While compost and mulch may seem interchangeable, they have distinctly different uses in sustainable landscaping. Photo courtesy San Diego County Water Authority Seventh in a series republished with ...

One of the most commonly asked questions in gardening is ‘what’s the difference between mulch and compost?’ Both are usually brown and soil-like, both help nurture plant growth – so how come they are ...

Most gardeners do some composting. Some folks compost anything that once was part of a living plant, often mixing it with barnyard waste; they turn and aerate their piles and make terrific compost in ...

George Adams of the North Carolina Zoo teaches us about composting. Have you ever wondered how gardeners get the best soil for their plants? George Adams, a horticulture expert at the North Carolina ...

Composting first got popular among home gardeners in the 1970s, but it has seen a resurgence in the last decade or so. "As people are becoming more educated about food waste, they're realizing that ...

Compost is a great way to recycle kitchen and garden scraps. It takes organic waste and turns it into nutrient-rich humus that can be used by plants. Composting is a way of returning to the soil what ...

Among other benefits, mulch and compost can help prevent erosion from heavy rain. Mulch on soil surface works immediately after being applied correctly, reducing the impact of rain and slowing the ...

Mulch is practical -- it holds moisture and controls weeds. It is also a design element that helps give your landscape a clean, unified look. What mulch should you use on your landscape beds? My first ...

Autumn leaves are welcomed by some as a gift to the garden. For others they are nothing but a nuisance, something to be gotten rid of. Most gardeners know that leaves are full of plant nutrients and ...

Ojai Valley Organics opened earlier this month and C&M Topsoils, another mulch-and-compost-making business, will open soon near Simi Valley. Meanwhile, Peach Hill Soils near Moorpark and Agromin, with ...