Make your garden grow, wisely

As the days are getting warmer and we have to use more water to keep our landscape green, it's time to think about ways to save water.

One way is to use a ground cover to keep water from evaporating out of the ground. If you live within the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District or the Triunfo Sanitation District, we can get free composting ground cover. This compost is a very rich nutrient soil amendment. It is manufactured using recycled organic biosolids. It has high humus content similar to peat.

Compost is an effective soil conditioner that can be applied to established lawns, flower beds, gardens and as an amendment to all types of soils for new lawns. The compost has a slow release of nutrients so it is less susceptible to leaching than conventional fertilizers.

•For new flowerbeds, use three cubic yards of compost per 1,000 square feet, about one to two inches in height, and cultivate to about five to six inches. Amend established gardens every other year with half-cubic yard. Do not use on acid-loving plants without adjusting the pH.

•For planters, mix one part compost with two parts soil mix. Plant and water thoroughly.

•For established lawns, top dress uniformly with 1-1/2 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet once a year. For new lawns or to replace lost soil, rototill in to a depth of four to six inches.

•For vegetable gardens, EPA regulations allow the use of this compost if the compost does not exceed one cubic yard per 1,000 square feet per year.

•For trees and shrubs, dig a hole four times the size of the root ball. Mix the dug-up soil at a mix of two parts soil and one part compost. Plant trees as instructed using the compost soil mix.

The compost is available every Saturday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Rancho Las Virgenes Composting Facility, 3700 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, (818) 251-2200. Bring containers or strong bags. Shovels will be provided, but you have to fill your own containers and bags.

Ronald Stark

Chairperson, Triunfo Sanitation District