Many people add perennials, new bushes and trees to their landscaping in the spring. Those tender new plants can have a tough time getting established when the heat of a Virginia summer kicks in. Did you know that compost not only provides plants with nutrients they need but also helps them retain moisture during dry conditions? You can buy “Rappa-Grow” compost from the Regional Landfill by the cubic yard. Rappa-Grow is a recycled product made from yard trimmings and biosolids from Stafford’s wastewater treatment plants. Best of all, it’s all natural and eliminates the need for toxic chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
“We have a pretty sophisticated system here at the landfill to create compost. We have a building dedicated to the process of composting and use air blowers and thermometers to make sure the compost is at a constant temperature,” said Diane Jones, Recycling Coordinator for the R-Board, a partnership between Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg. “Rappa-Grow can boost the health of plants.”
Compost soaks up water and slowly releases it to plants, decreasing the need for watering. It also improves soil structure and promotes root growth in new plants, helping ensure that your landscape investment not only survives to the next season but thrives. You can water down compost and use it as a fertilizer instead of using chemical fertilizers. Watered down compost can also be used as a bug repellent, which is desperately needed in the hot summer months.
Reducing chemical usage is extremely important in Stafford as the county is located in two different watersheds – the Rappahannock and the Chesapeake Bay. Every chemical that goes into the ground in Stafford finds its way to the Rappahannock or Potomac rivers and into the Chesapeake Bay.
Rappa-Grow may be purchased on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at the Scale House at the Regional Landfill, 489 Eskimo Hill Road, Stafford, VA 22554. Patrons may gain access through the Commercial Entrance to the landfill. The cost is $15 for a cubic yard. There are limited amounts available and it is first come, first served. Landfill personnel will load your truck or trailer. For more info, visit www.r-board.org.