You know, us dogs are not much different then you humans, or even plants for that matter.  We all have key components that we share on this wonderful Mother Earth.  We all love to eat, relax and grow….so here we go.

•  Aqua- Ahhh yes, the source for life.  Triple check your irrigation lines and start times.  Be sure to double up on your hand water pots on these “dog” dayz.
• Shade- Any plants you have that are on the delicate side (me for instance) need to be shaded while we experience our heat wave.  Now we all have plants or friends (you know who you are), that thrive in our warm valley.  But some are transplants and need extra TLC.  So be sure you take care of them!
• Sunscreen or Bark – Bark is kind of like sunscreen for plants.  Bark will help protect the roots, and hold the moisture in the soil. With multiple choices of Bark at Valley Rock, what an easy way to help out.  And besides that, it looks pretty darn good.

So grab your sun hat, sunscreen and a large cool drink; and get to work making your friends feel better.  Happy digging!

So much to celebrate in June…with the month named after the Goddess of Marriage, no wonder my masters have an event every week.  But still so much to do out here in my garden, besides hiding my bones.
*Maintenance is always an issue, is my dog bowl full? Is my bed clean?…on and on.  But for the garden is the irrigation working? Are the drip lines clean? Do all the drip lines work? Is the timer on at optimum times?  All of this effects the plants and veggies.  Check, recheck and set, that’s my motto.
*Speaking of veggies, there is still thyme to plant your herbs.  With ample sun and consistent watering, your herbs will thrive.  Plant them close to your back door.  That way you can smell them and access them easier. I especially love the smell of rosemary.
* Weed, deadhead, fertilize and weed some more.  The secret to a well loved garden is management.  Deadhead fading blooms to produce new blooms.  Control those pesky weeds, they just get in my coat.  Keep my soil moist but not soggy (I love to lay in cool soil). And please give my plants some food, they love fertilizer.
To love my garden is to love me.  Please keep my surrounds nice and remember, happy digging!

I know it is not even Memorial Day (one of the most honorable days of the year), but what is up with the early June gloom?  The good news with that is, there is still time to get your garden in. This week is the perfect time to complete it.  Just a few pointers on your endeavor.
*  Select a fully sunlit area.  You will need at least 8 hours of God given sunshine.  So avoid areas that may cast a shadow on your crops.  Besides that I truly love to lay in warm soil :).
* Drainage and watering, they kind of go paw and paw, wouldn’t you say?  Add some 3/8 crush rock,  pea gravel or decomposed granite around the base of your garden boxes.  It will assist with drainage and make the space look amazing.  Water daily until the roots are established.  Once established, you can cut the water back to three days a week.
* Soil, the most important ingredient….And my masters have a few to choose from.  The number one pick is Growers Blend.  An OMRI product that contains manure, forestry humus, calcium, and potash, it certainly does magic.  If only you need to amend your garden soil, select our organic compost.  Mix it in well with your soil and plant away.  Or, if you want only the best our “super star” product is Grow 530.  Some of our most selective customers love this option.
The veggies need time to grow, so get it going!  Our warm days are coming.  Happy Digging!

So many dates to celebrate in the month of May.  But none are as important as Memorial Day.  The day set aside for rememberance of American war dead.  And to that I give two paws up.  Us Americans love those who have served just as much as we love our food!
With May celebrating pickle day, apple pie day, brew week and the big day Memorial day; with BBQ’s all around.  I especially love the scraps my owner gives me off the BBQ.  Now before you can celebrate, it’s best to make sure your yard is in order.
Your garden should be started, if not, stop in and get some growers blend or our super duper “530” blend soil.  It is as rich as it smells!.

Not planting a garden?  Don’t forget to lay down some bark. Nothing spruces up an area like fresh bark.  Bark will also hold the moisture in your soil.  I prefer brown bark because it  matches my coat.  But all the choices here are amazing!

Now if you are really ambitious, install a new paver patio.  I do enjoy a smooth surface to lounge on.  You would need two inches of road base, two inches of plaster sand and some of our beautiful pavers.  Now that would be a Mother’s day gift or a Father’s day gift.

No matter what project you choose, we can help.  From ideas to calculations, stop in and see my owners.  Make a toast with those we remember, we are always here to help.  Happy Digging!

Now we all have schedules to follow, whether it be for work, family or in my case sleeping.  We are all defined by our patterns.  And in planting, scheduling is important.

Now in January (or Plan-u-ary) as I call it; we discussed the importance of planning out your projects.
In February we began “awaking” the soil.  And with the month of March it was all about renewing the soil (or yourself).
With April came our April showers.  Now that May is upon us, the garden is in.
Now is the time to top the soil with some compost or worm castings to further enable a robust harvest!  Check your watering; water frequently until the roots are established.  Once establish watering can be cut back to two or three days.
Spruce up the area around the garden; add some decomposed granite or bark around the edge to walk on.  Accent the corners with flower pots, make the area a place you want to be!  Follow your patterns, and you will be amazed how your life will change. Happy digging!

April begins with all the April’s Fool jokes….humans hiding my bones, (it’s not funny to me); and ends with Arbor Day on April 29th, (go plant a tree!) And there are so many things going on in between.  With me digging up fresh growers blend, to me lounging on fresh Delta Blue Grass sod.I truly enjoy watching you humans work feverishly in your yards. Here are some of the projects I see happening…
*  Gardens going in.  Our OMRI Growers Blend which consists of dairy manure, forestry humus, calcium and potash is my choice for the veggies.  Do you need help figuring out how much you need? Just call my humans, they are really smart like that.
*  Flower beds being revitalized.  The Planters Mix, which is humus and topsoil aka “50-50″; works wonders.  If you fill the area with planters mix, you will have color all season.
*  Sod installations.  Now for this topic make sure you put a good layer of planter mix (2″ to 3″) for best results.  And to ensure you have the freshest product, plan ahead.  Order your sod 48 hours (2 days) in advance, our vendor will cut the sod when you order it.  Now that’s service!
* Bark Bark Bark…Nothing looks better than fresh bark.  Bark is my favorite; it’s lighter to move, it’s cost effective, and I love the way it smells.  One cubic yard of bark will cover 100 sqft 3” deep. What ever variety you choose, my owners would love to assist you.
* Connecting pathways, always a plus for us dogs.  Why not connect some areas together in your yard?  You can create a walkway with decomposed granite, 3/8 crushed rock, 3/8 black and white path fines or 3/8 pea gravel.  Just edge it with bend -a-board (a flexible edging) and fill in.  To add more dimension, set in the path natural stone.  I really like Arizona flagstone, it’s a great color against my fur…
So no matter what project you want to tackle this week, Valley Rock is here to advise and plan with you.  Happy Digging!

Mexican Pebbles, such a nice smooth rock to dig up, and it blends with so many landscape styles.  Here are just a few suggestions my master and I have for you.
*  For a mid-century modern (think Frank Lloyd Wright) look, make a square pattern walk way with 3″ gaps.  Fill gaps with ½ to 1 black Mexican pebble. The contrast with the gray shades will achieve this smashing look.
* In our warm valley, many of us dogs love water.  So if you have a water feature and want to update it, try mixing in some Mexican pebble.  It’s probably time to clean the feature out, and while you are doing that, remove some of the existing cobble.  Replace it with 2×3 Mexican pebble.  If you are really adventurous, mix the red Mexican pebble in as well.
* We all love resort living….why not mimic that feel in your yard?  Plant some palms, along with other heat loving plants and dress the earth with 1×2 black Mexican pebbles.  You can tie in additional Mexican pebble in other planting areas in your yard to give it that cohesive relax feel.
* Namaste….can you say zen? Mexican pebble can create a Japanese garden, or a meditation zone. Add a red japanese maple, some green variegated grasses and statement piece of statuary, then cover the ground with all mexican pebble.  As a plus, it is also a low maintenance area.
*  You don’t have any large projects planned?  How about just dressing up your pots?  You can give you potted plants a punch with Mexican pebbles along the base.  It will contrast the pot color, and assist with drainage.
What ever project you tackle, just remember….Happy Digging!

Easter week, Spring Break and Holy Week, it is all about renew, rebirth and regrowth.  Whether you enjoy chocolate bunnies, colored eggs, Easter bunnies or chasing baby chicks (like I do), this first week of spring is about new beginnings. When starting your garden I always think of my senses…dig, sniff and bark.
*  Now to dig is one of my favorite forms of entertainment.  By digging or amending of your soil in your garden, you are performing the most important task.  This does take a bit of paw labor, from purchasing the soil, to moving it to your area, to working it into the garden space, it’s all paws on deck.  A depth of 24″ (or my height) is a good rule for how deep does your garden soil needs to be to produce a hearty harvest.
*  Sniff, sniff, sniff, I can always tell a great soil just by using my nose! Choose our Growers Blend soil, which is OMRI listed dairy manure, forestry humus, calcium and potash; and the scent is heavenly.  The better soil will yield better results.
*  To bark, is to be happy.  Now to make your veggies happy, place bark around the base of each plant.  My owners have multiple bark options in stock to pick from. Bark will hold the moisture in the soil and keep the plants less dirty.
So, renew, regrow, replenish and arise.  Spring is here, go get it done and Happy Digging!

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