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This is a perfect example of a organic lawn installed from scratch on a new construction site of one acre in Mamaroneck, NY. There are very specific challenges to producing a high quality organic lawn on a residential construction site.

The first challenge is to decompact the actual soil surface. During construction heavy machinery and vehicles constantly running over the same ground have a serious impact on the condition of the soil surface. In simple terms this means the soil and subsurface have lost the ability to breathe and retain water. Without air spaces and room to store water the basic requirements and resources for plant life are just not there! The first step in the process on new lawn construction is relieving the compaction by mechanical means. This feat is accomplished by either rototilling or using a harley rake or similar soil conditioner. It may even be necessary in some cases to use an excavator.

The next step is to remove rocks and debris by rough grading, then lift the grade with a blend of premium grade topsoil and compost mix or a high grade media/mix dependent on the existing soil conditions, light etc, which from place to place on site may not be consistently uniform. Once this is accomplished the final grade can be prepared for seeding.

Once graded a combination of seed varieties suited for light, traffic, and slope conditions should be spread. First with a lawn spreader (rotary) then by hand from buckets. For the best results and performance we use three mixes with three to five varieties in each one. This ensures the greatest biodiversity possible. Thereby creating a lawn which will be attractive in appearance, durable and drought resistant while strong and healthy to resist insects and disease. Just like our bodies, what we put in, we get out!

For this project we had the added challenge of playing beat the clock! Work started in late October and took three days to complete. Luckily the weather was reasonably warm and while at first (right after seeding) it did not rain (we used many hoses and rain towers for irrigation). Although the ground temperature was relatively good for germination it was naturally progressively colder over the coming weeks. Because of the lateness of the season fast germinating annual grass seed as cover crop was not an option, to retain moisture as well as accelerate seed germination a seed accelerator was used (Penn Mulch) in addition to an OMRI approved natural source organic starter fertilizer.The results were impressive. Intensive seeding and aeration will be needed in the coming year but the foundation is solid for growing a beautiful healthy, sustainable green lawn!

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

What do you want from your landscape? If your like me you want your landscape to be beautiful, attractive, healthy, vibrant, healthy and hopefully, Green! How can you get the most out of your existing landscape?…Go Green, Go Organic!

Start with a ‘proper’ spring clean-up. That means two things. Pickup sticks and debris but do not vigorously rake your lawn or disturb your garden beds. In early spring the frost heaves and temperature variations cause the ground and soil surface to de unstable. Do not disturb the ground! The plants may not be securely rooted and are suseptible to damage by raking and blowing. It’s unnecessary to use powerful ground blowers for the most part. From a resource management point of view it is an unnecessary use of labor, gas and oil. From a practical point of view, remove any debris which would be unsightly, inhibit growth or pose a problem with mowing. The larger more powerful blowers can disturb tender root systems and simply move debris around which eventually needs to be picked up and removed by hand and carted by tarp or wheelbarrow to a place it can be composted, optimally.

Much time and effort ($) is often expended by these methods to no good purpose. This is especially true when mulching mowers/blades can be used for the first cut. Small twigs and leaves will be turned into valuable organic matter, increasing the physical makeup of the soil, thereby encouraging beneficial organisms to thrive. In preparing your landscape for spring, less is more.

Most commercial landscape crews are trained to vigorously rake and blow the lawn and beds. Even worse is when dethatching machines or attachments are used, which causes further disruption in an attempt to remove dead grass layers consisting of valuable organic matter. This is contrary to sustainable, green landscape maintenance practices. Instead a simple light raking where needed of lawn areas ( especially where there is evidence of snow mold) followed by picking up sticks and debris which would interfere with mowing/mulching followed by applying a granular organic, natural source, fertilizer. Do not assume a fertilizer is truly organic, derived from natural sources. Organic literally means carbon based. I shop at Whole Foods but I am aware and particular about what I buy. To be sure, look for the OMRI label (Organic Materials Review Institute) to be sure what you’re buying is all natural.

Soil amendments should be applied as needed, to be determined by soil testing. Compost may be applied to increase organic matter content if the percentage of organic matter is less than 5%. The best time to apply compost is when the soil temperature is above 50%. This is when soil biology becomes active. Core aeration in spring can be beneficial to relieve compaction and create air space. Remember all plant roots (i.e.,grass) do not grow in the soil but in the spaces between soil. When remediating property that has soil depleted from years of bad practices, including pesticide use, we often employ these methods and practices in addition to ’The Magic Wand’ (see our blog). This has the added benefit of improving the surface drainage and infiltration rates without resorting to expensive, invasive traditional engineering, (piping, catch basins , etc. . There is a wealth of good info available on the net.

Here are some we like – Sustainable Baby Steps, Organic Lawn Care

Call today for a free lawn and landscape evaluation and estimate!

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

This modest landscape improvement project involved creating new planting beds at the entrance to the driveway incorporating the mailbox. The larger bed on the right side was arranged to arrest the attention of anyone coming to the home. Since the predominant entrance approach was coming toward the driveway/house from the left we created an elevated berm to dramatize the planting effect. A combination of ornamental grasses and long blooming perennials made for a colorful, summer long display.

Hand selected boulders, sourced locally, add a natural weight to the design.

This is an example of a low-maintenance and sustainable design. Once established, this naturalistic and organic landscape will not require fertilization, much pruning or weeding. A key to success is planting in a tight pattern to cover the mulched areas within the first two seasons.

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

This landscape project started as a landscape design master plan for a small property on a tidal estuary. It grew into involving architectural improvements and wetland restoration. This required engineering as well as integrating a well and native plant garden as water features. The scope of this project included reconstructing the sea wall, rebuilding the landing and steps, as well as installing extensive site protection.

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

Every landscape is one of a kind. In this case…Wow! Everything starts with a dream, a vision, a concept. Dark Skies..no light pollution! We needed a working title..hence ‘ Sanctuary Moon’. The entrance and front yard landscape would be titled ‘ Breathe”. I could hear the music before we even began. This was a joint project uniting John Jay Landscape Development with Green Jay Landscape Design.

A main feature would be allowing the outstandingly dramatic rock outcropping to sing! So we began by clearing all the vegetation and creating plant pockets for the rock garden perennials.

A Yin and Yang shaped stream was constructed to feed a small pond at the new patio/sitting area. The video demonstration of this stream construction helps to show a project which involved the repurposing and recycling natural stone from the clients home landscape construction site. This beautiful water feature was a part of the much larger landscape design.

The planting theme is called ‘The Rivers of Color’, consisting of eco-beneficial native perennials and grasses intended to wave in the breeze on the hilltop. Stone pathways with river rock mulch encourage circulation throughout the garden creating an immersion into nature experience. I’d have to say…fun was had by all creating this on of a kind model of Sustainable Green Landscaping.

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

This work in progress features many unique constructions and technologies. We started with eliminating the lawn.

Below: BEFORE photo, beginning dethaching process.

This allowed for a predominantly native planting, a water feature was added including a bog and aquatic plants.

Bordering a wetland, we maximized the natural advantages of the property and invited the wildlife in. By substantially increasing the biodiversity of species, we were able to more effectively and efficiently manage the property organically, naturally and sustainably. A rain garden with passive irrigation was installed.

The Market Deck Garden features a ‘Tower Garden’ prodigiously producing produce for the kitchen including cucumbers, lettuce, basil and cherry tomatoes while perennials and annual flowers attract beneficial insects. This attractive container garden consists of Meyers lemons, parsley, Thai basil and peppers. New technologies in addition to the ‘Tower garden’ include ‘Wooly Pockets’ and ‘Window Farms’ for vertical gardens.

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

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