables can still be planted in August.

    Plant Summer Annuals: Plant summer annuals including cosmos, zinnias and marigolds from transplants for quick color. Sow seeds for cool-season annuals including calendula, pansies and snapdragon.

    Plant Herbs and Warm Season Vegetables: An assortment of herbs can be planted in August and still provide a hearty harvest. Plant basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme and mint from transplants. The plants with thrive through fall. Beans, beets, carrots, celery, corn, cucumber, spinach and squash can all be planted now, as well as cool season crops such as broccoli and cabbage.

    Harvest Your Vegetables: Your summer vegetables are ripening almost daily. Zucchini, squash and cucumber seem to grow overnight. Pick ripened vegetables frequently, whether you use them or not. This will encourage the plants to continue to produce for the rest of summer and into fall.

    Mow Weekly: Lawns grow quickly during the summer months. Grass blades should be at least an inch long to protect the soil from heat, help protect against water evaporation and to stimulate deeper root growth.

    Houseplant Maintenance: Clear out dead foliage and water regularly, especially if plants are in direct sunlight. During summer growing months, plants may outgrow their containers. If a plant begins looking weak or its growth slows, it may need repotting. Gently remove the plant from the pot and examine the root system. If all you see is a mass of roots without soil, the plant needs repotting to a larger pot.

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

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