ORGANIC CARE

From beginning to end, we take an organic approach to creating and maintaining gardens. First, we operate on the premise that a successful garden comprises plants that fit their place. If a plant is not suited to the habitat it occupies, it is simply the wrong plant, and sooner or later a dead plant. One of the main reasons we do not do turfgrass maintenance is that lawns are chief exemplars of the "wrong plant, wrong place" syndrome that typifies much of the domestic landscape. Because they often cover wide expanses with little heed to a site's varying conditions, conventional "weed-free" lawns usually require large inputs of chemicals and other artificial life support to succeed. Small lawns and "flowering lawns" are preferable options, in our view, although they too may require frequent first aid.

Having started with the right plants in the right place, we continue by taking care of the soil and by monitoring for and addressing problems. Soil care begins at planting: for example, we disturb the soil as little as possible to prevent weed seeds from surfacing, and we mulch after planting to discourage weed germination and to keep the soil loose, cool, and moist while the new plants expand their roots. An application of leaf mulch in fall mimics the leaf fall that occurs in nature, and supplies nutrients and moisture-holding capacity for future growing seasons. Pests, pathogens, and weeds do happen, however, even in the most astutely planned and planted gardens. By "knowing our enemies" (and our friends) we are able to employ non-toxic strategies to counter them. And we are always ready to "edit out" any plants that are too pest-prone.

These are only a fraction of the organic strategies we employ to keep gardens in fine fettle. All of them are based on a deep knowledge of the plants and their biotic and abiotic environment. Rather than broadcasting toxic chemicals to fend off the inevitable diseases and pests that dog ill-chosen plants, we strive to use well-adapted plants and to keep the soil and the rest of their environment in peak health. We think that working with natural processes is preferable to working against them and then using chemicals to compensate.

Russell Stafford, M.A., M.F.S
Accredited NOFA Organic Land Care Professional

38 Bigelow Road
Lancaster, MA 01523
508-335-8106
russell@discoveredgardens.com