Garden Questions?
Call the Master Gardener Hotline: Washtenaw County Master Gardeners, with support from the Extension Horticulturist, staff a Garden Hotline from April through October. Advice on general gardening questions and household pest problems can be received by calling (734) 997-1819, Monday through Friday, 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm.
Compost
There are a number of places in Washtenaw County with free or inexpensive compost if you don't have space to make your own. Check these out, and let us know of any others!Ypsilanti Township Compost Site, 2600 East Clark Road
(Between Ford Blvd. and Ridge Road)
Phone: 734-482-6681
Mixed quality compost
Free to Ypsilanti Township residents- 3 yard limit- load your own pickup
9-3 Mon-Fri
http://www.twp.ypsilanti.mi.us/services/compost.shtml
4150 Platt Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: 734-971-8600
$17/yard- bring open-top pickup truck and tarp
8-4 Mon-Fri, 8-12 Sat
High quality, tested compost- test results available on-site
www.urbanoptions.org/PDF/deq-whm-stsw-MichiganCompostingContacts.pdf
Compost calculator:
You need to decide how much area (in square feet) you want to cover, and then the depth of coverage you want to achieve. We suggest one to three inches for vegetable gardens and fall cover crops, between a quarter and half an inch for lawns and raised flower beds. With these numbers, you can either (1) use our handy online Compost Calculator, or (2) you can calculate your needs using the following equation:
Area * Depth * 0.0031 = Compost
(square feet) (inches) (cubic yards)
Visit www.intervalecompost.org/coverage.htm
Rain-barrels
Growing Hope has blue or white 55 gallon barrels, fully assembled, with lid. Cost: $65
If you would like to construct your own, we have rain barrel parts kits for $35- you supply the barrel!
Tools
Growing Hope has tools available for lending to the public, so e-mail us at info@growinghope.net, or come into our office, and specify what you need, and we will work with you to accommodate your needs.
Wood
Building a new raised bed? Got a garden project or two? We recommend any wood that is chemical free or untreated.
Recycle Ann Arbor Reuse Center
2420 South Industrial Highway
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 662-6288
Carter Lumber
2800 E Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti 48198
(734) 484-3923
www.carterlumber.com
Fingerle Lumber Co.
617 S. Fifth Ave., P.O. Box 1167
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1167
(734) 663-0581 (800) 365-0700
Fax: (734) 663-0137
Mon-Thurs: 7:30-5:30 SAT: 8:00-4:30 (ET)
3 comments:
Check out the rain barrel kits, downspout diverters, downspout filters and mosquito control products at http://www.aquabarrel.com
Be sure to find rain barrels which offer a mesh mosquito guard, and also look for barrels which have an overflow valve function to allow the excess water to flow out of the rain barrel and away from your foundation. Hooking a drip hose to this valve is a great way to give your garden or flower bed a constant source of moisture. Cascata rain barrels found here: http://www.gardensupermart.com/store/rain-barrels.php
I agree with paradise ponder, you have got to get a rain barrel with a mosquito filter. In fact many communities require it.
If you are having a hard time finding the perfect rain barrel I would check out Woodland Direct. http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Outdoor/Rain-Barrels
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