There is no soil that can not be amended!

Clay laden soils cause difficulties in growing plants for several reasons - there is little oxygen within it, the impermeable character of the clay is a barrier to young propagating roots, it is sticky and hard to work with - and further, clay laden soil has a high alkalinity which is hard on roots.

When clay laden soil is mechanically broken up by tilling or spading, the loosened of the soil structure makes air pockets for much needed oxygen which is introduced - and when an amendment is added to the soil such as gypsum, further chemical remediation is added to the mix.

Gypsum is used both as a chemical and physical amendment for such soils. Sulphur is added from the gypsum, and the calcium in gypsum when mixed with water becomes soluble and is also taken up by the plant; both essentially for growth. The gypsum both mechanically and chemically breaks down the clay barrier to the plant growth and promotes porosity for drainage.

At Aguinaga Green, we contend that there is no soil that can not be amended!

GPS1 (general purpose soil amendment) is made from composted and totally "green" plant and tree cuttings. Visit either of our locations (East Orange or Irvine) to pick up some GPS1. We can load it right into your truck bed. We also deliver. Call 1-877-OC-MULCH for delivery prices or if you'd like some advice on how much product you need for your project. The general rule is that one cubic yard will cover approximately 100 square feet with three inches of material

Once you have the GPS1, you'll need to break up the top six inches of the clay soil. It's best to do this when the soil is dry, not wet. You can do this with a shovel or you can rent a tiller. Then add the GPS1 and mix it in. The area will be higher, and this will help with drainage.

Erosion testing with UC Riverside

Last summer, Aguinaga Green was ask to participate in erosion testing performed by the University of California – Riverside.

August 8th. 2009 a site was burned by members of the Riverside Fire Department and treatments were randomized within each of three rows with a variation in the compost application.

Two composting media were applied in different thickness. One consisted of “CLEAN GREEN COMPOSTED MATERIAL” and the other of “COMPOSTED BIOSOLID WASTE”
AGUINAGA GREEN provided all the clean green mulch for the project.

The testing plots are shown here on a hillside near the university - being discussed between AG and the university project manager. Rain events were monitored and runoff samples were collected from plastic bins following each storm event. Samples were analyzed for volume, pH, salinity, phosphorus, ammonia, nitrates, etc.

The sites were planted with seeds native to the area at twice the suggested rate per acre to assure a visually strong result.

Of great interest to us was that even after following the complete growing season – there was no result at all, on the biosolid plots - which is adequately shown even in the now-spent and cycled landscape test plots.

Our beliefs towards biosolids are further fortified that among other things that the salinity, heavy ammonia and phosphorus contained in this particular biosolid waste had an adverse impact – or curtailed the germination of the seeds spread under control in the project.

Aguinaga makes it to the front page of OC Register

Check it out!
http://jan.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/16/o-c-family-has-made-soil-rich-for-63-years/37383/

Aguinaga's Athletic Field Mix - 15% off

Mention our blog and get 15% your order of Athletic Field Mix.

It's almost summer, and time to rejuvenate your athletic fields. Keep them healthy and dependable by following these simple steps: mow your turf very short and then mark where your sprinklers are. This is so that they don't get hit when you aerating the field. Next, aerate the field. Aerating is putting small holes into the turf so that soil compaction is reduced and air and water can reach the roots of the turf. Next, add the top dressing. Aguinaga's Athletic Field Mix is the perfect product. This process can be done quickly by operating a spreader machine, which Aguinaga can do for you. After the Athletic Field Mix is put down, it's time to add grass seed to the field. Grass seed strengthens the turf and fills in the thin spots - which makes the field safer to play on and more dependable.

Our specially formulated Athletic Field Mix is a nitrogen stabilized top dressing, that is 0-1/4 inch in particle size. It is ideal for turf aeration, moisture retention, and root development. Our Athletic Field Mix also helps reduce compaction.

We can also apply our Athletic Field Mix on your fields with our spreader. We have applied our Athletic Field Mix on dozens of parks, schools, and high schools in Orange County. Call Amy to discuss your next field rejuvenation job at (714) 865-6521

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

What's that SMELL?!?!

We have received calls regarding four rotten egg like odor coming from bulk compost that had been deposited in their neighborhood.

Properly composted material has a distinctive but pleasant earthy smell.

The odors that we find offensive are ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and those coming from volatile fatty acids.

Ammonia is generated by the buildup of nitrogen in an area of the compost that does not get enough air. This is called an anaerobic condition and is caused by the compost not being turned and aerated properly. At Aguinaga Green, we turn our compost every three days - both to eliminate this problem, and as well to assure complete composting and temperature increase to 132 degrees F within the pile (and hence elimination of all seeds and pathogens.)

Hydrogen sulphide is also caused by anaerobic (loss of oxygen) conditions and smells like rotten eggs. This is also eliminated with proper control of the compost material.

Volatile fatty acids are produced by microbial decomposition under anaerobic conditions, within the pile - also caused by improper control of compost.

Use only STA certified and approved sources such as Aguinaga Green, Inc for the compost you place around your home and family.