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 ...

Mulch and compost are words we use that refer to improvements in garden soil. We sometimes use these terms interchangeably and we sometimes use them incorrectly. I will attempt to clarify and give ...

In California, says UC Berkeley soils scientist Steve Andrews, brown is the new green, and that requires changing not only how we think about our landscapes, but how we tend them as well. Andrews, ...

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 ...

Homemade compost is popular with gardeners and landscape enthusiasts. Compost is an effective, efficient and natural way to treat the soil, and you can make it yourself. Composting is the biological ...

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) ...

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 ...

Everybody loves a freebie: bobblehead doll giveaways at White Sox games, the candy jar on a co-worker’s desk, buy-one-get-one-free shoe sales. At this time of year, gardeners get a freebie that really ...

Amanda Blum is a freelancer who writes about smart home technology, gardening, and food preservation. Previously, Amanda has worked as a technology strategist specializing in problem solving and ...