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Build healthy soil
- Most lawns, trees and shrubs get the nutrients they
need from the soil and mulching. But annual plants, vegetable gardens
and lawns sometimes need extra nutrients from compost, mulch, or fertilizer.
- Add compost when you're creating new garden beds or planting a new
lawn. Spread four to eight centimetres of compost on your lawn twice
a year. Compost helps the soil hold nutrients and water, and feeds
the helpful organisms in the soil.
- Mulch is a rough, organic material made from leaves,wood chips,
compost or grass clippings. Spread mulch around plants in spring and
fall, keeping it about three centimetres from the stems. A layer of
mulch helps the soil conserve water, prevents weeds, and feeds the
soil.
- Fertilize moderately. Too much chemical fertilizer can damage beneficial
organisms, and wash off into streams and lakes where it may harm wildlife
and green spaces.
- Use organic or slow-release fertilizers. They wash away less easily,
and feed plants and lawns slowly, letting you cut back on fertilizing
to once or twice a year. The best times to fertilize are in mid to
late May and early September.
- Healthy lawns in the Lower Mainland are a lighter green colour.
Don’t over-fertilize to try for a deep green turf.
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Comments or questions? Send us e-mail: composthotline@telus.net or call 604.736.2250
© , City of Vancouver, Engineering Services
Last Modified:
Friday, May 28, 2010
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