Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question you don’t see here, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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What is organic landscape maintenance?
Organic maintenance is about nourishing your soil and getting it into a proper, natural balance. It’s about using materials that occur in nature to make your lawn, plants, and trees as healthy as possible. However, anyone looking for a “quick fix” should not consider organic lawn maintenance. It takes a certain amount of time – usually around six months – for your yard to adapt to the new system. Once it does, you’ll get a more beautiful yard with the knowledge that you’re getting those results naturally and safely.
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What’s wrong with using chemicals?
The pollution in our lakes and drinking waters is largely from lawn fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. These products even end up in our water supply. Chemicals can also create a potentially toxic environment for your family and pets.
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Does “organic” and “all-natural” mean it’s more expensive?
Not at all. In fact, organic landscape maintenance is actually more cost effective. With chemical fertilizer, 60 –70% of the bag is filler. With organic fertilizer, the entire bag goes to work in your yard. You’ll also save money on your water bill.
Once you achieve balance in your soil, you’ll only need to water once a week most of the time. -
What do the numbers on the fertilizer bag mean?
The three numbers represent the percentage of the three most prominent elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, and soluble potash. Our most popular brand of organic fertilizer has a 5-3-2 ratio, which means 5% nitrogen, 3% phosphorus, and 2% potassium.
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What time of the year should I fertilize?
With organic fertilization, any time is a good time. Nature is fertilizing constantly by using decaying material that becomes food for new growth. As a result, any season is an excellent time to “go organic.”
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What type of grass is best for shade?
St. Augustine grass will hold up in shade much better than Bermuda grass. We highly recommend using a liquid fertilizer with seaweed and fish emulsion to give shade grass the nutrients it needs. It’s also good for the trees.
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How much should I water?
Even during the hot summer, when your landscape is showing signs of stress, extra watering is not the answer. Instead, you should water deeply and infrequently. In the summer, only water two times per week for grass and annual plant areas, and as needed for mature bedding areas (no more than once per week and probably only once per every two weeks). Make sure you are watering for long periods of time. Annual beds may need an extra hand watering between scheduled watering times.
Remember: city water contains chlorine and ammonia, which are not good for your landscape. So don’t overwater! If you have specific questions about watering needs for your landscape, contact us. We will be happy to help. -
How do I know if I’ve watered enough?
When watering, make sure you apply one inch of water per area. To check this, place an empty tuna can in the yard and run your sprinklers. Run water long enough to fill the tuna can, then stop and record the time. Repeat this process at various places in your yard.
If water begins to run off the landscape before the watering is complete, use shorter times and water two or three times the same day. For example, if you need to water a particular area for 30 minutes to apply one inch of water, but the water runs off after 20 minutes, water for two 18-minute periods. Start one 18-minute period at 1:00 a.m., then start another 18 minute period at 3:00 a.m.. Most automatic controllers give you this capability.
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Should I scalp my grass in the spring?
No. This practice only puts the grass in stress and encourages weeds.
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How can I discourage weeds?
Keeping your grass at a height of two to three inches allows your yard to flourish and creates a difficult environment for weeds to germinate. Corn gluten meal is a natural herbicide that’s most effective when applied in the spring and fall.
If you are new to organic lawn care (started within the last two years) you will probably have more problems than those who have been organic longer. Our products make the soil healthy and weeds are the first to benefit from that increased health. Bermuda turf grass will allow more weeds than a St. Augustine lawn.
Our plan is to accept a few weeds, manually extract the ones you cannot live with, and mow regularly.
We absolutely do not recommend herbicides, which pollute our environment and water supply.
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What are soil amendments?
Soil amendments are products that provide many benefits: they help reduce fungus, retain moisture, deliver nutrients, neutralize the chemicals in city water, and add trace minerals that are basic building blocks in nature. Examples include lava sand, green sand, sulfur, corn gluten meal, dry molasses and corn meal.
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Chemical fertilization requires mechanical aeration. Does organic fertilization require that?
No. Once your soil is stimulated and the micro-organisms are active, your soil will be aerated naturally