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Time to spruce up!

I can taste it now!

Let’s get started!

Let’s get started

Always number 1- spoil you soil, and I mean in a good way! Great soil makes for strong plants. Treat your garden like a first-class friend. Give your garden a strong start by utilizing our Growers Blend. After this longgggg, cold, wet winter, we could all use an organic dose of goodness. Elevate your materials, soil, bark, rock to make your garden important. The key is to praise it.

Make it easy on yourself and start with easier plants. Maybe radishes, leafy greens, summer squash, and and our favorite -cherry tomatoes. Build on the success of the easier plants and go from there.

Pretty up the area. Add a simple walk way with Decomposed Granite topped with a stabilizer; to a pathway of natural stone or interlocking concrete pavers. Invest in your investment. By elevating the materials, you make your garden important. And boy will that make you feel amazing every day. Have confidence in planting your own food. Who knows, it just might work out! Happy Digging.

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Bark-uary

So much to Bark about. Bark/ mulch comes in different colors, sizes and shapes. Below are the products we keep in stock.

The fibrous bunch:
Redwood Ground Cover – This Redwood product, really looks like it is related to a Gorilla! And boy does it stick to a sloped area. Redwood Ground Cover will mat down like a fine carpet. Orange/Red tones in color, RGC will also decrease soil erosion.
Shredded Cedar – The 2nd most fibrous is our Shredded Cedar. Cedar is a nice topping for your planter box mulching and around your plants. This will keep your plants happy on our cool nights. Red/Brown tones, SC is one the most commonly used products.

Dying for it:
Black and Brown Bark – Our Black Bark and Brown Bark are both color stained a vibrant color. The stain used is non-toxic and pet friendly. The Black really makes your plants pop, also great for that modern accent. While the Brown is a true Brown, both colors accent your home elegantly.

I’m so natural:
Walk-on Bark – A Douglas Fir product, WO is a natural Medium/Blonde toned chipped, slightly fibrous product. This multi-purpose, natural blend mulch works in pathways, garden beds and around ornamental plants.

Oh you little nugget – Our Deco nugget products come in two sizes. Small Deco is 3/4″ to 11/2″ and the Large Deco is 11/2″ to 3″. A premium product, our Deco’s are a rich brown color and are used in many homeowner association approved specs. Everyone loves a nice Deco Bark.

So mulch it up – Happy Digging!



Clever Ideas

What a year it has been!

To think that it’s almost 23? How can that be? To me, it’s time to be free. I dig in the dirt and play ball everyday- I’m just a dog, what can I say.

Now to you humans life is very fleeting, you scurry you hurry- what is the meaning? But when it comes to your home, there is no need to roam. Just make it unique – Include our growers blend with your gardening technique. You may add a new patio with flagstone and pebbles- just make sure it levels. Add in some sod, to make some green space. Maybe a pathway, with crush or just fines. You will love it for sure and it is your design.
If you are thinking of bark (my favorite word) there are oodles of types; colors and shapes, it’s the best thing to use, make no mistake. Make it at least three inches thick, putting it down goes really quick. Bark will keep the weeds down and look really good. Your home will be the best in the neighborhood.

My best part of all is the two legged kind. You customers give my humans such great piece of mind. We are grateful for all of you, the homeowner and the contractor. We will load you by bag or with our big tractor. So thank you to all, the big and to small. We are just a rock yard, here on the corner. Helping our community one yard at a time. It’s been a good year, so we give you a cheer. Wish you good health and happiness too. We look forward to next year, let’s make all our homes look anew.
Just remember my phrase Happy Digging as the New Year’s bells are ringing.

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Sweaters n’ September

The hot weather is finally behind us, cool nights are creeping in. We have been cooped up inside for so long to avoid the heat, we are finally starting to make our way back outside. My humans have started planning for fall planting. They stopped by Valley Rock and picked up Grower’s blend to put some nutrients back into the soil from all the summer planting. They also got shredded cedar to mulch the top of the garden beds to help with moisture retention, insulating the roots of the plants, and to keep me from digging.  We live in Zone 9 for planting so all the goodies we are planting are Broccoli, Corn, Spinach, Lettuce, and Cabbage. It will be a real treat.  

HAPPY DIGGIN’

Clever Ideas

From May to June – Prune, Preserve and Party

Once Memorial Day comes around, our summer pattern begins to set in with longer days and warmer nights.  The end of May is also the time to hit what I call the 3 ‘Ps’.  Pruning, Preserving and of course Partying.  You can’t do the last one, till the 1st two are  complete!

Prune – Get your tools and green waste can out. Once your shrubs are done blooming, deadhead and trim. Next add a layer of top dressing. Our recommendation is to top dress with Grower’s Blend (it contains yummy organic manner).

Preserve – by preserve, I mean water.  Test and check your irrigation system.  Check for time of day, duration, broken lines and valves. The next best preservation step is to add a  layer of  bark 2″ to 3″. The bark will not all retain moisture, but also help with weed control.  The nice polished look of fresh bark is a bonus!

Party – Now this is my favorite PART of all.  Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Whether you are celebrating a graduation, Father’s Day,  or just another beautiful day, your yard will be ready. Your home will reward you, both visually and spiritually!
Happy Digging!

 

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On to the May flowers..

We always get the showers in April and the may flowers are bound to follow.

Here are a few key steps my masters do to make sure there are veggies o’ plenty for the year.

When it comes to gardening you need a plan, starting off with what you are going to be growing your garden in! My masters go to is using Tarter Stock tanks for a raised garden. They love how easy it is to start planting and there is way less prep work versus traditional garden boxes.

The next step and the most important is soil. Although I don’t think it was all that fair that they get to play in the dirt and when I do it, they don’t like it.  Every year we make sure our plants have the best nutrients in the soil. When we first started our raised garden beds my master brought in so Growers Blend (recommended for gardens) and for all the flowers they brought in Planters Mix (recommended for general planting). These days we normally just add extra nutrients soil with Organic compost (amendment).

The last step is making sure those veggies and flowers are protected. This can be done by adding a shredded bark on top. This helps with pests, weed, and retaining moisture to keep the plants cool all summer long.

As always the staff at Valley Rock is always there to help with finding the amount of product you need!

Clever Ideas

Has Spring Already Sprung?

It is only the beginning of February and I am already wanting to wade in water.  But what does this do to my friend Mother Earth and her plants?  According to my elder friend Farmer Almanac, he says that California will be mild and dry this winter.  So that’s what we are going with – mild and dry.

For the next 45 days my masters are focusing on two main items ~ which always begin with a PLAN!

Spend some time on your irrigation~ with water being such a precious product, we all want to make sure it is used to the utmost efficiency.  Broken lines, rerouting lines and testing your system should be key.  Draw your garden area out to include irrigation plans.  Set your timers and valves correctly. It will save you time (and $) in the long run.

Devising ways to hold back your soil ~ You know, a way to contain your moist fresh soil! You don’t want that good Growers Blend spilling out of it’s area.  Whether it is a full grown planter bed make with block or an edging made with moss rock, a method of retention is needed.  When you measure, allow for areas to walk, note where the sunny spots will be, and don’t forget about our friend irrigation.  And again it all plays back into your Plan. Most of all by defining planting areas, I will know where the good soil is to lay in!
Option B for planting ~ just purchase one of our Tarter Stock Tanks.  We have oval and round, with multiple sizes to choose from.  I know that it is not easy for me to dig in, but easier for my masters to manage.

Happy Digging!

 

New Product

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring…

I don’t really love the rain… my humans don’t like to take me on very many walks, my paws are always wet, and my favorite toys get covered in mud!

What I do love about the rain is my humans are home more (which means more belly rubs for me!) The rain always makes the house cold, so my humans use Black Walnut Hardwood to heat up the house! I LOVE curling up in my dog bed next to the fire, and this stuff really warms me up! The Black Walnut Hardwood burns so hot and for such a long time!

 My humans keep talking about how convenient it was to pick up since it was available in full pallets, half pallets and by the bundle! There is no dirt, no bark, which means less mess! (Although who doesn’t love to BARK) They even purchase the smaller pieces sometimes which I think makes for a rather great stick to chew on!