The foundation for any gardening project is the soil. And the finishing piece for your landscaping? Think a rich mulch, or maybe stones or decorative river rock.
Either way, a local source of quality products is a must. To get the inside scoop, we checked in with Rob Hendrickson, owner of the Comox Valley鈥檚 Black Gold Landscape Supply, offering quality, Island-sourced landscaping products.
鈥淎 lot of people are growing their own gardens, and there鈥檚 still time to prepare for your late summer and fall crops. Coming into fall, it鈥檚 also a great time to prepare for shrub and tree planting, and lawn seeding,鈥� Hendrickson says.
- Choose . Black Gold conducts an analysis on all its soils, ensuring you鈥檙e getting a quality product, but it鈥檚 also important to choose the right soil for the job, whether that鈥檚 topsoil, double-screened garden soil, a compost/topsoil blend, or lawn mix 鈥� a combination of sand, compost and black mulch that鈥檚 the perfect base for your .
- Add . Whether you make your own or rely on a trusted source of quality compost, this garden essential will help add nutrients to your garden soil and can lighten up a heavy soil. On the Island, fish compost is a particular favourite, used for everything from lawns and gardens to potted plants and even as a mulch. It provides a finely screened nutrient-rich and biologically active root medium that helps plants suppress disease and thrive.
- Don鈥檛 forget to . Speaking of mulch, a good mulch serves multiple purposes, depending on the kind you choose. It can keep weeds down 鈥� and make them easier to remove 鈥� and can help you retain valuable water during the hot, dry months, or protect plants and soil in cold, wet weather.
- The finishing touch. Additional options for your yard include 鈥� for those pond, building or driveway projects, and , to add that finished look to your yard. Don鈥檛 forget the !
- Order the right amount. Ordering the right amount of soil, mulch or gravel off the start will help you finish your project quicker, and save you on additional delivery fees or trips to the supply yard. Simply visit Black Gold鈥檚 , adding the measurements of your space, and it will calculate exactly how much you need, Hendrickson notes. Deliveries ranging from small and medium truckloads up to 12 yards of soil or 15 yards of mulch are made throughout the Comox Valley. A half-yard and yard scoop is also available for those with a truck, and if you only need a small amount of soil, mulch or stone, come pick up product in 5-gallon buckets.
Ready to get going on your garden project? Learn more at comoxvalleylandscapesupplies.com, stop by at or call
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