interested in going green?
Concerned about chemicals in your home landscape? We get it. We offer organic lawn care packages so you can have a chemical-free, kid safe and pet friendly lawn.
For those interested in transitioning to organic lawn care we offer this brief primer. Over time, going green has a significant impact on your garden. It will not only yield healthier lawns and landscapes but save money on fertilization, mulching and replacing plant material, as well as reduce, if not eliminate, large-scale spraying and pesticide usage. Check out the Harvard Project.
Organic Lawn Care
As with any transition, there are some caveats to be aware of when switching to organic lawn care:
You will need to pay more up front to convert your property to organics. Like food, organic gardening products (i.e. compost, fertilizer), are generally more expensive than their chemical counterparts.
You should be prepared to let the lawn adjust to an organic program. This typically takes a year. During this time, the lawn may not be pristine as it was because it must be weened off chemicals. Patience is key to this transitional phase and we stress this with our clients so they understand what’s involved.
Finally, you have to accept that insects and wildlife in the garden are OK. There are natural methods to repel certain insects which can be used. However, if you’re going to continue spraying and applying chemical herbicides/insecticides you’re defeating the purpose. The garden web is complex. A healthy garden supports a thriving community of wildlife and this is highly desirable and to be encouraged. If you are intolerant of wildlife and insects then the sustainable garden environment is definitely not for you.
Green Landscapes
If you wish to take the whole property green, you may wish to take a look at your plants and consider implementing water-wise plants aka Xeriscaping. Or, updating your irrigation system to one with a smart timer, rain sensor or soil moisture sensor. Any of these will save you money and reduce the amount of water you’re using in the garden. The upfront costs on irrigation upgrades usually have an ROI of one to two years and then they are making you money once they have paid for themselves.
You may need to convert from chemical feeding your plants to organically feeding them. Chemical nitrogen is made primarily from oil and, when applied at the manufacturer’s recommended rates, kills every living organism in the soil with the exception of undesirables like grubs. If you have been fertilizing chemically, you will have to invest in putting these beneficial organisms back in the soil since the soil web is the backbone of every plant in your garden. Healthy soil = healthy root systems = healthy plants.
Green Rewards
If contributing to the overall health of the environment isn’t enough for you, consider the following benefits:
It’s a scientific fact that lawns and plants treated with organic amendments are bigger, have healthier root systems and live longer.
Your veggie garden will be chemical free!! Organic produce without the price tag.
A wonderful diversity of insects will visit your yard: butterflies, bees, ladybugs, dragonflies and the like.
Ditto for birds! Cardinals, Bluejays, Finches and the like. The sight and sound of increased birdsong on your property is a beautiful and fascinating addition to the garden.
If you have children, teaching them environmental stewardship is a truly worthy goal. What we do today has far reaching effects in the future!
The first year, you may spend more on compost tea and organic material than you did with chemical fertilizers, but after a year or two, you will be spending far less on fertilization and leaf removal if you follow a strong organic program.
Experience the Blossoming difference! Send us an estimate request to find out what we can do for you!
Proudly Serving: Alpine, Closter, Cresskill, Dumont, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Harrington Park, Haworth, New Milford, New York, Norwood, Old Tappan, Oradell, Paramus, Rockleigh, Teaneck and Tenafly.