Garden Care Archives | Page 3 of 3 | Greely Sand & Gravel Inc.

Category: Garden Care

Preparing your Garden

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

 

The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and gardening season is just around the corner! Early spring is the perfect time to start thinking about preparing your garden for planting. Whether it’s a new garden that you are looking forward to building or an existing garden that needs some TLC, Greely Sand & Gravel is here to help with quality products and industry expertise!

Reviving an Existing Garden

If you already have a garden on your property, you are well on your way to beautiful flowers, tasty vegetables, or whatever else you’re planning to grow. However, over the years, soil can become dry and hard and you may notice your seeds struggling to germinate and thrive. This problem can be greatly alleviated by adding either mushroom compost or Greely’s Topdressing Soil to your existing garden. Mushroom compost contains high levels of organic matter, which is key to providing your plants with the nutrients they need to grow. Greely’s Topdressing Soil is a triple mix containing screened topsoil for structure, mushroom compost for nutrients, and black peat to help with moisture retention. Be careful when adding pure mushroom compost to your garden as it is quite acidic and can be tough on plants if it is not used sparingly and mixed well into the existing soil. To avoid this issue, we recommend using our pre-mixed Greely’s Topdressing Soil.

Starting a New Garden

If this is the year you finally decided to add a garden to your property, you’ve come to the right place! A flower garden can add natural beauty while a vegetable garden is a great way to spend time outdoors and enhance your meals with homegrown goodness. When starting a new garden, we recommend digging down about 12 inches in the entire space you plan to use. For any type of garden, we always recommend our Greely’s Topdressing Soil. This pre-blended triple mix gives you structure, nutrients, and moisture retention, making it ideal for all plants. It is also certified organic to give you peace of mind when it comes to planting fruits and vegetables.

This year, we are proud to announce that we are offering hand-built garden boxes, perfect for smaller properties where you may not have the space for a full garden. Also new are the bundles of organic veggie seeds and organic herb seeds.  Simply fill your garden box with Greely’s Topdressing Soil and you are ready to plant your organic seeds!

The ideal time to plant outdoors is after the final frost of the winter. This typically falls around the end of May. However, you can begin preparing your garden as soon as the ground is no longer frozen, so don’t put off ordering your soil! To find out more about our soils, organic seeds, garden boxes, and many other products, give us a call today at 613-821-3003!

The Benefits of Mulch

Posted on by Greely Sand And Gravel

 

Does mulch offer new life to your flowerbeds? Does mulch keep the weeds at bay? Does mulch protect your soil from erosion and increase moisture retention? The answer to all these questions is: YES. Mulch is a wonderful addition to any garden or flowerbed and offers both aesthetic appeal, weed control, and other great benefits for your plants!

What is Mulch?

Mulch comes in many shapes and colours and can be made from a variety of materials. Most mulches are composed of shredded or chipped wood that can be dyed to provide a range of colour choices. Greely Sand & Gravel offers eleven different types of mulch, allowing our customers to create exactly the look they want for their garden or flowerbed. Our mulches are made from pine and cedar trees, and have the lowest carbon footprint when compared to other types of mulch. Pine and Cedar mulch are also sustainable since they are produced using by-products from sawmills and forestry operations.

What are the Benefits of Mulch?

Mulch adds visual appeal to your garden or flowerbed. If you love vibrant flowers, why not accent them by adding a black mulch that allows the colours to stand out? Lightly coloured mulches can also highlight details of your home’s exterior, and make a great base for a decorative boulder.

However, the benefits of using mulch go deeper than aesthetics! Mulch is a safe and natural product that can be used to stunt the growth of weeds by limiting their exposure to sunlight. The fibrous nature of mulch allows it to retain moisture that is then slowly absorbed by plants, providing necessary hydration. Lastly, mulch protects your soil from erosion, helping to ensure that your garden or flowerbed stays intact.

How do I apply mulch to my garden?

Once you have received your delivery of mulch, simply use a shovel to evenly distribute the mulch over your soil. Mulch should be applied after you have planted your plants and once your seeds have germinated and sprouted, so as not to stunt their growth. We recommend a layer of at least three inches for a new application of mulch. In order to keep the colour of your mulch bold and vibrant, consider reapplying a one inch layer of new mulch every year or every other year.

What about the dye used to colour mulch? Is it safe?

All of our enhanced mulches are coloured using biodegradable dyes that are considered to be safe for the environment. This also means that our mulches are not harmful for plants or pets. If you prefer a mulch that has not been dyed, we recommend our Composted Pine Mulch. This product is rich in organics and retains moisture longer than other mulches. As it continues to decompose over time it slowly releases nutrients back into the soil, conditioning it and encouraging healthy plant growth.

How do I know which mulch I should use for my project?

When it comes to mulch, the choice largely depends on personal preference! Which colour best accentuates your plants and the exterior of your home? Do you prefer the rich aroma of cedar or the more subtle scent of pine? The choice is yours! If you need more help deciding or would like to learn more about the benefits of a specific type of mulch, please call our office at 613-821-3003 - our knowledgeable team would be happy to assist you!