• Above Average April Rainfall Means Super Garden Growth in May - Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 9:15 AM
  • Above average rainfall in April means Southern California plants and trees have absorbed plenty of nutrients in their roots to jump start garden growth in May.

    Plant Flowers: Now is the time to plant warm-season annuals including begonias, chrysanthemums, geraniums, marigolds, petunias and verbena. Their beautiful flowers will bloom well into summer. For more permanent additions to your garden, plant perennials such as daisies, iris, goldenrod, fuchsia, delphiniums and lavender.

    Plant Vegetable Seeds: Plant seeds from corn, sweet potatoes, broccoli, green beans, radishes, sunflowers, melons, squash, cucumbers and okra. Since the weather is warming, you can plant the seeds directly in the ground without using starter plants indoors.

    Plant Herbs: One of the greatest "returns on investment" in the garden is herbs. Herbs are expensive at the store and sometimes go bad before they can be eaten. Planting herbs such as basil, chives, cilantro, dill, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage tarragon and thyme will assure a bountiful supply of just-picked herbs for cooking. Plus, the cost of planting and caring for herb plants is only a fraction of the cost of purchasing herbs continually at the store.

    Naturally Reduce Weeds: Plenty of chemical weed killers are available to consumers, but if you want to avoid spraying potentially harmful substances around your vegetables and flowers, apply a two-inch layer of mulch (i.e., wood bark) around your garden. The mulch acts as a natural barrier to weed growth and keeps in water and nutrients.

    Thin Fruit Trees: By now, fruit trees are producing blossoms and the first signs of fruit. More fruit is produced than most trees can fully grow to maturity. Weaker blossoms and fruit will fall on their own in May. Thin the remaining smaller fruit from the branches. As a result, stronger fruit will grow larger and smaller fruit won't weigh down tree branches.


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

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  • Gardening Expert Nick Federoff Recommends Agromin Products to Save Water - Thursday, October 2, 2008 at 9:28 AM

  • Gardening expert and radio personality Nick Federoff spoke at the 40th Annual Apartment Association of Southern California trade show on September 25 in Long Beach. The topic was "How to Make $$$ the Water Wise Way." Nick quoted drought concerns by former Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, cited California Gov. Schwarzenegger's 20 percent water reduction plan, and explained Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's "Drought Buster" rules and
    regulations

    Nick then talked about the products he recommends to conserve water. He highlighted Agromin's bark and mulches. These products help retain water, inhibit weed growth and prevent soil erosion. With Agromin's bark and mulches, gardeners can use less water as their plants, vegetables and flowers can go longer between scheduled waterings.

    Agromin is a proud sponsor of Sustainable Environmental Education (SEE,     www.SeeUsOnline.org) created by Nick. SEE producers a traveling Water Wise landscape display seen at home and remodeling shows throughout Southern California including the 32nd Annual Home Remodeling & Decorating Show at the L.A. Convention Center (October 10 - 12) and at the Orange County Fairgrounds Home Show (October 24-26). Stop by to learn how you can conserve water while maintaining a beautiful lawn and garden.

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  • Gardens Love Organic Mulch - Friday, July 18, 2008 at 10:12 AM

  • Organic mulch offers tremendous advantages when placed around your garden flowers and vegetables. A 2" layer of mulch prevents moisture from evaporating, so less watering is needed. Mulch blocks weed growth and reduces the amount of insects and other pests.

    Mulch acts as an insulator to protect soil from extreme heat or cold so a layer of mulch around your plants is a smart idea year round. Plus, mulch makes an attractive groundcover. Mulch comes in a variety of colors from blond to red to dark brown (depending on the source wood). The size of the materials ranges from 1/4" to 3".

    Organic mulches contain only natural wood materials. Depending on the blend, mulches can include fir, buckwheat hulls, redwood bark, evergreen boughs, hops, ground corncobs, sugar cane and cottonseed hulls. Avoid buying mulch that contains hay, manure and straw. These types might contain weeds.

    Mulches that contain more wood will provide fewer nutrients and decompose slowly. Softer mulches will provide more nutrients but decompose more quickly.

    How to Lay Down Mulch

    1) Apply a 2" to 4" layer of mulch over the planting beds of already established plants. Leave a 5-inch radius around each plant. Do not put mulch over recently planted seeds because it will hinder their growth.

    2) Rake the mulch every so often to expose new mulch.

    3) The mulch will decompose over time. When only a thin layer is left, add more.

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