A true gardener seldom calls soil dirt. There is a difference between the stuff you dig up in your backyard compared to "black gold" consisting of manure, compost, millions of beneficial microbes actively working underground and decomposed organic matter, and a true gardener understands that. Thankfully, it's an easy process to convert dirt to soil. The understanding of three commonly used gardening terms - texture, structure and tilth - should help to clear one of the dirtier mysteries of gardening in this context. How to Upgrade Your Dirt to Soil Lets begin with the texture of the soil. Texture refers to the proportion of silt, sand, and clay in the soil. You, ideally, want each of them to have the same amount. The soil is said to be loamy when these three are proportionate. Plant roots are allowed to spread, more moisture is retained (but not in excess) and essential air pockets exist between the soil particles when soil has great texture. Soil structure is next. Simply put, the more fit together clay, sand and silt are the more structured the soil is. Soil is [...]

In this blog, you’ll learn more about battery-operated mowers and trimmers as well as the three reasons why you need an eco-friendly lawn mowing service. At Apple Valley Eco-Landscapes, we mainly use battery-operated mowers and trimmers for our residential customers. REASON #1 – OUR BATTERY-OPERATEDLAWN MOWERS AND TRIMMERS LEAVE NO EMISSIONS Did you know that 90% of lawn mowers are gas-powered? Lawn mowers and other gas-operated lawn equipment belch out emissions that contribute to our pollution problem. For example, a single, gas-powered lawn mower used over one hour produces enough emissions as a car traveling for 350 miles. Science has found that battery-operated mowers reduce the number of emissions belched into the atmosphere when mowing your lawn. There are no emissions coming from our battery-operated mowers. Plus, our mowers use the same amount of energy as the toaster in your kitchen. Do you know why your OK yard needs aeration? Read more in our blog. REASON #2 – OUR BATTERY-OPERATED MOWERS AND TRIMMERS USE NO GAS Obviously, our mowers use no gas because they’re powered by batteries. But listen to this statistic: The EPA estimates that 54 [...]

An appealing fence can improve your property, but before you start, there are a few things to consider. Fencing Restrictions and Needs Decide what your goals are before you start in search of the perfect fence. Only want to keep your loved ones and animals in? Or do you want some privacy, too? It is important to achieve certain objectives with so many options out there. Otherwise, it can be a daunting task to select a fence. Before you install the fence, make sure there are no provisions against a certain type of fence in your neighborhood. It is also important to think about how your fencing choice will contribute to or impede your home's retail value. Determine Your Options When it comes to costs, maintenance and features each of the fencing types have their own advantages and disadvantages. Even if a wood fence may now be beautiful, it will look worn in a few years without proper maintenance. Take all your options into account. In addition, obtaining estimates from at least three companies will help you avoid hidden costs before making a [...]