Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Gardening secret

Monday was my annual Mulch Day, in which I spend a few hours spreading a pickup bed full of spent compost between the rows of my garden. Spent compost is the mulch-like substrate that mushrooms grow in, and it is truly marvelous stuff.

Pile it on 3 or 4 inches deep, and you won't have to weed the rest of the summer. It makes your garden look fantastic and professional. And when it decomposes, it enhances the soil.
And no, it doesn't smell bad.
You can get it from some of our local mushroom growers -- and visiting a farm is a great way to learn more about the business that is so important to our local economy.
Or you can visit the spot where the workers at Marlboro Mushrooms dump their spent compost each Monday after cleaning out the mushroom houses. It's on the south side of Route 842 (Upland Road) just east of Route 841. It's self-service: just drive in with your pickup, trailer or even bins and start shoveling. It's free!

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