Beauty Runs Soil Deep

Nothing screams suburban success like a rolling green lawn and lush shrubs. Although indulging in a lawn's cosmetic upkeep may seem environmentally unsound – perhaps by relying on toxic garden chemicals – some are adopting eco-landscaping strategies.

Consider, for example, the Lamberti Family, who own Bayles Garden Center & Nursery. In 2003, the Lambertis formed Organic Solutions, offering services that eliminate chemical and synthetic weed controls, fungicides and fertilizers. 

Going organic doesn't necessarily mean stretching the landscaping budget, contrary to popular belief. "This is a big misconception, that our programs will cost more," said Mike Lamberti. "What we do is treat specific problems with specific remedies that we design and manufacture in-house." For example, for $8 a gallon, customers can order the company's organic tea compost to revive their soil, and spray it themselves. The spray is made to order.

"We use a supercharged liquid compost that reintroduces beneficial microbiology back into the soil," said John Lamberti, Mike's brother.

Compost tea – compost steeped in water – benefits the planet by providing nutrients to plants and soils without those harmful chemicals, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. Home gardeners with the right supplies and a few days can even make the brew themselves, and then sprinkle it on their plants and soil. They can also check with Port Washington-based Grassroots Environmental Education,nationally recognized for its training programs in organic turf care, for a list of companies that provide natural lawn care services.

Organic Solution prescribes a multi-pronged approach that includes drought tolerant seed mixes, deep root feeding and organic insecticides that are customized for each property. What's more, it recommends certain universal practices such as leaving lawn clippings on the lawn and and early morning watering regime to which homeowners can easily adhere.

Organic lawn care is meaningful not just to the Lamberti brothers and their father, Pat, who also runs the company, but to employees as well. Take Oscar Melara. He heads the company's organic spray program, and loves seeing the before and after results, as he helps lawns become more vibrant. Limiting the use of lawn chemicals is a priority for Melera, who believes his father, once a farmer in El Salvador, contracted pancreatic cancer from prolonged exposure to them. 

Local community leaders give both Bayles Garden Center and Organic Solutions high marks.

"Port Washington residents are so fortunate to have Bayles right in their own backyards," said Patti Wood, executive director of Grassroots Environmental Education.

"The Lamberti brothers are both extremely knowledgeable about organic turf care and have a state-of-the-art compost tea operation that is unique for Long Island landscaping companies," Wood added. "Compost tea is the core of successful non-chemical turf programs because it can quickly and relatively inexpensively repopulate 'dead' soil with healthy living organisms that are essential for growing anything successfully."

Nancy Curtin, executive director of Port Washington Public Library is another believer. "Over the past several years, the library has made a concerted effort to make its operation as 'green' as possible," Curtain said. "This includes an organic approach to our landscaping which we accomplished through our contract with Bayles."

Although the summer is almost over and much of Port appears parched, the Lambertis say autumn is a good time to boost the garden. Organic Solution offers a free site analysis and welcomes questions and concerns. Check organicsolutioninc.com for additional information.

Adina Genn contributed to the reporting.