Our Organic Lawn Care Services

Soil Testing

At HLC all programs start with a soil test. We are looking to measure the chemical and physical characteristics of the soil.  We are interested in the ph levels, and the amount of organic matter present in the soil. An acidic soil inhibits nitrogen uptake by the grass plants. The soil test determines limestone requirements to maximize fertilizer efficiency.  The soil test also provides us with the soils cation exchange capacity or CEC. The CEC is the soils ability to hold nutrients. The CEC and organic matter levels guide us in determining the soils health and shows areas to target for improvement.  Additionally, the soil test gives us the present state of the soil and allows us to measure the progress as we improve the soils characteristics.

Lime Application

Lime provides three main benefits important to growing healthy turf. It improves soil chemistry, encourages beneficial soil biology and improves soil structure.

Improves soil chemistry:

The function of lime is to raise the pH of acidic soil so grass can grow. Turf grass grows best in a soil with a pH of 6.5-6.8. Soils in the Northeast are typically acidic, with pH levels of 5.4-5.9 being very common. It can take up to two seasons, with spring and fall applications to raise levels such as these to our desired 6.8 pH.

Encourages soil biology:

Both microbial and earthworm activity is affected by pH. Soils that are acidic tend to have higher fungi levels, while soils in our 6.5-6.8 range are more balancedbeteen fungi and bacteria. Balanced microbial activity contributes to the availability of nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus.

Improves soil structure:

Earthworms are natural aerators and help to form soil aggregates. These aggregates help to improve soil structure. Correcting pH is not optional since it directly affects the grass’ ability to absorb the fertilizer and encourages microbial activity.

The Spring Fix

Spring seeding is an important part of our organic lawn programs. This is especially true in first and second season transitional lawns that are thin or have large bare patches.  These are the prime areas for weed outbreaks, it is therefore important to establish turf in these areas. Our seeding methods include topdressing problem areas with a mixture of compost, soil and grass seed. Large areas are generally renovated using a slice seeder.

Our seed of choice for our spring work is a high quality three way perennial ryegrass mixture. This provides us with fast germination and establishment. Our goal here is to fill the problem areas with grass prior to weed competition. Additionally we are looking to use spring rains in our favor for the irrigation of the new seed.

Unfavorable summer conditions of heat, humidity, and drought can impact the success of our spring efforts.  Weed competition and lack of water can cause some mortality within the new grass population. Our gains on the lawn as a whole however, make these losses worth  the risk. Each step, application or process in an organic lawn system is a building block. One step builds upon the previous until we arrive at a fully transitioned lawn we can be proud of.   

Accredited Connecticut Organic Lawn Care

Ct NOFA Organic Land Care Accredited Professionals

The HLC Organic Lawn Care program is designed to correct the chemical, physical, and biological imbalances in the soil to provide a healthy environment for grass. We provide Organic Lawn Care to Connecticut residents in locations such as Berlin, Southington, Farmington, West Hartford and many more. We promote deep roots, plenty of leaf surface, and lots of biology in the soil, so the grass can get the air, water, and food it needs.

ORGANIC FERTILIZERS KEEP YOUR LAWN HEALTHY & SAFE

We apply organic fertilizers and soil amendments five times a year. These granular products include pelleted compost, humates, various organic fertilizers, and limestone. This simple statement may seem obvious, but many people see their lawn as a green outdoor carpet free of imperfections that stays uniformly green all summer. 

As seasons progress, a healthy lawn responds to moisture, heat, and other natural phenomena. HLC Organic is a lawn service that uses organic lawn fertilizer that makes your lawn and soil as healthy as possible.We promote deep roots, plenty of leaf surface, and lots of biology in the soil, so the grass can get the air, water, and food it needs. 

Organic Lawn Maintenance & Organic Lawn Fertilizer Specialists of Connecticut

We provide the foundation for a healthy lawn to meet the challenges and accept the gifts that Mother Nature provides. We use a completely organic and proactive approach to plant and soil health care. Our Organic Lawn Care program renews, revitalizes, corrects, and conditions your soil. Healthy living soil leads directly to healthy thriving trees, shrubs, and lawns. To preserve your landscaping investment, start with the most basic component – your soil. If you are interested in organic lawn care or would like to learn more, please give us a call today and we'll be happy to answer any questions.

Organic Lawn Care Articles, Links & Resources

Connecticut Organic Lawn Care Blog Posts, Guides & DIY Tips

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is organic lawn care and how does it work? Our organic lawn care program is designed to correct the chemical, physical, and biological imbalances in the soil to provide a healthy environment for grass. We apply organic fertilizers and soil amendments five times a year. These granular products include pelleted compost, humates, various organic fertilizers, and limestone.

What exactly does organic lawn care mean? Organic products are grown without the use of toxic, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and are grown in a way to replenish and maintain soil fertility. Our products are not isolated chemical compounds, but organic substances still in the form that nature made them. Nutrients are taken up and processed by soil biology to be stored until the plant needs them. A slow release chemical fertilizer is often encased in plastic that breaks down slowly in the soil.

Will organic lawn care eliminate the weeds in my yard? Weeds are a symptom of poor soil. Once the pH is corrected and a deeper root system develops to encourage thicker turf, weeds are crowded out. These include both crabgrass and clover weeds.

What lawn care products and services does Hillside Landscaping Co. provide? We will apply organic fertilizers and soil amendments five times a year. These granular products include pelletized compost, humates, various organic fertilizers, and limestone.

Is organic lawn care more expensive than conventional lawn care? We hope to provide our customers the peace of mind to let their kids and pets roll around and chew on the grass. With our over seeding, we provide a good value for the money. We also promote deep root development, which means more drought resistance and less watering.

What is wrong with conventional lawn care products? Petroleum based fertilizers make lawns grow fast and green, but exhaust grass roots and kill beneficial bacteria and fungi, thereby promoting unbalanced insect populations. Broad leaf weed controls kill weeds, but they also kill beneficial micro-organisms that work to keep soil nurturing and alive. Thatch build-up occurs when there is no microbial life to decompose it.