ORGANIC LAND CARE

Darcy Paige, the owner of Laurel Garden Design, is a NOFA accredited Organic Land Care professional*. When you install a new garden or hire an accredited Organic Land Care professional, you have an opportunity to improve the environment. With organic land care practices, you can reestablish the health of your soil, provide habitat for wildlife, and improve the water table in your area.

SOIL

Nature provides an intricate system of tiny creatures (beneficial bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes to name a few) that work together to control diseases and feed each other and the plants that grow in the soil. To return the favor of this food and protection, plants send food out of their roots into the soil that attract and feed the microorganisms. If the soil is healthy and teeming with these invisible organisms, we don’t need to feed our plants, and the chance of disease and pest infestation is much less. When we put manufactured fertilizer (nitrates like Scott’s or Miracle Grow), pesticides, or fungicides, we kill many (if not all) of the beneficial organisms. Organic land care practices enhance and care for the soil so that few pests and diseases will be present in the garden. If and when there is a problem, there are many solutions available to us that will not harm the soil (or the birds, bees, and other, above or below ground creatures).

HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE

When your house was constructed, it is likely that all of the native plants were removed from the site and ultimately replanted with mostly exotic plants (plants that originate from another part of the country or world). Since exotic plants do not support our native fauna very well, all of the creatures that lived in those plants had to find a new place to live. Since many other houses were constructed in your area, and the same thing happened there, our native creatures have had a great deal of stress in the last century. This has led to a decline in the populations of many birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects which in turn has upset a very delicate natural balance. By planting native plants on your property, you can help restore this natural balance.

LOCAL WATER QUALITY

If your downspouts, runoff from your driveway and other paved areas are eroding your soil or running off your property and into the storm drain system (or the local streams or wetlands) then you are contributing to pollution and the degradation of the water table in your area. Oil from your car, fertilizer put on lawns or left on sidewalks or topsoil washing off your property are running into our streams, rivers, and oceans. By considering rain gardens, dry wells, and paving surfaces you can often find opportunities to keep your rainfall on your property, where it can percolate back into the water table.

INVASIVES

If you have, or think you have, invasive plants growing on your property, we can help you identify them and get rid of them without using harmful chemicals. This will prevent them from spreading off your property and allow your other plants to fill in and flourish.

IRRIGATION ISSUES

Yikes is water getting expensive! With increased drought and possible future water bans, xeroscopic gardens (gardens planned for low water use) and drip irrigation systems are becoming very important. If you are interested, we can help you plan for less water use on your property.

*THE NOFA ORGANIC LAND CARE PROGRAM

We are fortunate here in New England to have the NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) Organic Land Care program, as it is the only one of its kind in the country! Those who participate receive intensive instruction in design and care of landscapes, using organic principles, from New England’s leading scientists and expert practitioners who are on the forefront of organic research and practices in the country. Click here for more information: NOFA Organic Land Care