New OMRI-listed Black Gold Products
Great news for organic growers! We are very proud to announce that six more of our great Black Gold® products are now OMRI-listed as well. Here’s the list and more on what it means to be OMRI-listed… Read More Read More
Unusual House Plants
Often times when we think of house plants, we neglect to think of the many outdoor plants that might make enjoyable and unusual house plants, if given the right conditions. Or if we cannot duplicate the right conditions, many will at least last for several weeks or longer and then taken back outdoors. But during this interval, we have been able to enjoy them indoors. Read More Read More
Grow Organic: All or Part
Edible artichokes make outstanding perennials accented with petunias. Call it botanical profiling. It’s gone on since the beginnings of agriculture. Tomatoes, corn and lettuce belong in the organic food garden. Flowers grow in the ornamental garden. The primary reason for such a division is that food growers are all about a clean, edible harvest. Flower growers put the emphasis on an abundance of perfect blooms throughout the season. They often... Read More
Donkey Tail
Photo by Rich Baer With the various growth characteristics, foliage colors and textures of sedums, it is always interesting to see how people use them. Sedum morganianum, often called ‘Donkey Tail’ is a sedum that has long trailing stems. In the Pacific Northwest, it would need to be brought indoors as a house plant in the winter but can easily be grown outdoors during the summer months. Donkey Tail needs fast-draining soil and with the addition... Read More
House Plant Ideas for Winter
While there are always many things we can be doing in our garden during the winter months, it is also a time to give some thought to different house plant ideas. Here in the Pacific Northwest, I have been doing quite a bit of transplanting in my outdoor garden, and as I am probably like many gardeners, I have plants in the wrong places. Short plants are behind tall plants and vice versa. Read More Read More
Succulents Squared
Succulent Square. Photo by Brian Jacob There are many fun things to do with succulents and a recent trend is to use them as pockets in a wall or planted in a wooden ‘picture’ frame and used either vertical or horizontal. In this particular photo, the wooden frame of succulents is part of a fence and notice the variety of colors and leaf shapes that have been used. This same succulent square could be used as a centerpiece on an outdoor table. Read More
Re-Hydrating Potted Plants
Watering potted plants is easy, but getting the whole root ball wet is hard. When you let the root ball dry out it shrinks away from the inner walls of the pot. If you pour on water, it goes straight down this gap and out the drain hole. The best way to rehydrate a plant in peat based potting soils wets the entire root ball, encouraging roots to travel into the center. You can do it on the kitchen counter by filling a shallow container with a few... Read More
Colorful Crotons For Indoors Now and Outside Later
Crotons will brighten a shady patio as well as any interior room. Eye-catching Crotons easily chase away wintertime blues because the warm colors of their variegated leaves intensifies in cooler temperatures and bright sunlight. During winter months keep Crotons out of drafts and fluctuating temperatures to avoid leaf drop, hold back on fertilizer until spring, and remember to only use tepid water. You can begin moving your Crotons outdoors for vacation... Read More
Abutilons as House Plants
Surprise your guests with an Abutilon in bloom as a house plant. As long as these Abutilons have a good light source, they perform well indoors and then can be planted outside in the spring. This particular Abutilon is called ‘Red Tiger’ and the flowers look like fine cut glass. It is an outstanding plant in a pot, either in a house or on a deck, and when people visit my garden and see this in bloom, they are amazed at the colors and pattern. Read More
Spiky, Snaky, Sensational Snake Plants
Snake plants look fabulous outdoors, too, but only during the heat of summer. Sansevieria (aka Snake Plants or Mother-in-law’s tongue) are architecturally dramatic houseplants. Native from environs as extreme as the nutrient-competitive jungle floor to arid deserts, this plant definitely doesn’t need pampering. Sansevieria thrive indoors in bright to low light, with minimal watering, so be sure to grow them in a porous potting soil, such as Black... Read More
Create a Seasonal Green Roof
This isn’t a true green roof but it offers a whole new way to plant succulents for your summer garden. You can turn the roof of any garden shed into a new place to grow succulents. Simply apply a edging on top of the fascia, then spread a layer of thick plastic sheeting on top of the roofing material. Poke small drain holes where you want it to drain. On top of this spread shallow layer (4″ min.) of Black Gold Cactus Mix Potting Soil... Read More
Schefflera delavayi
Many of us are familiar with the houseplant Schefflera as it is fairly common and easy to grow. Several years ago I was given Schefflera delavayi and was told it was an outdoor plant that would grow in my Pacific Northwest garden. I was skeptical but planted it outside. Now, after several very cold winters, my plant is thriving with no winter damage, shiny green leaves, and growth to about six feet. It gets morning sun but is protected from hot... Read More
Growing Herbs On Your Winter Windowsill
Growing herbs on your winter windowsill during these colder months begins with repotting the plants you purchased from your local garden center or even the supermarket. At this time of the year your potted herbs will come to you in a 2 or 3 inch pot, great for starting seedlings but too small for growing and harvesting portions of the plant for cooking or salads. Read More Read More
Lucky or Curly Bamboo
In my January Black Gold Featured Article, House Plant Ideas for Winter, I mentioned the houseplant Lucky Bamboo or Curly Bamboo (Dracaena sanderana), and that this is an excellent plant to use to encourage children to get involved with some of the wonders of gardening. Not only is the twisted stem a novelty but once the stems are placed in water, they quickly begin to form roots. I have found that children are often fascinated with this because... Read More
Spa Treatment for Your Houseplants
January is the perfect time to wash away dust that may have accumulated on the leaves of your houseplants by giving them a gentle hosing with tepid water in your tub or shower. This refreshing bath is especially beneficial to smooth-leafed houseplants, but not recommended for succulents or hairy-leafed plants such as African Violets. Read More
Harvest Mosses for Container Plants
Cool, damp winter temperatures bring mosses out in all their glory. This amazing spore bearing plant often grows on rocks, in shaded tree dells, the north side of a house, and anywhere else it’s wet enough. This moss is perfect for using in glass terrarium containers and as a surface covering for bonsai specimens. To harvest free mosses for container plants from your yard, gently lift it off the surface with your fingers so that it comes up... Read More
Soil, Seed and Supplies: Planning Your 2012 Garden
One of the best things about backyard food gardening is that it demands we live by the seasons. Spring is for preparation. Summer demands maintenance. Autumn is the harvest. Most important of all is winter – the time for planning. Just as a landscape architect creates a garden on paper before it’s bid or built, it saves a lot of money and time to use January to plan your own food garden with research, notes and sketches. Do it right and... Read More
Air Plants
One of the easiest house plants to take care of is the Tillandsia or often referred to as ‘air plants’. These will grow with no soil and as long as they are given light (not direct sun) and a weekly spray of water, will live for many years. Try placing them in a vase, as in the photo. There are many varieties of air plants to choose from and some will have much larger leaves than the group shown in the photo. Read More
Quintessential Camellias
Camellias are indispensable broadleaf evergreens in Southeastern landscapes. Varying in height from 3-foot rounded dwarfs to towering pyramidal trees, their irresistible wintertime blooms are a pleasure to enjoy in situ or indoors in arrangements. A traditional method of displaying cut Camellia flowers is to float the blooms in shallow bowls. Simply remember to refresh the water regularly and keep your arrangement out of direct sunlight in order... Read More
The Visitors: Garden Art
Garden art comes in many shapes, sizes and forms and often can reflect to something about the gardener. I love visiting gardens and seeing creative garden art that has been found, bought, or made. This past year one of the most original pieces I saw was a group of colored mannequin heads mounted on posts. In this garden, they looked as though they belonged and the owner titled them “The Visitors”. Make a resolution for 2012 to collect something... Read More
Organic Solution for Spindly Palms
If your palm is not growing vigorously, it may require fertilizer. Just like your lawn, palm trees love nitrogen and certain trace elements. These are all present in Black Gold Palm, Cactus & Tropical fertilizer. Because it’s organic, the nutrients take time to become available to your palm. Fortunately, once available they remain so far longer than synthetic plant food. For those in Florida and other warm climates, help poor-doers indoors... Read More
Teaming With Microbes
With organic gardening, it’s all about soil microbes. What we do to enrich our soils with organic matter and humus helps to feed this population of invisible organisms. Their presence enhances fertility to help plants grow healthier with a stronger root and immune system. To truly understand how important this microbe-plant relationship is to your food garden, read Jeff Lowenfels’ outstanding book: Teaming with Microbes (Timber Press).... Read More
Bulbs Accent Off Season Food Gardens
We rarely blend bulbs with food plants, but they make a great pick-me-up for off season gardens. I found this lovely garden in Germany, where they’d laid out a traditional four square design, but when not planted, this geometry doesn’t show. These smart gardeners elected to plant small bulbs in line to emphasize the design with foliage and flowers before it warms enough to plant the early spring crops. Don’t forget to plant them... Read More
Bio-Solids and Secret Toxins
It’s always scary looking at labels on junk food. They’re rife with unpronounceable chemicals and altered foods such as hydrolyzed oils. These would go unmentioned if the government didn’t require detailed breakdown on exactly what’s used in the creation of edible products. And it’s this analysis that is used to determine whether or not a food product contains substances the USDA has deemed unhealthy for humans. Read... Read More
Black Gold Natural & Organic Fertilizers
View Black Gold’s Complete Selection of Natural & Organic Fertilizers Black Gold fertilizers are the organic gardener’s best friend. Each one offers specific nutrients that build your soil so it can better feed your plants a naturally balanced diet. With our easy-to-pour boxes, fertilizing your organic garden is quick and easy. There’s a formula for all your plants from food garden to palm tree, so each group receives the exact... Read More
Planting Your Organic Garden
Once your soil is fed and tilled, will you grow your veggies from seed or seedlings? The answer depends on the kinds of plants you choose to grow. Fast growing plants that have large seeds planted deeper down are usually sown directly into garden soil. These include corn, squash, cucumbers, melons, sunflowers, beans or peas. When you buy your seed, know that every packet is marked with its year just like a food expiration date. Make sure... Read More
Tending Your Organic Garden
Ever wonder why some people can grow fabulous gardens and others can’t? The answer is simple: they spend more time with their plants. Experienced gardeners know that frequent inspection allows them to see the first signs of trouble, whether it’s wilt, broken limbs, a digging dog or caterpillars. These can be remedied immediately before damage occurs, and without the need for chemicals. Great gardeners do it each day. Sometimes it’s... Read More
Proof of Life: There May Be Mold in Our Soils
Written by Maureen Gilmer If you find white mold in a bag of our potting soil, don’t think it’s spoiled like moldy bread. Consider this white webby material the ultimate proof of life. It is an undeniable sign that our potting soils are perfectly blended to create a bio-active root environment. Even while that bag sat at the garden center, a great deal of activity was going on in our living soils, and the mold proves it. This is a rare... Read More
Divide Perennials For Free Plants
October is a fine time to dig and divide clumps of perennials that are so old they fail to bloom like they should. Lift the plant with a fork, wash it off to see the stem and root structure, then divide perennials at the natural points with a sharp knife. Soften the soil at the new planting locations with Black Gold Soil Conditioner to make it easier for the divisions to strike new roots for bountiful displays come spring. Read More
Super Organic Leaf Mold
Fall leaves are an important source of organic matter that decomposes into soft, rich leaf mold. To harvest, create a corral using woven wire to contain the leaves. Fill with a foot deep layer of leaves, wet it, then pack down tightly. Sprinkle Black Gold All Purpose Fertilizer on top and dump in any left over potting soil from this year. Repeat layering over and over as leaves fall, adding more fertilizer to speed decomposition and increase your... Read More
Cure Late Season Malaise
~ Written by Maureen Gilmer Soil in raised beds can often become deficient in elements or micronutrients replaced by adding organic fertilizer during the growing season. Eat a doughnut for breakfast and you start the morning on a sugar high. Then the inevitable follows. Blood sugar plummets leaving you foggy and sluggish. If you eat another doughnut to refire your system, you’ll only crash all over again. But if you eat a balanced... Read More
When To Fertilize
Remember to use Black Gold® Fertilizer only as directed. For best results, mix fertilizers with your garden or potting soil and water after you are done planting. Avoid over-feeding your plants – a little extra might not be a good thing. ALL PURPOSE FERTILIZERPlant TypeApplication RateFrequencyVegetables, Annual Flowers and PerennialsNew Plantings: 4 cups per 50 sq. ft. 2 cups per 25 foot rowFertilize at time of planting... Read More
Enjoying Summer Gardening
Here it is July and summer has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest. It took quite a long time for this to happen as our spring was one of the coolest and wettest on record. But now that summer is here, what a glorious time of year it is. As some garden friends have told me; this is why we live here and perhaps it is because we have had such a gloomy winter that when we do see sun, it is a cause to celebrate. Finally summer herbs and vegetable... Read More
BLACK GOLD® Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil
Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil is the sustainable solution for container gardens in arid climates or wherever water is in short supply. Its unique moisture retention ability means you water less often, and conserve more of it throughout the season. If you’ve had difficulties keeping your vegetables hydrated during the hot summer months, don’t give up on growing your own food. Give it another try with this potting soil carefully... Read More
BLACK GOLD® Natural & Organic Potting Soil
~Written by Maureen Gilmer Black Gold Natural & Organic potting soil is so versatile it works for everything from hanging baskets to raised vegetable beds. This is not just any soil, it’s a precise blend of everything your plants need to look their best and produce abundantly. Because it’s listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute, you can be sure your organic food crops grown in this enriched soil remain blessedly chemical... Read More
The Garden is In! Filling, Planting and Learning on Dakota Farms
By Shelley MooreShelley Moore is an aspiring organic backyard gardener with hopes of becoming a true ‘green thumb’. She is the mother of two young daughters and the wife of one helpful husband. They reside in northern Utah. Don’t you find it a little crazy to think that pretty much the same “stuff” we wash off our kids at the end of an outdoor play day (and/or find at the bottom of the drained bathtub that same evening)... Read More
The Dogma of Drainage
~Written by Maureen Gilmer. Ten years ago I digressed into a netherworld of horticulture that is secretive, dogmatic, painful and unforgiving. Call it Cultus Succulentata, an unofficial group as unconventional as the plants we cultivate. What binds us all is plants that contain a unique type of plant cell that absorbs water quickly and holds it far longer than any other. They are what makes a plant a succulent. But I’m hooked on one division... Read More
Transitioning from Cool to Warm Weather
~Written by Mike Darcy, photos by Rich Baer. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have finally had some sunny days and the temperature actually reached the 80′s. How nice it was to see the sun and what a wonderful feeling to get outside in the garden without a jacket. I always like to visit other gardens and made a recent visit to the garden of a friend to check on the status of the peas he had planted from seed earlier this spring. Since peas... Read More
How to Create an Organic Garden with Black Gold
Written by Maureen Gilmer Creating an organic garden is the same as creating any other kind of garden except for one thing: you must feed the soil. The ground below your feet is not just dirt but a whole living breathing universe unto itself. Within those mineral particles is a population of microscopic bacteria, fungi, molds, yeasts, protozoa and algae. They are collectively known as microbes, which feed on the remnants of dead plants known... Read More
Tilling Your Organic Garden
Written by Maureen Gilmer If you don’t have a spading fork, now is the time to buy one. This unique tool looks like a pitch fork, but the tines are straight and much thicker. For anyone serious about an organic garden by hand, this is your most important purchase. Do not scrimp on quality because a good fork will last for decades. The spading fork turns soil more easily because the tines make clods break up automatically compared to... Read More
BLACK GOLD® Natural & Organic Potting Soil
Black Gold Natural & Organic potting soil is so versatile it works for everything from hanging baskets to raised vegetable beds. This is not just any soil, it’s a precise blend of everything your plants need to look their best and produce abundantly. Because it’s listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute, you can be sure your organic food crops grown in this enriched soil remain blessedly chemical free. The scientists at... Read More
Raised Beds In Dry Country
Written by Maureen GilmerA large hole filed with Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil and newly planted pepper.The same pepper weeks later with mulch and windbreak.My desert garden is the worst case scenario, and I like it that way. When I test plants and products for gardens, they go through the wringer…literally. I want to know how far I can push things before they fail. When the dry wind blows up here in the high... Read More
Earthworm Castings (The Scoop on the Poop)
The term “worm castings” seems to confuse everyone but the plants. Earthworms have been hard at work for centuries rejuvenating soils and helping to convert various types of organic matter into one of nature’s best soil conditioners. Black Gold® has had worm castings as the cornerstone of its product line long before worm castings became the vogue in gardening. Our Earthworm Castings are OMRI Listed, making them a cut above the rest... Read More
Germinating Seeds or Propagating Cuttings?
Black Gold® Seedling Mix is the perfect medium for germinating seeds and propagating cuttings. The mix is designed to promote better root development in young plants. We start with a careful blend of Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (which has been double-screened to remove larger particles and sticks); fine perlite and vermiculite to give seedlings and cuttings the aeration and moisture retention they need to develop a good root system. A wetting agent... Read More
Black Gold® Natural & Organic Potting Soil
First things first: Black Gold® Natural & Organic is the exact same recipe as Black Gold® All Organic. Why the name change? State regulations prohibited us from continuing to use the “All Organic” name since the product contains both perlite and pumice. These two ingredients are not carbon based; therefore we could not use the words “All Organic”. But we can and are using the very same formula as before and calling it “Natural &... Read More
Enrich Your Garden Soil
When you garden, you are gardening with a desired end result in mind, whether it is a bountiful vegetable garden, a bloom-laden bed of roses, a floriferous flowering bed of spring or summer bulbs or a thick rich lawn. All of these results might not be possible unless you invest into your garden with quality garden soil amendments and fertilizers. Garden soil amendments are designed to improve the physical properties of your soil. Quality amendments... Read More
Freshness Counts!
Everything is better fresh, whether it is a doughnut at the store, cut flowers for your dinner table or the potting soil for your patio container. After potting soils or amendments are manufactured they become a living entity. The fertilizers and wetting agent start to react in their moist organic media environment. As part of our commitment to quality we put a date of manufacture on all Black Gold® potting soils, amendments and peat moss.... Read More
Why Buy A Premium Potting Soil?
As each of us begins a gardening project, we all have the end result in mind: a bountiful vegetable garden, an overflowing flower covered basket or perhaps a thick and rich new lawn! At Sun Gro, we believe that the key to these and many other gardening successes is directly related to the quality of product that we, as a manufacturer, put in a bag. We hope the following chart will illustrate the advantages of Black Gold® made by Sun Gro Horticulture,... Read More
Think Green & Recycle
In an effort to continue to be good stewards of the environment, we would like to share some information on how to recycle your Black Gold® packaging.All of our Black Gold® potting soil and amendment plastic packaging is recyclable. The bags are manufactured using a Low-Density Polyethylene (#4) and can be recycled if the plastic is clean. You can find a local recycler in the United States on the USA LDPE Recycling Directory , or in Canada... Read More
The Natural Choice for Baskets and Containers
Since its launch in 2003, Black Gold® Waterhold Cocoblend (formerly just Cocoblend) became a popular product with those gardeners adventurous enough to try it. But since its introduction people keep saying you need to change the bag and name to better reflect how the product is used. Also occurring simultaneously, more gardeners were switching to organic alternatives in their gardening and polymer gels were becoming less in-vogue. As a result of... Read More
Natures Gift to Gardeners
Healthy soil is the key to healthy plants and lawns, it’s the “plant insurance” you need to protect your investment. How can you best prepare your soil? Use Black Gold® Peat Moss and Black Gold® Peat Moss Plus. Both are made with pure Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, with the Peat Moss Plus having an additional organic wetting agent to aid in rewetting the peat moss. Peat moss is a wonderful gift to gardeners, with some of its benefits being: *... Read More
Quality Works for Everyone
One of the main reasons why you will experience gardening success when you use Black Gold® products is that Sun Gro is dedicated to producing a quality product. As North America’s largest professional mix supplier, Sun Gro uses the same equipment and processes to produce to produce Black Gold®. So what is Sun Gro’s Quality Program? It is a program designed to produce and delivery to you a high quality uniform product every time you purchase... Read More
Overlooked Improvements in Black Gold®
An important component of Sun Gro Horticulture’s mission statement is the concept of continuous improvement. That concept has become a reality with the Black Gold® product line in recent years. Beginning in spring 2007 all of the Black Gold® packaging has been updated. We worked hard to maintain the familiar bag images, but at the same time making the colors more brilliant, the bag easier to read and the information on the bag... Read More
Fall Planting and Winterizing Your Garden
Fall is a wonderful time to garden. You can look over this year’s accomplishments and start developing your plans for next year, but it is also the perfect time for working in your garden. Planting garden beds, color bowls and hanging baskets with fall annuals is a wonderful way to extend the joy of gardening throughout the remainder of the year. Be sure to add some Black Gold® Garden Compost, Soil Conditioner and Garden Amendment or Planting Mix... Read More
Perlite and Pumice: Valuable Potting Soil Ingredients
Have you ever wondered what those little white things in your potting soil are? In most instances they are perlite and/or pumice. Perlite is a mined siliceous rock that is expanded, similar to microwave popcorn, into a white lightweight material, while pumice is a soft insert-mined stone that often comes from Oregon. What makes Black Gold® Perlite and Black Gold® Pumice particularly desirable is both are screened for uniformity, with the finer... Read More
Beauty in the Details
Gardening is one of the many ways people are able to express creativity. The use of decoratives in your gardening allows you to express yourself, but at the same time they can provide horticultural benefits to your plants. Black Gold® has a product line of decoratives to fill your creative needs. By adding Black Gold® Charcoal to a Black Gold® potting soil, you can increase the moisture retention in the mix. This would be desirable if you are... Read More
Germinating Seeds or Propagating Cuttings
Black Gold® Seedling Mix is the perfect medium for germinating seeds and propagating cuttings. The mix is designed to promote better root development in young plants. We start with a careful blend of Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (which has been double-screened to remove larger particles and sticks); fine perlite and vermiculite to give seedlings and cuttings the aeration and moisture retention they need to develop a good root system. A wetting agent... Read More
Perfect Potting Soil for House Plants
Do your houseplants need to be repotted? If so, Black Gold® offers a wide variety of product choices. We have four specialty mixes to choose from in addition to three standard all-purpose mixes. Black Gold® African Violet Mix – Finicky African violets thrive in this blend of Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, compost, pumice, earthworm castings and screened forest humus. The pH has been balanced to create the optimal rich and porous medium for growing... Read More
Black Gold® Garden Compost
One of the secret ingredients used by successful gardeners is Black Gold® Garden Compost. What exactly is garden compost? Compost happens when microbes break down or decompose organic or living matter. The next time you are on a walk in a forest, look down at the forest floor and you will find compost being made naturally. The final product is a dark, rich, earthy smelling material, which gardeners commonly call “black gold”. Today at Black... Read More
Black Gold® Customer Survey
An exciting tool is being added to BlackGold.bz to improve our communications with our customers, both retailers and consumers. This website addition is being done in an effort to keep our product offering current and to answer questions. Starting back in January 2009 we added a customer survey to the website. Our goal is to use this tool to learn more about you and your gardening needs and receive suggestions on how we can improve. But... Read More
Better Results All Season Long
With the advent of Black Gold® All Purpose with Technicote®, you are now able to enjoy the benefits of a premium quality potting soil with a fertilizer that will feed your plants for up to six months. Sun Gro sells this same fertilizer product to professional growers. By incorporating Technicote® into your potting soil, your plants will have a consistent supply of nutrients throughout the entire season. Technicote®, a controlled release fertilizer,... Read More
Black Gold® Citrus, Avocado & Vine
Featured Black Gold® Starter Fertilizers Black Gold® Citrus, Avocado & Vine is a natural and organic fertilizer derived from feather meal, blood meal, bone meal, sulfate of potash, alfalfa meal, dried poultry waste and kelp meal. The guaranteed analysis is a balanced 7-3-3, meaning it is 7% nitrogen, 3% phosphate and 3% potash. The nitrogen content is delivered in both readily available and slow release forms, while the phosphorous and... Read More
The Leader in Sustainable Peat Resources
Sun Gro, the makers of Black Gold®, is North America’s largest producer of horticultural-grade peat and the largest distributor of peat moss and peat and bark-based growing mixes – and we’re the leader in ensuring the sustainability of this important resource. We endorse the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association’s definition of sustainable peatland management as the “balanced stewardship of the environmental, social and economic... Read More
Potting Soil vs. Top Soil
I’d like to start this post with a story. A couple of weekends ago, we had a truckload (12 yards to be more specific) of top soil from a local supplier delivered to our house. I had brought it in to fill our new raised garden bed and to supplement our existing flower beds. Many people ask themselves what is the difference between potting soil and topsoil. My goal in this blog entry is to hopefully answer that age old gardening question. Topsoil... Read More
Pea Patch Gardening With Black Gold
According to a recent survey 44 percent of Americans plan to grow a vegetable garden this year. That is 12 percent increase compared with last year. Many of the new vegetable gardeners will be located in urban and suburban settings where the use of pea patch gardening is on the rise. The goal of my blog entry is to discuss how you can use Black Gold to transform your new patch into a successful vegetable garden. This information is also applicable... Read More
Quality Coconut Coir Makes the Difference
As you can probably tell, Sun Gro® the manufacturers of Black Gold® gardening products is very focused on producing a quality product. This focus on quality is evident in the choice of coconut coir used in our potting soils. What exactly is coconut coir? Coconut coir is a coarse fiber taken from the fibrous outer shell of a coconut. Coconut coir comes in many forms. In Black Gold® Waterhold Cocoblend, Sunshine® Pro Just Coir (if you want... Read More
Why Compromise? Use Black Gold® Soil Conditioner
When it comes to buying a garden amendment, product quality is the name of the game. And the key to product quality is the choice of raw materials used to make the garden amendment. Black Gold® Soil Conditioner is manufactured using only high quality raw ingredients. The product may include a combination of these raw materials: aged/composted bark, digested diary fiber, Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, compost, forest products, rice hulls, earthworm... Read More
A Mix With A Heritage
As you may or may not know, Sun Gro Horticulture is the largest supplier of growing mixes to professional greenhouse and nursery growers in North America. One of the more popular professional growing mixes is Sunshine® Mix #4. It was developed by Sun Gro’s team of horticulturalists based on initial work done by Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Mix #4 is a blend of peat moss and perlite, and its claim to fame has always been its high... Read More
Coir: A Perfect Panacea For Problem Soil Structure
My soil has never resembled that perfect loamy ground in Martha Stewart’s garden. The first plot I cultivated for 18 years was dense clay too filled with rocks to resemble the soft dirt used to demonstrate gimmicky tools on TV ads. My second garden here in the desert is just the opposite, it’s sand and decomposed granite so porous it won’t make a clod. My two yards, like yours, are a battleground where we all struggle to improve... Read More
Gardening for Northwest Weather
For those of you that have followed my monthly web articles, you are aware that I live and garden in a suburb of Portland, Oregon. While we are probably famous for our rainy weather, this year seems to be an exceptionally wet year. Not only wet, but some very cold days this past winter and the spring has continually been cool. We made a record (perhaps not something to brag about) these past few months by having the longest period without the temperature... Read More
Black Gold® Garden Compost
One of the secret ingredients used by successful gardeners is Black Gold® Garden Compost. What exactly is garden compost? Compost happens when microbes break down or decompose organic or living matter. The next time you are on a walk in a forest, look down at the forest floor and you will find compost being made naturally. The final product is a dark, rich, earthy smelling material, which gardeners commonly call “black gold”. Today at Black... Read More
