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 

Ferrous Sulfate in Mulch

FERROUS SULFATE IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE APPLIED TO UN-COMPOSTED MULCH TO MAKE IT DARKER AS WE HEAR SOME OF OUR COMPETITORS ARE DOING.

Ferrous sulfate is an iron containing compound that has been around since the middle ages. It found early uses for the dying of wood marquetry for decorative woodwork as early as the 17th century, as well as dying wool, and in the manufacture of ink.

Properly composted mulches and material that go through the U.S. Compost Council protocol that Aguinaga Green follows, earns its own dark brown color and earthy scent through specific timing and control in composting!

Ferrous sulfate is used beneficially in the remediation of iron chlorosis in soils, and as well to acidify alkaline soils; it should not be used to disguise materials that have not been properly composted to nullify the danger of Ecoli, pathogens, weeds and seeds in the mulch that you place around your home and around your pets and children.

Forest Floor Mulch in Mission Viejo

Our Forest Floor Mulch being blown in the medians in the city of Mission Viejo.  All of our products are organic and STA Certified.  Aguinaga Green is the only producer of Forest Floor Mulch.

Aguinaga Green's CG1 Wood Chips

Aguinaga CG1 is a natural wood mulch product derived from a special grind of 

construction fir that results in a particle size of one inches minus, with very low 

dust content. 

The resulting particle size of this Aguinaga material has been tailored to be heavy 

enough that it will resist wind disturbance, remaining in place - and as well interlock 

to a degree, thereby resisting erosion through rainfall and runoff.  

Aguinaga CG1 is a durable ground cover that is well suited as a mulch or general 

landscape cover. 

The natural woodsy color of CG1 adds a pleasant contrast to plant architecture and 

Aguinaga CG1 has the added benefit of protecting the ground from heat in the 

summer – which will reduce water requirements, and also acting as a barrier to the 

cold of winter. 

While conserving soil moisture by reducing evaporation, CG1 also restricts and 

reduces the ability of weeds to germinate.    

Aguinaga CG1 is normally spread in a two inch thick layer in beading areas and is 

also used on foot paths or walk-ways where a visible but very natural distinction to 

adjacent landscaping is desired. 

Spreading Fields in Orange County

California Erosion Blend

Aguinaga Green is reintroducing the fall special on our California Erosion Blend.  

Email us at info@aguinagagreen.com for pricing and more information!  

Aguinaga Grinder

Here is an inside look at the heartbeat of one of Aguinaga's large green landscape material grinders.

 

Maintenance is carried out daily to make sure the moving parts of this equipment are lubricated and all material reducing components are properly tightened before this one thousand horsepower machine is turned loose on inbound material.

 

With the machine canopy closed on top of the mill you see here, trimmed shrubs, branches, leaves, and tree trunks are dumped in a funnel like surround by CAT front wheel loader tractors.  The result is as much as 600 cubic yards of material per hour being ground and then ready to begin the composting process.  

Soil Analysis for Locally Grown Strawberries

Many of us drive by local agriculture on our daily drive. 

What you may not know is that Aguinaga not only supplies everything from various cover mulches to specialized soil amendments, but also is actively involved in the Agriculture industry supplying amendments that enrich the soil and aid in robust growth and positive results.

Here Roger Aguinaga - president of Aguinaga Green and Garn Wallace of Wallace Labs, inspect roots of strawberry plants to evaluate their condition. To do this, soil is analyzed as well as plant tissues in order to evaluate the plant uptake of nutrients and any requirement or deficiency that may be evident.

There is no soil that can not be amended

Seldom is any soil found in an ideal condition for general planting.

Aguinaga regularly analyzes soil samples provided to us by surrounding theme parks and cities, landscapers, and our local customers.

Usually the simple blending of amendments will correct deficiencies such as soil compaction, condition the soil relative to porosity, aeration, and percolation - and as well augment low levels of nutrients.

With few exceptions there is virtually no soil that can not be amended.

Vermeer

One of Aguinaga Green's grinders that we use to process material. Our Vermeer is a one thousand horse power machine which can produce 600 CY an hour.

Research with University of Riverside

Aguinaga Green continues to be active in supporting research with University of Riverside. Shown here, is a material mixed specifically to amend a test plot which will be involved with research in the eradication of Asian Citrus psyllid.

Soil Core Sample

Aguinaga Green is actively involved in solving city landscape problems. Here, Roger Aguinaga extracts a soil core sample for analysis. The maple trees on this particular median were experiences tip burn - and Aguinaga Green analyzed the soil and designed a custom mix to fix the problem.

Spreading Mulch and Amendments

Aguinaga spreads mulch and amendments for everything from local community soccer and baseball fields to the still visible and viable agricultural segment of Southern California.

Our hydraulic driven spreaders can accomplish a homogeneous quarter inch thick spread thirty feet wide, and dial up to as much as a delivery of twenty tons of amendment per acre.

Making Custom Mixes

Our owner, Roger Aguinaga, making a custom mix.