All Natural Lawn Care
Lawns play an important role in the landscape. They provide a lush carpet for children and pets to play; they also help absorb water, provide oxygen, prevent erosion and even have a significant cooling effect. However, traditional landscape practices have taken a toll on the environment. There is increasing evidence that excessive fertilizer and pesticide use can lead to health issues, polluted waterways, and long term soil degradation.
At Native Notions we look at the lawn as a functioning system. Lawns are only as healthy as the soil below them. Excessive weeds, disease, and insects are all indicators that the lawn’s system has broken down. Traditional lawn care practices break down the soil food web, creating a dependence on chemical applications. Our natural approach adds essential organic matter to the soil and will dramatically enhance the soil’s micro-organism population, which is the life of your soil and your lawn.
Our services include:
Compost and Compost Tea Application: The soil food web is made up of many different micro-organisms that work together to keep soil and plants healthy. Recent studies have shown that the application of a synthetic fertilizer actually kills a significant percentage of beneficial micro-organisms. Applying quality compost and compost tea puts the beneficial biology back onto the plants and into the soil. Healthy, organically balanced soil encourages a plant’s natural immune system, while limiting the population of disease organisms and insects, to create the best conditions for growth.
Aeration and Overseeding: Aeration increases the infiltration of water and nutrients to the soil, stimulates root and shoot growth, increases the lawn’s drought tolerance, and improves its overall health. We generally combine aeration with overseeding to fill in thin spots. This thickens the lawn so weeds and moss have a difficult time getting established.
Lime Application: Soils in Maine tend to be naturally acidic. Adding lime to the turf helps neutralize the acidity, which builds a better lawn and a stronger competitor for weeds, moss, and problem insects.
Native Notions Ecological Landscapes -- 213 West Rd., Belgrade, ME 04917 -- 207-314-9538 -- nativenotions@hotmail.com
