COMPOST: Technically speaking, compost is organic matter that has decomposed. The easiest way to make compost is to pile up garden refuse (plus kitchen vegetable and fruit scraps if you’re inclined) ...

Back when I was a professional gardener, I had clients who insisted on having me lay down landscape fabric then putting bark on top of it to discourage weeds. I hated this practice and tried to talk ...

A few years ago, a gardening friend suggested I place a layer of compost in my flower beds before mulching with my usual shredded bark mulch. As my garden seemed happy and required less care that ...

We’re well into fall, but there are plenty of things still to do – or just dream about in the garden. You may have some questions. For answers, turn to Ask an Expert, an online question-and-answer ...

A rose by any other name may still be a rose, but mulches need defining. There are 17 different materials considered on the University of California’s Statewide Integrated Pest Management website, and ...

I have been mulching my flower and shrub beds for years, and am wondering if that is still a recommended practice? What happens to all of that mulch I put down? Does it turn into compost? Is it ...

Compost and mulch are essential parts of successful gardening in the San Antonio area. Compost is decomposing organic material that increases drainage, water-holding capability and nutrient efficiency ...

There's one simple but essential gardening task to do in January, according to Monty Don. I followed his expert advice and ...

Like many other plants, roses can greatly benefit from occasional mulching. But, to ensure these prized shrubs reach their potential, you need to choose the best mulch for roses – and know when and ...

Compost and mulch. Both are great soil conditioners, but how do they differ? Each serves as a time-release fertilizer and insulator. When augmented with livestock and poultry manure, nutrient-rich ...