Harris and Company is proud to announce a new service in our rapidly growing lineup:

RAPID LAWN AERATION AND COMPOST TOPDRESSING!!!!!!

After over a decade of walking behind those horrible rental aerators, we have decided to build our own. New in April 2010, we will be using an ultra fast-homemade aerator which will rip through our competition like a hot knife through butter. No one will be able to touch our prices because of the speed in which we can complete the work. We are also topdressing lawns with compost after we aerate to pack the biggest-all natural punch to your lawn. The benefits of compost are listed below, but to give you the basic rundown, compost is an all natural product made up of broken down leaves, lawn clippings, and even food which has been rotated for 2+ years, and sterilized (this stuff doesn't stink!!)

Once we aerate the lawn and relieve soil compaction, we lightly topdress the lawn with about 1/2” of compost. The compost fills the aerator holes, gets right down to the grass roots, and instantly feeds your lawn in a chemical free-totally safe way. If your lawn is bumpy, the compost helps to fill those voids and smooth the surface. If your lawn is thin in spots, we can overseed it. The compost holds moisture in the soil longer than the topsoil you have, so the seeds germinate a bit quicker, and require less water. Whats even better is that this is not a service you need every year!! It will take 12-15 months for the compost to completely break down. It slowly feeds the lawn. The composting service should be done at least every other year. Of course it can be done more if requested, but it is not necessary. Aeration however should be done every year. (Check out our other article on the benefits of lawn aeration.) After 2 years, you will be using half the amount of fertilizer, your landscape will be safer for kids and pets, and you will be contributing to a healthy environment that is SUSTAINABLE!!

Here is the lowdown on compost use. Please call us for an estimate-its not as expensive as you might think!!!

Compost Benefits

Using compost as lawn topdressing, or in planting beds is beneficial in many ways.

Compost contains a full spectrum of essential plant nutrients. Our compost has been tested at Umass Labs for superior nutrient and drainage characteristics.

• Compost contains macro and micronutrients often absent in synthetic fertilizers.

• Compost releases nutrients slowly—over months or years, unlike synthetic fertilizers

• Compost enriched soil retains fertilizers better. Less fertilizer runs off to pollute waterways.

• Compost buffers the soil, neutralizing both acid & alkaline soils, bringing pH levels to the optimum range for nutrient availability to plants. This allows our lime applications to work far more efficiently than ever before.

Compost helps bind clusters of soil particles, called aggregates, which provide good soil structure. Such soil is full of tiny air channels & pores that hold air, moisture and nutrients.

• Compost helps sandy soil retain water and nutrients. Massachusetts soil is mostly sandy loam.

• Compost loosens tightly bound particles in clay or silt soil so roots can spread, water drain & air penetrate.

• Compost alters soil structure, making it less likely to erode, and prevents soil spattering on plants—spreading disease.

• Compost can hold nutrients tight enough to prevent them from washing out, but loosely enough so plants can take them up as needed.

• Compost makes any soil easier to work.

Compost brings and feeds diverse life in the soil. These beneficial bacteria, fungi, insects, worms and more support healthy plant growth.

• Compost bacteria break down organics into plant available nutrients. Some bacteria convert nitrogen from the air into a plant available nutrient.

• Compost enriched soil have lots of beneficial insects, worms and other organisms that burrow through soil keeping it well aerated.

• Compost may suppress diseases and harmful pests that could overrun poor, lifeless soil.

Healthy soil is an important factor in protecting our waters. Compost increases soil’s ability to retain water & decreases runoff. Runoff pollutes water by carrying soil, fertilizers and pesticides to nearby waterways.

• Compost encourages healthy root systems, which decrease runoff

• Compost can reduce or eliminate use of synthetic fertilizers

• Compost can reduce chemical pesticides since it contains beneficial microorganisms that may protect plants from diseases and pests.

• Only a 5% increase in organic material quadruples soils water holding capacity.

• Compost benefits can be seen even quicker in lawns that have been installed in new construction areas where the soil had been stripped and re leveled, and where it has been compacted from equipment, and workers. In lawns 5yrs old or younger, a little more compost may be needed to get the results, but year after year, you will use less.