Latest Potting soil Stories

Gardening expert Melinda Myers shares tips on successfully growing edibles while incorporating them throughout the landscape. Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) March 27, 2012 Nothing beats the flavor of a fresh-from-the-garden tomato; warmed by the sun, plucked right from the plant and eaten in the garden. “And the good news is gardeners don’t need much space to grow their own edibles,” explains gardening expert, TV/radio host & author Melinda Myers. “Many gardeners have and more will...

In the past year EcoScraps has grown from a parking lot, to an abandoned shed to the manufacturing plants they currently run in Utah and Arizona. Their organic soil is now sold in Oregon, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. They have plans to expand in the near future. Provo, UT (PRWEB) February 24, 2011 EcoScraps, an organic soil manufacturer, launched their company in 2010 to improve the environment by collecting produce waste and processing it into organic soil. "This is my own way of making...

Peat, or semi-decayed vegetation matter, has been used by commercial growers and amateur gardeners since the middle of the 20th century. Peat is added to potting soil to help retain moisture and provide additional nutrients. As the demand for peat grew, acres of peat bogs were being drained and destroyed. Now, concerns about the environmental impact of extracting peat from wetlands are mounting. And as peat supplies are reduced, the cost naturally increases. Diminishing supplies and...

Consumers have embraced the green lifestyle -- not as a fad, but as a new way of life for their entire family. According to a recent Harris poll on green living, supported by the Nature Conservancy, 53 percent of consumers have taken steps to green their lives. They are bringing their own bags to grocery stores, buying more organic products and planting vegetable gardens all in the name of "going green." Another popular technique is creating a compost pile right in their backyard. A compost...

By Collins, Kris Kris Collins takes a look at some of the latest products and services on show at this year's Four Oaks A host of regular Four Oaks exhibitors and first timers will be using the show as the launchpad for the latest product and service introductions and revamps. Manufacturers, plant breeders, suppliers and service providers all see the Four Oaks exhibition as an entry point to supplying the industry and linking up with customers. The show is ideal for exhibitors to display...

By Buzz Bertolero Q: What is the difference between compost, soil conditioner or amendments and topsoil? This gets very confusing since there are so many different varieties and brands. Is one better than another? A: Yes, it is easy to get confused. They're often referred to interchangeably. Soil amendments and conditioners are divided into two types -- organic and non-organic. Organic soil amendments/conditioners include peat moss, wood products, animal manures, compost and other organic...

By beth botts of The "You think I'd crumble? You think I'd lay down and die? Oh no, not I. I will survive!"So sang Gloria Gaynor in 1978. And sure enough, there are plants alive today that were thriving when disco was king. There are plants that are practically guaranteed to make it in your garden, even if they are the first you've planted.Here are a few to try out:HostaWhere to plant: In a spot with afternoon shade. Spread mulch over the root zone. Water once a week for the first...

By Ozenc, Damla Bender This study was carried out to determine effects of composted hazelnut husk (CHH) on tomato seedlings grown under water stress conditions. Seven media were prepared using CHH mixed, in different ratios, with native peat and perlite. The following mixtures were used: 100%CHH, 100%peat, 75%CHH+25%peat, 50%CHH+50%peat, 25%CHH+75%peat, 25%CHH+50%peat+25%perlite and 50%CHH+25%peat+25%perlite. The experiment was arranged in a randomized plot design with seven media, three...

By Douds, David D Jr Nagahashi, Gerald; Reider, Carolyn; Hepperly, Paul R Arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] fungi are potentially important tools in sustainable agriculture due to their roles in crop nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and water relations and in stabilizing soil aggregates. Inocula of these fungi can be effectively produced on-farm in mixtures of compost and vermiculite with a suitable plant host, such as bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge). Success of this method, however,...

By Garden Variety CURTIS SMITH For the Journal Q: I want to use my own garden soil and homemade compost for my flower and vegetable garden transplants this year. How deep should I make a tray of soil to be pasteurized in the barbecue? The New Mexico State University Web site mentioned heating the soil to 140 degrees for a half-hour to kill bacteria, viruses and insects or 180 degrees to include weed seed. What happens to the soil's beneficial insects and mycorrhizae fungi? -- R.B. A:...