Aguinaga Spreading Trucks

Aguinaga Green not only supplies most of the landscape companies serving Irvine, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and surroundings with quality mulches and soil amendments – Aguinaga supplies a majority of the agriculture growers you may notice while driving freeways in our area.

Major Agriculture suppliers we all count on for everything from peppers to strawberries – top suppliers we do not really recognize or give appropriate credit to such as Orange County Produce and Pinnacle Farms - have relied on Aguinaga, literally for family generations.

And Aguinaga not only co-ordinates soil testing and supply of soil amendments, but also owns and operates the equipment that spreads the Aguinaga processed material with soil tested and specific requirements, for our customers.

Shown here is Aguinaga equipment spreading acreage on the Great Park for Orange County Produce.

Call Aguinaga Sales with questions or requirements.

Drought Tolerance Mixes

OVERVIEW:

Different plants have different capacities for the up-take of water.

In the absence of sufficient water, some plants go through a change of root structure (perhaps dropping shoot growth) or use accumulated water reserves in the plant stems, depleting plant girth.

The overall result is substantial limitations to net growth of the plant at the leaf level, reduced ability of the plant to efficiently utilize photosynthesis and thereby maintain a green and healthy appearance, and a reduced capacity to reproduce.

As plant roots dehydrate, it is suggested that the leaf responds to chemical signals produced in the root area, closing stomata (pores in the leaf) as they attempt to keep their water status constant. This also results in reduced CO2 sequestration by the plant. The necessary emphasis on water conservation will continue the plight of the water loving plants we are use to.

THE MIX

There is no mix to resolve drought tolerance. What will help is the use of mulch – or an increase in the amount of applied mulch everywhere in your garden to best advantage, and also around but not in direct contact with trees. This will slow evaporation of any water that continues to be available and applied.

ALTERNATIVE PLANT PALETTE:

Succulents tend to be thick, and small-leaved plants that store abundant water in their tissues. They are not immune to water deprivation, but extremely tolerant to the lack of it. They are generally easily cared for and come in many shapes and sizes, and hues of green and blue, to vivid reds, orange, pinks, orange, and purples.

Aguinaga has designed and tested a cactus / succulent mix with a high infiltration rate for excellent drainage and organic material to retain moisture and a robust nutrient package.

Call us at 1-877-OC-MULCH for additional questions and to order product. 

Aguinaga Green Garden Blend Mix

OVERVIEW:

Aguinaga Garden blend is a soilless planting media developed in co-ordination with some of the largest and most successful landscape providers in the area.

Sneak a peak in the planters at your local shopping center and you will find most planting is in soilless material.

SOIL vs ATTRIBUTES OF SOILLESS:

Local soils tend to be alkaline (above 7.0 pH) and for almost everything that grows, the “plant preference” would be 6.5-7.0 pH. or slightly acidic. This is because to “uptake” nutrients, the nutrients need to be soluble and the slightly acidic soil promotes this process.

Resident and import soils tend to be toward the clay end of the “clay, sand, silt spectrum” and tends to compact. And compacted soil inhibits root penetration and subsequent growth among other things.

Further, clay soils are subject to anaerobic conditions due their tight particle matrix and resulting lack of oxygen; a problem in the root boundaries. Also, poor infiltration rates typically occur in this media which can relate to problems getting moisture in - as well as to problems getting drainage away from the root zone.

The properties of import soils available today vary greatly - and therefor each has a specific and different requirement for a specific amendment. That said, nearly any soil can be amended by Aguinaga.

Soilless material by contrast – is made mostly from organic inputs and is relatively constant; and as a plus is void of renegade disease and seeds.

Aguinaga Garden Blend has a substantial and balanced nutrient package.

USES: 

Aguinaga Garden Blend is used extensively in planters and potted plant applications as well as for vegetable gardens

Call us at 1-877-OC-MULCH to order our Garden Blend for your next project. 

REDWOOD: PUT IT ON THE GROUND, NOT IN IT

Redwood - apart from being a most magnificent tree in its natural state - has attributes both positive and negative when considered for a landscaping material.

Redwoods are one of a group of trees called conifers, which generally exhibit superior characteristics in insect and decay resistance; an absolute advantage as a long-lasting landscape mulch or ground cover. 

Redwood’s natural resistance comes from its high levels of tannic acid and phenol. The pleasant odors produced that we associate both with the tree as well as with chopped or shredded redwood are evidence of this characteristic. Dependant upon where in the tree the material is harvested, redwood can contain 10% – 30% phenol (the main and toxic acid). Redwood material that is younger and dry or “top growth” is less toxic. Redwood material that is bark or that is older and higher in moisture level is more toxic. When you purchase redwood you end up with either or a combination of both.

These natural attributes which are so beneficial in preventative maintenance measures on ground surfaces, are less than user-friendly in the soil or a growing medium. When present, plant growth will depend upon the sensitivity level of the particular plant, but inherent toxicity will inhibit the growth of micro organisms and germination, and is poisonous to living organisms such as fungi and bacteria that promote plant growth.

Redwood’s characteristics are shared with a few other conifers such as cypress, pine, eucalyptus, and cedar to mention a few. Eucalyptus leaves actually drip mildly acidic phenolic, and that is why there is very rarely anything growing under a eucalyptus tree. That is also why we do not include eucalyptus in our compost core material. Cedar - also to be avoided in soil amendments - contains three toxins; phenol, creosote, and thujaplicin (known for its potent anti-fungal and ant-bacterial properties); reasons we do not include cedar in our compost core material!! Cedar is extremely effective as an insect repellant in the closet!

Call us at 1-877-OC-MULCH for more information on our products and recommendations.

NITROLIZED FIR SHAVINGS

Nitrolized fir is a beneficial inert stand alone or “mix” soil amendment.  It is derived from construction fir wood material that has been “nitrolized”.

This means that the fir has been treated with its own nitrogen, so that it does not cause nitrogen drag – or the removal of nitrogen - from the very soil it has been added to as an amendment or soil conditioner.

Aguinaga Nitrofir improves soil structure by way of its irregular particle sizes creating air spaces for oxygen in the soil or mix to which is added. apart form this added characteristic of permeability and aeration, Aguinaga Nitrofir also aids in moisture retention and infiltration of clay laden soils.

Both our Silverado and Irvine location (Orange County, Califiornia) carry Nitrolized Fir Shavings.  

Custom mixes available for this product.  Email or call us for more information. 

info@aguinagagreen.com

1-877-OC-MULCH

Vegetable Garden Mixes

Photo from: www.irrigationdirect.com

Spring is a great time to start a vegetable garden.

Aguinaga Green has two different mixes for vegetable gardens.

The first one, Organic Blend, is if you have existing soil and you are looking for an amendment.

The second mix, Veggie Mix, is if you do not have existing soil for your vegetable garden.

Both are available in bags or in bulk (cubic yard).  We deliver too!

As always, if we can make you a custom mix if you're looking for something specific.

Call us today at 1-877-OC-MULCH

Signs of Nutrient Deficiency

A very cool image that shows the signs of nutrient deficiency in plants.

Source:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/rmgard/msg051113452938.html

Calcium: New leaves misshapen or stunted. Existing leaves remain green. 

Nitrogen: Upper leaves light green.  Lower leaves yellow.   Bottom (older leaves) yellow and shriveled.  

Carbon Dioxide: White deposit.  Stunted growth.  Plants die back. 

Phosphate: Leaves darker than normal.  Loss of leaves. 

Iron: Young leaves are yellow/white with green veins.  Mature leaves are normal. 

Potassium: Yellowing at tips and edges, especially in young leaves.  Dead or yellow patches or spots develop on leaves. 

Manganese: Yellow spots and/or elongated holes between veins. 

Magnesium: Lower leaves turn yellow from inwards.  Veins remain green. 

Aguinaga Green can make custom soil amendments to fix your current nutrient deficiencies.  Call us at 1-877-OC-MULCH or email us at info@aguinagagreen.com