Want a lush, low-maintenance landscape? Start with mulch and compost this spring to boost soil health and keep your plants happy and hydrated.
According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, mulch provides root protection and helps keep the soil and roots cooler during our hot Texas summers. Additionally, mulch helps to minimize erosion, reduce evaporation and can be aesthetically pleasing to the landscape.
Mulching your landscape and garden can also:
- Hinder the growth of weed seeds
- Reduces evaporation of water from the soil
- Lowers soil temperature changes (cooler in summer, warmer in winter)
- Adds organic matter as it decomposes
- Reduces erosion during heavy rains
- Decreases soil compacting in areas with heavy foot traffic
- Gives a more finished look and contributes to the style of the garden
- Saves you money by decreasing the need to water.
But what if mulching your landscape could also help decrease the amount of waste going to our landfills?
The cities of Temple and Belton and the Brazos River Authority (BRA) have partnered to provide mulch and locally created compost in an eco-friendly form that uses materials that would otherwise be destined for our landfill.
Tri-Gro is a high-quality and affordable native wood product made and sold to the general public in Central Texas since 1990. It’s made from brush, limbs and trees collected by the cities of Temple and Belton and combined through a drying process with the biosolids produced by the Temple-Belton Regional Wastewater System facility. The result is a series of compost and mulch products that add value to lawns and gardens while utilizing items that would have been shipped to local landfills.
“Tri-Gro makes the soil more pliable, so it’s easier to work,” explains Randy Lock, regional operations superintendent at the Temple-Belton wastewater treatment plant. “There are also micronutrients in Tri-Gro that you don’t get from a synthetic fertilizer. It’s good for different types of soil, whether it’s clay or sandy.”
Tri-Gro is defined as “a treated sludge product” that meets the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requirements for use as a soil conditioner and organic fertilizer. Products available include:
- Native wood mulch for $4 per cubic yard
- Unscreened compost for $10 per cubic yard
- Screened compost for $12 per cubic yard
Though the products are safe to use on landscape and lawn areas, the BRA recommends not using the products on crops that are intended for human consumption.
Tri-Gro products are available Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click here for a map of the location.
Not all items above are available every day as they often sell out daily. Call the automated system at 254-939-6471 to check availability before you go.
Whether you’re looking to boost curb appeal or grow a healthier landscape, mulch and compost offer a powerful one-two punch. They enhance the look of your landscape while improving soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient availability.