John & Bob's Blog

Unwanted moss is a common issue in many gardens. We were emailed a question from one of our customers about her unwanted moss. Her question highlights a common gardening misconception about the root of the problem. Leona in Los Angeles tells us, “I recently applied the Blend to my back yard. Today I noticed areas of moss. I understand that one of the products will help balance the soil. Will this improve the ph to the degree that my moss problem will begin to go away?  Or will I have to kill the moss and rake it up? Can't wait to get more product and use it in my shrub and perennial gardens.”

Most gardeners have experienced the common problem of moss growing where we’d rather have lawn or other plantings flourish instead....

Gardens should address the needs of people. Traditional landscaping with unused lawns doesn’t do this effectively. It also doesn’t conserve water efficiently. We are advocates for gardens that produce edible food, inspire us with beauty, encourage activity and interaction, save water and energy, establish a healthy and organic environment with lively soil, and most of all, create a useful space.

This recently completed garden was designed with these goals in mind. Below is a before picture, and we’ll follow our process so you can see the finished garden.

Before: Looking towards the home

This garden was a traditional landscape with an overgrown lawn and shrubs all around it. The shrubs covered all the fences and walls, which created a maintenance problem. What we’re going to replace it with is a much more useful garden that is interactive, encourages people to walk through...

We often get asked if John & Bob’s products work on certain types of plants; flowers, fruits, vegetables, trees, shrubs, or lawn? But the most common question from home gardeners is “Will it work on my roses?” The short answer is yes! John & Bob’s does wonders for all plants, including roses, because it addresses the fundamental issue of gardening: does your soil have the nutrients, enzymes, and soil life it needs to nourish and immunize your plants against pests and disease?

Picture sent in by Gloria Bonde

Joan from Illinois asks, “Please let me know what I can use on my roses for fertilizer and soil conditioner.” A fantastic combination for roses is Optimize, Maximize, and Read More

Tired of replacing potting soil year after year for your container gardening? What if there was a way to re-use your existing potting soil, even after a season of heavy feeders like tomatoes and annuals. John & Bob’s has a solution to do just that, while saving time, money, and energy.

I get it; some people don’t have the space for a large garden or don’t have the time and energy to make it successful. That is why container gardening is gaining in popularity! The foundation of container gardening is the quality of life in your potting soil. If your potting soil has the nutrients that plants need, you are giving annuals and vegetables the best start they could possibly have.

These Navel Oranges are continuing to grow in the same potting soil after 10 years!

It’s important to revitalize potting soil for container gardening, almost...

Your lawn has the same needs every year; fertilize, water, repeat. Have you ever stopped to think why your lawn uses so much fertilizer, why you have to immediately water it in to prevent burning, or why it is still plagued by pests, disease, and lack of vitality in between fertilizations?

 The answer isn’t as complicated as you would think. The most commonly used chemical fertilizers from your local box store work great in terms of lawn growth. You see results short term and your lawn shows green until the next application. But what is the chemical fertilizer actually doing? It feeds your grass with macro-nutrients while the salt content damages soil quality, destroys life in your soil, and makes your lawn more likely to suffer from pests/disease.

The reason chemical fertilizers need to be applied so often is a lack of...