The organic land care program we at Richard Landscaping use is very simple, and is based on my own insights as a horticulturist, and my experience utilizing different landscape techniques. We believe this is a proven approach that you should demand of your landscaper.

We always prepare a custom program, based on an initial site inspection. We note key plants and weeds that can give us some idea of the pH, compaction, drainage, shade, and even fertilization we’ll need to deal with as we prepare our program. After the work is done, we evaluate the property in anticipation of a transition to organic gardening.

An important part of maintaining a garden organically is to promote sustainability — using tested and proven approaches that require less energy and water consumption, fewer products or applications, and usually a transitional program prior to organic land care, to allow the microorganism and plants to integrate and establish better interactions. Lawn and planting beds respond better to compost applications than any other amendment — it improves the physical and chemical properties while enhancing the soil biology, without introducing foreign populations that will require special conditions to get established (like compost tea).

The goal of organic land care is to build up a good sustainable soil to provide plants with what they need to grow, and reduce human intervention after establishment. The concept also involves rocks, creeks, rustic stone work, water features, and a diverse selection of plants that will attract and maintain beneficial and desirable insect and bird populations.

All these tools — along with proper mowing height, correct watering of lawns and plants, clippings management, the use of horticultural oil, constant IPM and organic weed prevention — will help contribute toward a beautiful garden with truly organic land-care service.