As a guide, 1 yard will cover an area 10 feet by 10 feet, 3 inches deep.

ie. 10x10x3= 1 yard.
(750L= 1 yard)

LAWNS

For new lawns a minimum of 3 inches is recommended. To TOPDRESS lawns, spread soil approx 1 inch deep over existing grass. Rake over so grass blades are visible. Overseed if desired.

GARDENS

For beds, the depth of the soil is determined by what you are planting. Consider the root ball of the plant and ensure there will be at least 6-12 inches of soil below the roots. The more soil, the better. You can work the new soil into the existing soil to gain extra depth.

Adding Manures or Compost early in the season really is the foundation for a great garden all season long.  They add more available nitrogen (food for the plants), aerate the soil and improve drainage, vital for health root development.

HOW?

For best results, spread 2-5 cm (1-2") of manure or compost on existing soil and mix.

May also be used to topdress lawns. Spread 1 inch thick over existing lawn and rake over to expose grass blades.

1. Select a pot 2-3 times larger than the old one. 

2. Gently remove your plant by turning the old pot upside down and releasing the plant into your hand. 

3. Place a layer of Cinnabar Farms Potting Soil in the bottom of your new pot and place your plant inside.  Fill the pot to the desired level (approx 1-2 cm from the top of the pot) and compress soil lightly to exclude large air pockets.

5. Water well

Soil pH

The pH scale used to measure the alkalinity or acidity of a substance through the determination of the concentration of hydrogen ions in solution. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. Values below 7.0, to a minimum of 0.0, indicate increasing acidity. Values above 7.0, to a maximum of 14.0, indicate increasing alkalinity.

Spring is a great time of year for planting!

Remove winter mulch to allow the sun to warm the soil.  Put down fresh mulch in a month or so to conserve moisture as the weather becomes hotter and drier.  Lightly hoe bare areas to remove weed seedling to make sure that early flowering weeds don't have a chance to set seed.

Start mowing the lawn.  Wait until grass blades are about three inches long and remove no more than one third each time you mow.  This will keep the grass healthy, shade out weeds and conserve moisture.

Prepare vegetables and annual beds by digging in Cinnabar Composted Manures, Ocean Plus, or Organic Compost.

If you plan on starting a new lawn from seed, you can start preparing the soil now.  Rake the surface level and add our Cinnabar Lawn Soil.

Aerate your lawn and rake it to remove moss.

Summer months are full of tasks for the gardener from mulching and water conservation, to weeding and deadheading.  You also have to be aware of pests and disease problems that seem to occur in the summer due to weather and the growth stages of your plants.

 When watering your plants, make sure to give them deep soakings (meaning to make sure that the first 15cm of the soil is wet).  This will help drive the roots down deeper, making your plant stronger.

Be sure to water your plants in the morning so less evaporation occurs to prevent the plants from burning from the water on their leaves.

Mulching is a great way to conserve water in your garden.  Apply fresh Cinnabar Mulch in the beginning of summer as well as throughout the season when levels are getting low.  Mulch will help retain water and lower the effects of evaporation.

 Rejuvenate your garden in the summer by using our organic compost.  It's a great way to mulch and fertilize all in one step.  You can also use our fish compost as an alternative.

The beginning of summer is a good time to apply our good quality organic lawn soil to your yard.  Prevent moss and weeds from establishing by keeping your lawn healthy!

Feed your lawns with fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.

For lime lawns apply our Dolomite Lime to maintain pH balance.  Dolomite Lime is the longest lasting pH control.

 Poorly drained soils must be improved by adding organic matter to the soil.  Peat moss, compost, or well rotted manuare are common sources of organic matter.

Apply mulch to protect plants.

Aerate your lawn and increase pores in the soil.

The idea behind winter preparation is to give your garden some help during the difficult winter months.  By preparing and protecting your plants for the onset of winter, they will get off to a great start the following spring.  Here are some helpful tips:

 1.  Avoid keeping your smaller plants or your flowerbeds next to large trees.  This will prevent them from drowning as well as getting covered in leaves which may affect the pH level of your soil.  Rake up your leaves to prevent an increase in soil acidity.  When cleaning up leaves on mulched beds, use a broom to avoid disturbing the mulch.  Leaves must be cleared up regularly in the fall or the spring.  For best results, bunch the leaves into small piles.  This allows the air to circulate more efficiently as well as assisting the breakdown of the leaves for compost.

 2.  If your soil tends to be too acidic, add Dolomite Lime to correct the pH of the soil in fall and spring if necessary.

3.  For vegetable gardens:  do a final harvest when overnight temperatures start reaching below 10 degrees Celcius for more than three days in a row.

4.  Fall is the best time to use fertilizer.  It gives your garden one last good nutritional boost before the deprivation of winter sets in.

 5.  Large annuals can be chopped down and tilled.  Their decomposition then provides nourishment to the soil for the next season.

 6.  Apply a thin layer of Cinnabar Western Bark to your garden.  Think of it as a security blanket.  Small shrubs can be protected with mulch piled up around the base of the plant.  This is very important for younger plants approaching their first winter as their roots are still near the surface.  Manures, compost and mulch should be lightly tilled into your garden to break up the surface.  This aerates the ground and also helps to insulate your plants from freezing temperatures.  The jagged edging helps your garden retain water while improving drainage and prevents root rot.

Container gardens:  When clearing away patio furniture, make sure you don't leave your container garden behind.  Most pots will break in winters harsh temperatures.  After the first frost, dump the contents into your garden and till it into the soil, or compost it.

 If you add organic matter, such as our Cinnabar Peat Soil from our own peat bog, to your lawn or garden every fall and spring, you will see improvment with every browing season.

Well-balanced soil that contains a lot of organic matter will keep plants healthy and growing well.

 Cultivating your soil should be done throughout the whole growing season.  This will be very beneficial to the health of your plants, the soil pH and water consumption.