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NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE
Like a politician courting voters in New Hampshire, we should be enticing the birds and butterflies to our yards. I wrote this blog in 2016 after the first time I saw Doug Tallamy speak. I saw him the other night at a jam packed auditorium in Cambridge and the place was rocking. After that first inspiration, we…
Read MoreCLOVER… A GOOD FRIEND TO SOIL, LAWNS AND BEES
There is a lot of clover this year and people love it or hate it. To put it in perspective, I would like to share the view of clover before the advent of broadleaf weed killer. This is from the scientist who introduced 2,4-D to the landscape. He lamented the fact that the chemical herbicide…
Read MoreSlice Seeding and Fertilizer for Fall
Before fall begins, we slice seed and core aerate our lawns. We also apply early fall fertilizer because…the better the soil, the better the seed will do. The crab grass is dying, the cicadas are making a racket and the goldenrod is blooming. These are signs I used to dread when it meant going back…
Read MoreCOMPOST TEA HELPS MAKE HEALTHY LAWNS, PLANTS AND
We recently applied compost tea to our customers’ lawns. The compost tea is comprised of microbial foods to refresh the life in the soil and add some more. The bacteria, fungi, nematodes and protozoa are the life blood of the soil. I love to see all the activity in our yard. We try to select…
Read MoreSpread Happiness with Organic Fertilizer
Organic Soil Solutions uses a soy-based fertilizer that is nutritious and delicious for the soil bacteria and fungi. They, in turn, provide a healthy snack for the protozoa and nematodes. A little too much nitrogen for their taste, however, and the excess is released in the form of ammonium (NH4+). All this wining and dining…
Read MoreThree Ways to Remove Invasive Plants
Invasive plants are the unwanted guests at the party. Yes, someone invited them, but who knew they would act like such cads. With no pests or diseases to keep them at bay, they take over the room, pushing everyone else to the side. There is a list of plants that are illegal to import, sell…
Read MoreSeeding Bare Spots to Make Healthy Soil
In our continued efforts this spring to bring healthy, organic lawns to the masses, we most recently seeded bare spots and damaged areas of our client’s lawns with a spring seed that germinates quickly and crowds out weeds. By maintaining an organic lawn, you are contributing to a living, breathing soil. As temperatures rise, soil…
Read MoreWithout Snow, Early Spring Fertilizer is a Must
We’d like to thank all of our Organic Soil Solutions customers for signing up for our program this year. Many of you received the first application of organic soy-based fertilizer. Winter snuck by us like a whisper and now spring is creeping out from its thin shadow. I can’t wait to see what the summer…
Read MoreIt’s All About the Soil
We are in the midst of an organic movement – organic food, organic farms, organic lotions, organic bedding, organic everything! But, little do people know that everything organic must start with healthy, organic soil. An article from The New Ecologist called “Top 10 Reasons To Buy Organic Products For Your Home” goes on to state,…
Read MoreDIY: Organic Lawn Care Advice for Home Owners
I often get called on by home owners for free advice on organic lawn care. Sometimes, particularly this year, it can be tough. If a lawn is dead or diminished due to summer stress, about the only way to revitalize it, is to slice seed it in the month of September. For the most part,…
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