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Summer Summer Summer

Boy I do love summer- and weekends are ALWAYS loading – warm nights, sitting by the pool with my master……It is also a great time to add a new element to your yard.  We have plenty of outdoor time. And I sure intend on utilizing it!

Quartzite Flagstone ~ My fur does look amazing next to the Quartzite Products.  Quartzite Silver or Gold hails from Idaho.  It has mica in it, that creates a sparkle.  You can have a patio, courtyard or just a pathway.  Flagstone can be placed 5″ to 6″ apart and planted in between to create an informal look.  Or you can combine Gator Dust (Gray or Beige), a polymeric product used in the joints to ensure a solid surface.  Gator Dust will help with the pesky weeds.

Mexican Pebbles- What a choice.  This pebble is smooth round and beautiful.  Picked off the beaches of our friends from the south, this product does not disappoint.  We carry from 1/4″ to 2″x3″ sizes with multiple colors.  The most popular is the black pebble.  But we also bring in the red, buff and multi-color blend.  My master says this product is “premium”.

So whether you add a patio, or just accent with a different pebble.  Large or small, change is good.  I think all you humans know that by now.  Happy Digging!

Clever Ideas, New Product

June Swoon

You ever notice in June there is always a swoon…..that just makes me want to rest and relax.  But my masters, they take advantage of the picture perfect days!  They even want to build walls, now that is crazy.  Here are three natural stones that make a nice dry stack wall.

  • Moss Rock ~ A lava product from Northern California.  This is available various sizes; minis, headsize, double headsize and boulders.  The most economical choice and most common in our area. It pairs well with the cold water canyon flagstone, Mexican pebble red and small deco bark.
  • Oregon Eagle ~ This angular accent rock is brown with gold and gray under tones, and is from the state of Oregon.  This wall pairs well with Oregon eagle patio flagstone, Mexican pebble buff, and brown bark.
  • Rocky Mountain Granite ~ Is also from our northern neighbors in Oregon.  It is a salt and pepper granite with hints of gold.  A wall made of this would be well accented by slate 3″ minus, Mexican pebble black 1×2, and black bark.

Now in building a dry stack wall, use 25 sqft per ton coverage formula as an approximate calculation.  Always make a footer with crushed rock, and re-enforce with a roll of our weed barrier.  You will love the results.  Happy Digging!

 

New Product

May – the force was with us- or was it?

Strange times?  That’s what my masters say.  But to me, life is good.  Company and food is all I need!  But my masters, they have been working hard, kinda of like a dog……  In fact, they have brought in many NEW products for 2020.

Slate Chip 3″ minus – This is actual slate chip in 3″ size or a little less.  Mainly black, with gray and tan mix.  A nice modern look to your home.

Rocky Mountain Granite – Granite Boulders in wired baskets.  About to 12″ to 24″ size.  This is excellent for walls and accent rocks.  Salt and Pepper in color….so nice.

Oregon Eagle – Back by popular demand!  This brown, tan with bits of gold coloring flagstone is back.  When used with the beige gator dust, it creates a solid patio.  Along with the Patio Flagstone, we have Oregon Eagle Accent Boulders.  These boulders are 12″ to 30″, a perfect size for inside your garden bed areas. We can’t wait to see what you create.

Happy Digging

New Product

The Time is Now

We have all heard this phrase “the time is now”, but really it is. The time is now to complete the things you want to complete.  If you have been putting off your home projects, because of time, maybe that priority has changed.  I know as a dog, my priority is always, sleep, eat and dig.  Maybe you could learn a little from “man’s best friend”.  These are my masters favorite projects in the Spring.

  • Starting the veggie garden – Soil, water, plants and sun.  Basic ingredients.  Now we can help you with the soil. Our Growers Blend is an organic product and the perfect choice for your vegetable garden.  With a combination of dairy manure, humus, and organic matter, it adds all the ingredients possible to make your garden amazing!  This is tried and true for my masters.  they always have plenty of veggies
  • Topping off under the plants – dressing up under the plants.  it not only looks good, but it will help with weed control and moisture retention.  The selection of bark is amazing, colored barks, nugget bark and shredded barks.  Take your pick.  Bark is light, so a yard to yard and a half will fit in a pick up truck.
  • Adding a little rock into the blend; under plants, next to the house, in a creek bed and for drainage.  My masters do have two new rocks this year.  First, is the 3″ Minus Slate – a flat slate rock with black, gray and tans.  This is a perfect choice for the modern look.  The second new product is 1″ minus Oroville Gold.  The Oroville Gold rock is a tan, gray and gold round rock.  This fits more into the Mediterranean home theme. These are only two of the dozen of rocks my masters have in stock.

So the time is now, for projects, gardens and up keep on your home – and we can help!  Happy digging…..

Clever Ideas, Uncategorized

When in March ~ Just Mulch and Plant

March is in full swing, flowers blooming (and weeds too).  Warm longer days, and still cool nights  Completing maintenance on your yard is a spring list item. Gardening, planting, weed control, pruning, and oh yeah, just getting some vitamin D is on my list for sure!

  • Redoing your Garden – If you are redoing your garden from last year, start by cleaning and clearing out.  Weed the area, and get the ground smooth.  Check your irrigation lines and timers. Now remeasure the area and the depth you will need to refill with #growersblend.  With our extra evening hour, it is the perfect time to work.  #wedeliver
  • New Garden Install – Location, Location, Location.  Sunshine, water, soil and love are the key ingredients.  Raised garden beds are always easier on the back, and look trendy too.  But my Grandpa always just planted in the good old Earth.  Both choices do require our #growersblend.  In your raised garden beds, measuring is more exact – just tell us square footage and the depth you require.  For planting in the Earth, turning the soil over, adding in new #growersblend. Create your rows and mound up with our soil.
  • The Area Around Your Garden – You know, that area you walk on? We have great choices- #rock #bark aka #mulch.  These products will keep the area more weed free, and clean too.  A crushed rock (not a round rock) will pack down better and have a tendency to stay in place.  We have many selections of rock to choose from; crushed, round and color variations.  Around the garden boxes, rock creates a clean edge that many people love.  For gardening with rows in the Earth, many gardeners do prefer bark (mulch).  It will decompose back into the Earth, while help with the weed issue between rows.  Our bark selection, we have color choice and styles too.  Bark, of course is a “lighter” weight material, thus easier on your back for install.
    Happy Digging!

 

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Our word for 2020 is Sanctuary

Sanctuary – such a calming word. To me it means a cozy spot and a nice treat.  To my owners it means their home.  2020 is the year we all make our homes, our sanctuaries.  But where to start?  Maybe just begin with one piece, one section, one area.

  •  The Front Entry ~ this is the gateway into your home.  What vibe to you want to feel as you enter your home? A new different walkway, an addition of a courtyard, fresh bark, new plants…..all great ideas.
    •   Today I will give you a few Courtyard Suggestions:
      •   One simple and easy to installation solution is a Deco Rock area. Create the shape with bend-a-board edging.  The edging will also contain the rock.  Lay down weed barrier fabric under the rock, and place the rock about 2″ to 3″ deep.
      •  Decomposed Granite (think California Winery style) with Stone Stabilizer added to harden the surface. This requires a little more effort in applying the stabilizer. Create the shape of the area, and dig down about 2″ to 3″.  Install the Decomposed Granite and tamp it as you go.  Apply the Stabilizer with a sprayer to harden the surface.
      •  #Calstone pavers will really elevate the area.  With the colors choices, style (paver finishes) and sizes, certainly one will fit your home.   This is your chance to change the movement of the walkway and entrance. You will need to remove 6″ of material.  Replace the area with 2″ of Road Base and 2″ of Plaster Sand, then install your pavers. Once installed you can add Super Sand to lock in the pavers.  And for a final touch spray on a sealer – you know to seal the deal!     Happy Digging!
Clever Ideas

How I Love the Sun

Every year is different for all of us. And 2020 is no exception!  We have been blessed with such beautiful days and cool nights.  For me as a dog, basking in the sun is my main objective.  And of course watching you humans labor along is my other.  So how about laboring in the garden?

  •  Time to plant and refresh.  Yes, I said plant!  The better the product, the better the return.  And yes it is true.  Just ask my humans.  Every year they use #growersblend for their garden, and by golly it does work.  This rich soil is a blessing, and to think it is available at #valleyrock.  The proof is in the pudding, but in this case, in the lemons, in the tomatoes, you get the message.
  • Did you say refresh……Refresh the soil under your plants, refresh the bark on the ground, refresh the rock around your home.  It all matters.  My humans are experts at figuring out what you need.  They love to help.  Help you with measurements, help you with product selection, help you with setting up deliveries.  Just reach a paw out….
  • Design? Yes we can help with that.  We love measurements, pictures, and drawings.  My humans love all this.  Just bring it in or email it over.  Oh yeah their is always facebook (or should it be dogbook?).
  • It starts with just a corner.  Happy Digging!

 

Clever Ideas

Sealers and Stabilizers

I do like a clean surface to lounge on.  With the landscaping stabilized and sealed it makes relaxing a lot more enjoyable!

Sealer ~ Why Seal?
Gator seal is an acrylic copolymer used to seal concrete pavers and sometime even walls. It penetrates deep into the concrete paver pores, thus reducing the oil and dirt penetration (yeah!).  It is low VOC, and comes in various gloss levels.  I like the zero gloss personally.  This product works best on a perfect day, not too hot or cold, and not too windy.
Signature Natural Stone sealers will enhance the color of natural stone and make the stone easier to maintain in your home.  Talk about giving it a “punch”.

Stabilize to Utilize
Stabilizer can be a binding agent, a stone stabilizer, or a bonding material.  A binding agent would be the Gator Dust that is used between gaps of natural stone.  Thus creating a “mortar” like effect.  Hardening up once it is wet.
Gator Super Sand is used between the joints of concrete pavers to seal, keep organic matter out of the joints, and to ensure the integrity of the paver.  Both products are available in gray or tan.
Stone Stabilizers are most popular when applied with our Decomposed Granite.  it is applied via a sprayer to a tamped surface creating a hardened area.  Always a hit at the local brewery or winery!
Gator Bonds are used to secure blocks (calstone roman stone) or caps on walls.  A bond binder kit can also secure together a rock that is 3/8″ minus.  Bond Binder would be mixed with the rocks and then installed.  A little more work, with a fantastic result.

Sealers or Stabilizers are usually something you do near the end of a project, or as a maintenance task for your home.  If it’s suggestions or advice you need, my owners are good at that.
Happy Digging!