Feed Your Lawn and Garden Organically
Did we mention that we hate the synthetic stuff? Our goal is to help you grow safe, healthy lawns and gardens by focusing on the soil and the natural flow of nutrients and biologics within it. Most of our yards are addicted to "fast food." That method takes the top-down approach. Pouring chemical nutrients on our lawns and gardens only provides part of what the soil and plants need. It neglects the need for humus, which microorganisms use in the natural process of nitrogen cycling. Soon after applying synthetic fertilizers, the soil is left depleted and requires an influx of chemical nutrients again to support life.
Nitrogen cycling or mineralization occurs when bacteria remove nitrogen from the atmosphere, processing it along with biologic material, hummus, to make nutrients available to your plants. It is nature's fertilizer. According to Paul Tukey, "Synthetic fertilizers not only bypass nitrogen cycling; they often slow the mineralization process by killing many of the microorganisms involved." Worse yet, as bad as those fertilizers are for our yards, they are even worse for our waterways, causing algae blooms and supporting certain species at the expense of many others. A 2001 USDA study found that nearly 80 percent of synthetic fertilizer is wasted when it leaches through the soil, gets washed off into the waterways, or vaporizes. Another drawback: synthetic fertilizer is manufactured from fossil fuels. And that is just the fertilizer, we haven't even started talking about pesticides and herbicides - yet!
Our plan will be to analyze the needs of your soil and to use natural methods to remedy any nutritional deficiencies. We will be adding organic matter on a regular basis by mulching your grass clippings. With correct watering, aerating, and overseeding, your yard may only need an additional application of half an inch or so of compost to make it healthier than you thought possible.
- For more information on this service, please call Valarie at 775-250-2240 or email at
Valarie@HeirloomGardensReno.com
