What are the guidelines about?
There are many soil and compost products available today, in bagged, bulk, natural
and manufactured forms, and it can be difficult to know what you need. By gathering
input
from producers, landscapers, researchers and government we have formed
guidelines that will help you determine the best soil or compost for your
landscape. Our Soil and Compost Use Guidelines:
- indicate what makes a good soil or compost,
- identify different uses, and
- provide usage tips and directions.
Who is involved?
The idea began over a year ago, and now the Landscape Nova Scotia Horticultural
Trades Association, the Halifax Regional Municipality Environmental Management
Services Department, and the Resource Recovery Fund Board of Nova Scotia have
joined to improve our use of soil and compost in Nova Scotia.
Why did we take this initiative?
Until now, there have not been any common guidelines in this region to help
gardeners, landscapers, and producers identify what soils and composts will
yield quality landscape results for particular uses. How do we know a good soil
or compost from another? Can you tell by it's color, smell, or by feel? With
common guidelines to work with, informed producers and consumers will be more
likely to have success. Many of the landscape problems we encounter are the
result of poor materials selection or installation - shallow poor quality soils
lead to poor plant health and increased pest and disease problems. It is often
easier and cheaper in the long run to start with quality products rather than
deal with ongoing landscape problems. We want to encourage quality products and
workmanship, knowing that this leads to greater satisfaction and comfort in your
perfect landscape.
The guidelines currently describe four uses for soils:
- low traffic lawns
- high traffic lawns
- sportsfields
- planting areas
More soil uses will be added as specialty products and applications are
developed. As composting programs continue to develop, new opportunities for
compost use are also expanding.
The guidelines currently describe seven uses for composts:
- soil amendments for lawns
- sportsfield topdressings
- planting areas
- backfill mixes
- landscape mulches
- erosion control
- filter berms
Role
for maintenance?
Regardless of the soil or compost you work with, there will always be some
role for you to play in the maintenance of your landscape. The level of
maintenance that will be necessary over the long term can be influenced by the
soil that you start with, and we have indicated what
soils are better suited to low, medium, and high levels of maintenance.
Any of
these can be valuable soils depending on your circumstances and you can
determine the right soil for your
desired level of maintenance.
