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1. What is “organic” landscaping? The short answer is landscaping and gardening without the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Our philosophy at Wood River Evergreens has expanded the definition to include abiding by the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) organic landcare guidelines. 2. Are there advantages to having our landscapes maintained organically? Yes! The organic products and methods used on your landscape are safe for pets, children, and the applicators of the products. The benefit of organics is that a healthy soil is created, resulting in healthy, sustainable plants, gardens and lawns to flourish. Organic landscaping works with nature, improving the local ecological techniques used (dating back thousands of years) are truly environmentally friendly and effective. 3. Is organic landscaping more expensive than traditional methods? Initially, converting your landscape to organic methods can be more costly. However, once your landscape soils and plants are healthy and in balance, the cost of maintaining your landscape will be less than traditional high chemical fertilizer and pesticide treatments. 4. Is you company totally organic? WRE is currently a split company with over 60% or our residential clients and 90% of our commercial accounts receiving our complete organic program. The remainder of our accounts continue to receive traditional applications. Our organic division maintains separate equipment, supplies and NOFA-accredited personnel to implement our organic programs. Each year more traditional accounts opt for organics, although I don’t expect a 100% conversion for a while. 5. How do we begin an organic program? The first step is to visit you site, take soil samples, and complete a detailed soil bioassay and soil chemistry analysis. These results will allow us to design a lawn-care program and tree and shrub health-care program for your particular site. Essential to the organic program will be compost, compost teas, organic fertilizers, NOFA-approved products and techniques and follow-up testing to measure the results. I mentioned a short definition of organic landscaping at the beginning. At WRE, we have expanded that concept to include making our own compost, extracting compost tea, looking for alternative energy sources at our own nursery and design center Showcase including solar power, wind power, the use of biodiesel, and recently I purchased a Chevrolet hybrid pickup. Collecting runoff water in cisterns and reusing the water for irrigation is now in place in our Design Center. Sustainable, disease-resistant plants are features in the Design Center. All excess nursery pots and containers are being recycled. I think you can see organic combines other factors which have led us to begin building a permaculture setting at WRE, working with out environment to create a balanced ecosystem with the plants, buildings, land and people that live, work and visit our property. Please feel free to call me any time to discuss organic landscaping … and more.
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