Are You Using Local Soil for Your Landscaping and Garden?

June 3rd, 2019 Posted in Soil
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Do you know where the soil you buy for your landscaping and gardening projects is from? You may wonder if it matters. While top soil for paving projects may not make a difference, when it comes to planting in your backyard, the soil you buy can impact the health of your plants. Here are a few reasons that buying local top soil can make a difference in your landscaping.

Native Plants Thrive in Native Soil

The soil from the Midwest is different than the soil in the Southeast or on the West Coast. It is not just the climate that is different in these regions; the soils are different as well. Some plants prefer sandy soil, while others do better in denser soils that retain moisture. When you buy bagged soil or top soil from a landscape supplier, it is important to know where that soil is from if you will be using it for planting.

Local soil may be best for native plants, having the right density and pH balance. For planting, look for landscape supplier that offers local top soil that is mixed with composted top soil to add the organic materials needed for healthy plant growth. Local top soil is also perfect for creating the soil layer for sod planting and other leveling projects.

Not all top soil is the same and not all plants need the same type of soil. When planning your garden and landscaping projects, start with the right top soil from a quality landscape supplier. Talk to the experts on whether local soil will be better for your planting needs and what types of soils they offer to give you the best results in your yard.

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

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Planting the Perfect Flower Mix

September 10th, 2015 Posted in Soil
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Beautiful flowers can add just the right touch to your garden. They can set the right mood or impress friends and family. They may even inspire widespread envy throughout the neighborhood. Your possibilities are endless, but the trick is to know enough about the flowers to experience the benefits. Choosing flowers can be fun, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

Know the Seasons: Traditionally, spring is the best time to lay those seeds. Be careful to wait at least a month after the last frost before you begin. Summer planting may be fine for cooler regions where temperatures never rise above eighty degrees, but this is usually not a good time for planting in most areas. Many people consider planting in the fall, so they will have a head start come spring. Some flowers can and should be planted in the fall, but not all.

Keep Everything Under the Sun: Sunlight is important. You will find some flowers that do well in the shade, but most thrive in partial or full sun. Find the sunny side and start digging. Try to plant the seeds as close to a water source as possible. Most flowers will be fine with natural rain water, but a well-placed hose will come in handy for the occasional dry spell.

Weed Out the Bad Stuff: A clean flower bed, is a happy flower bed. Remove weeds and excess grass from the area before you plant. If you have a small area, a rake or hoe should work fine. If there’s a lot of ground to cover splurge on a rototiller. Keep things tidy with the occasional weed pulling session.

Use The Right Soil:  Choose a good flower mix soil and either spread it on top of your flower beds or till it into the existing soil. 

Time to Plant: Mix the seeds for your soon to be flowers with a bit of sand and scatter them directly on top of the soil. Lightly compress into the soil, but don’t bury them. If the area is small you can walk on them to pack them down. You can use a seed roller for those more expansive areas. Water until just moistened. After that, they should do well with rain water.

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

 

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What Is Topsoil, Anyway?

August 1st, 2014 Posted in Soil
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When shopping at your local landscape supply store, one of the most common items you will encounter is a wide variety of soils. It can be daunting for the new gardener to determine which soil is best for different gardening applications. Among all the varieties of dirt and fertilizer available, you will undoubtedly see many types of topsoil. You may be wondering what topsoil is, and how it’s used in landscaping design. Here are basics about topsoil, and how to choose the best one for your project. 

Topsoil 101

In a nutshell, topsoil is healthy soil which is free from rocks, sticks and other debris. As the name states, this soil is used to cover the top of gardens and planting areas. It can also be used in planters, for seeding lawns and in a vast array of landscaping projects. However, there are different types and levels of quality which you should look for in topsoil, depending on how you intend for it to be used. 

  • Mix – Topsoil comes in a variety of mixes which are used for different applications. For garden planting, a mixed topsoil can provide the best attributes for fostering growth in large areas. For potting plants or small enclosed flower beds, you may want to go with mixes specifically designed for planters or potting, designed for plants with minor depth.
  • Quality – Picking a good quality topsoil can be difficult if you are new to gardening. For use in planting, you want a dark, rich soil that is heavy in nutrients. Talk to your local landscape supply store experts to find the topsoil with the best ingredients and pH balance for your project. 

Topsoil is one of the most important aspects of new planting, and vital to maintaining the health of your plants. It can add nutrients to old, depleted soil and give new plants or seed the right environment to grow. Before buying topsoil, talk to your landscape expert to ensure you get the right variety for your needs.

Posted on behalf of Clayton Hulen, Green Brothers Earth Works

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Purchasing Soil For Spring Planting

April 24th, 2014 Posted in Soil
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Spring is in the air, making thoughts turn to planting your flower pots and vegetable gardens. The basic component of any successful planting endeavor is the correct soil for the job. The soil used to grow a tasty tomato in a garden compared to the soil in a potted plant can be very different. Before getting out your gardening gloves, you need to head to your local landscaping supply store to do some dirt shopping! 

Potted Plant Soil

If you are buying soil for potted plants, there are three main choices you will encounter: all-purpose, premium and seed-starting. For most house plants, an all-purpose soil will work fine, although certain types of plants like cactus and violets have blends which are specifically designed for them. Premium potting soil has fertilizer added, and can be used for most types of indoor and outdoor potted plants. For plants starting from seed, a seed-starting soil is recommended. 

Outdoor Garden Soils

The type of soil you need for building a raised garden bed or to add to your existing garden will depend on what you are growing. Typical gardening top soil is similar to the dirt that would be found in the ground, with a mix of different soils to create a balanced base for your garden. Depending on whether you are growing flowers or vegetables, you may need different levels of pH in the soil you purchase. 

When it comes to planting, starting with the right soil can make all the difference in the end result. Talk to the experts at your landscape supply store for advice on choosing the right soil for what you plan to grow, along with what fertilizer and other soil additives that you may need.

Posted on behalf of Green Bros. Earthworks

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Tips For Buying Planting Soil

March 14th, 2013 Posted in Soil
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As spring approaches, thoughts turn to planting flowers and plants in your garden or yard. Depending on what you are planting and where, you will most likely also need some soil to add to your existing flowerbeds, potted plants or garden to enhance the nutrient content. There are many different types of soil and compositions that can be used but to get the best results, you want to make sure you are buying the correct soil for your planting needs. 

Soil Factors To Consider

There are many different kinds of soil but there are also types of compositions to consider. The soil you would buy for a potted plant that you intend to transplant later into your garden will differ from the soil you would buy for your flower garden. When looking at soil, three types are common among the choices: 

–          Organic and non-organic. Organic soil contains organisms that adds nutrients to the soil and can be used over and over again. This is best for gardens or soil that will be re-used. Non-organic soil is fortified with fertilizer and other nutrients that are added, but will be depleted after one season. 

–          Soil weight. The weight of the soil determines how much moisture it will hold. Most plants in direct sun will need a medium weight soil to hold moisture, where plants in the shade can use a lighter weight. 

–          Fertilizer. The type of fertilizer that is best for plants differs greatly. Make sure to read instructions on soils containing fertilizer on feeding instructions or consult your landscape supply store. 

Getting the right soil can make all the difference when planting. Once you choose your plants, make sure you also choose the right soil that will help them flourish.

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