I recently had the pleasure of talking with Ely Fall of BizCard.com and their ‘green’ efforts within the printing industry. Bizcard.com offers full design and print services, from business cards to websites.

Since its inception, the Bizcard team has been working on developing environmentally friendly printing solutions. This effort includes using primarily post-consumer paper, eliminating damaging photo chemicals from the printing process and purchasing materials from GreenSeal certified companies.

Here are some ways Bizcard is keeping green:

A green production:

* Since we own all of our presses and do all of our printing on site, we maintain consistency and quality by keeping all of our operations under our control. This also allows us to closely monitor and regulate our environmental impact.
* Bizcard uses digital presses for all of its printing, which eliminate the photochemical-dependent process of making plates, thus reducing the chemical usage in the process.
* As part of its mission statement, Bizcard seeks out partnerships with nonprofit organizations that are committed to social responsibility.
* To create its products Bizcard uses recycled paper or purchase its resources from responsibly managed forests lands.
* Bizcard encourages its customers to purchase products that use 30 to 40% less paper than the industry standard.

A green workplace:

We use a special film on all the windows to reduce the heat within the buidling. This allows us to save on our energy consumption. All the lights in our building were changed from Standard with normal transformers to Fluorescent Electronic bulbs. Our bathroom sinks are automated reducing the amount of water being used unecessarely.
Bizcard encourages team members to carpool and to bring their own food to reduce the carbon footprint produced when driving to restaurants at lunch time.

A green message to consumers:

Bizcard has made a strong commitment to eco-friendliness and corporate social responsibility. We understand that historically, the printing industry has been
no friend to the natural earth. Although we go to great lengths to minimize this impact, we realize that we must use our share of resources just like everyone else.
However, as we grow, our positive impact grows as well. By building partnerships with reliable non-profit organizations, we are striving for nothing less than a complete reversal of our environmental impact.Through our online, grass roots effort, we hope to gain the attention of more like minded consumers, companies and organizations.

Bizcard is also offering all of The Lawn Blog readers a 25% off discount code for its products. I encourage you to visit Bizcard.com and have a look at their fantastic website. To claim your 25% discount please enter code ‘bizemg8‘ (without quotes) during the ordering process.

Well just because it is winter doesn’t mean we cannot dream for the spring. Here is a great article from our friend Ken LaVoie (www.lawnguru.net). Post your comments folks I would love to hear them.

Organic Lawn Program
Ken LaVoie – LawnGuru.net

The easiest way to explain organic lawn care, as it differs from traditional “chemical” lawn care, is that organics addresses the SOIL, whereas chemical addresses the PLANT. Starting in 2008, I gave my clients a choice of our “outsourced” chemical lawn treatment OR our self applicated, organic program. Our organic program consisted of aeration and ph enhancement first, then and organic fertilizer if warranted.

My research leads me to believe that aeration and ph adjustment will give you the biggest “bang for the buck,” dollar for dollar. If the soil ph is too low or high, the grass will not be able to “unlock” certain nutrients from the soil anyway, so much of your fertilizer application will go unused. Secondly, aeration allows air and oxygen to get into the soil, which promotes bacteria and nematode growth, which is what organics is really all about. Several of my clients received nothing but aeration and lime this year, and their lawns improved remarkably.

Our next step is to begin offering a “one time” application of compost or compost tea, which will add actual organic matter to the soil. Once the soil health becomes optimal, the lawn should become nearly self-sustaining; in other words, NO applications will be needed other than the occasional corrective liming, aeration, or addition of organic matter. This is literally all a lawn EVER needs once it gets used to “non” chemical life.

There has been quite a bit of news about corn gluten meal, or CGM. It is purported to have weed suppression properties if you put enough down, and your timing is right. There’s also growing evidence that much of the weed-prevention benefit comes from the thickening of the grass, which comes from organic production of nitrogen. All in all, I’d say it’s a an expensive route, and if you use it, it’s probably a good idea to alert your clients that the weed preventative control will be an added “surprise.”

Regardless of your approach, communication is key. Alert your clients that if their lawns are “used” to chemical lawn treatment, it will take 2 seasons to adjust the kinder, gentler organic approach, but the wait will be worth it, for the lawn and the environment.

As for pricing, for dry chemical spreading (like weed n’ feed), I charge $60 per 10,000 square feet with a $35 minimum. For lime, I simply double my cost—if I pay $4.50 per bag for pelletized lime, I charge $9 per bag with the same $35 minimum. So far, I’m finding that I make great money with aeration by simply charging my dry chemical price. I earn $100 per man-hour and I have time to aerate twice over each lawn. I use a tow-behind model that I paid $650 for, and so far it’s holding up nicely.

Ken LaVoie has 20 years of lawn and landscape experience. He attended both the University of Maine as well as Rhode Island College and resides in Winslow, Maine where he is a freelance writer as well as owner of both LaVoie’s Landscape Mgmt. Inc. and Central Maine Web. Please see www.LawnGuru.net and www.CentralMaineWeb.com for more information.

The nights are getting cooler and the air has that refreshing crisp in it. It is the time for sweaters and light jackets to keep you warm. Once again the seasons are changing and trees are showing their beautiful array of fall colors. Autumn never ceases to amaze me with it spectacular colors that seem to go beyond an artistic pallet. It is a time of harvest and coming together to share the years hard work from our crops and gardens.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year and we should all enjoy it. However, there is still work to be done! A good fall cleanup is perhaps one of the most important steps in preparing your lawn and garden for the spring. In this article I will pass on some very important musts and some time saving tips so you can use and share with others.

Don’t leave the leaves

The leaves are a sight to see on the trees during their color change. But watching them fall to the ground may leave property owners feeling that there is a long road of work ahead of them. Not many people enjoy spending hours and hours of raking leaves and bagging them. But it is an important step in the fall cleanup process because once the snow flies, an unraked layer of leaves will get matted down over your lawn and smother it all winter long. This will result in dead patches and give rodents a cozy home to live in.

*Tip* Instead of waiting for all of the leaves to drop off your trees try mulching small amounts using your mulching lawn mower when you mow your lawn. Doing this weekly will make the work seem lighter when it is time to rake. Plus small amounts of mulched leaves will add nutrients to your soil making your lawn healthier.

Feed the Green

Your lawn is still using energy during the cool nights before winter. And what better way to show your lawn your appreciation for looking its best during the grueling summer then to feed it. Apply a slow release fertilizer to build back up its nutrients and prepare it for the long and cold winter. This is also a very good time to remove all weeds from your lawn as well to give a better start in the spring. Don’t add commercial fertilizer to any other garden plants (except bulbs) or you may spur growth too late in the season.

Compacted? Aerate!

Heavy traffic throughout the summer can cause soil to become compacted. Perforating your lawn with small holes helps reduce compaction and lets water, air and fertilizer get down to the soil, which strengthens the turfs root structure.

*Tip* For smaller yards, a manual aerating tool that removes plugs from the turf while you step should be just fine. If you’ve got a larger yard, consider renting a power aerator or calling your local lawn maintenance company.

Compost and Re-Use

Don’t get rid of all of your fallen leaves they make for attractive mulch in your garden. Collect leaves and put them through a mulching machine (if you don’t have one you can find them at most hardware stores for about $100 – $200) and add them to your garden. You can also use your push lawnmower by running over the leaves and bagging them. Not only does this provide a beautiful mulch but adds vital nutrients to your soil making your plants more vibrant.

*Tip* One way to turn autumn leaves into nutritious compost is to gather them in a big pile surrounded by chicken wire in a corner of yard where they can be left for a year or two to break down into rich crumbly goodness. Don’t compost any plants or leaves that look diseased. Throw them out. You will only contaminate next year’s gardens.

Water your trees?

Water any trees and shrubs that still have their leaves because they are more than likely dry from the past several months of drought (this year may be an exception to the rule). This is especially true of young trees planted less than three years ago and street trees, which endure extra punishment from traffic, pollution, and paving. Though your town may plant street trees in front of your house, it’s up to you to water them when rain is lacking. Leave a hose dripping by the trunk for several hours so the moisture can sink in.

Also, water your evergreens each week that there’s no rain. Rhododendrons and pine trees will continue to lose moisture from their leaves and needles all winter. So help the roots stock up on water now. Wrapping small evergreens with burlap will especially serve to protect them from browsing deer and from harsh winter winds. However, if your trees are near salted winter roads avoid wrapping your trees in burlap. The salt will soak into the burlap causing direct exposure to the host plant. In this case try making burlap screens instead.

*Tip* Don’t plant evergreens this late in the year, but feel free to plant deciduous trees and shrubs once they’ve dropped their leaves and gone dormant. Take advantage of late season sales at your local garden center.

Mushy Annuals

Once the frost hits, it is usually the end of the road for annuals. They can easily be removed by pulling them by the base of the stem. This is also a good opportunity to remove any weeds from your garden and cultivate the soil. You can compost all of the annuals you pulled out…but make sure to watch for diseased plants, just toss them into the trash.

Veggie Garden

Clean out your vegetable garden. Fruits and vegetables left in the garden can decompose all winter long, and provide comfy living for insect eggs. Gross? Not as gross as they’ll be in the spring…well at least you won’t have to mash your potatoes. Now’s the time to get rid of diseased plants, too, but keep them out of the compost pile so the problem doesn’t spread to the rest of your garden next year.

Spring is just around the Corner

Fall is the perfect time to plant spring flowering bulbs like daffodils and tulips. But pay attention to the weather in your area; planting too early can cause bulbs to sprout before winter, and planting them too late can mean their roots don’t have enough time to develop before the ground freezes.

*Tip* Make sure to plant the bulb 2 – 2 1/2 times deeper than the size of the bulb. So if your bulb is a small 1 inch bulb, you would plant the bulb 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep. If your bulb is a larger 3 inch bulb, you will want to plant the bulb 6 to 7 1/2 inches deep.

Get ready for next spring

Give your tools and equipment some love. When it comes time to put away the backyard tools for the season, don’t just shove them into the corner. Spend a few minutes wiping them down and removing debris and dirt, then apply a light layer of oil to keep them from rusting over the winter. That way they’ll be all set to go again come spring. And as for your lawnmower, if you are not going to drain the fuel from the tank and carburetor make sure to add some fuel stabilizer to the gas. Doing this will prevent your gas from going bad and keep the carburetor in good working order.

Fall is here and by applying some of these best practices you’ll be in great shape for the spring…just as long as we make it through the winter.

From my lawn to yours,

Richard Murphy

Spring is a great time to explore how we can be greener in all areas of our lives, including our lawns and gardens. Making simple, but different choices with lawn care products can make a positive impact on the environment and the way we live. Here are some easy tips on how you can become more eco-friendly this spring.

* Use mulch to help conserve water outdoors and improve your drainage. One of the best eco-friendly products is Vigoro Rubber Mulch, an innovative, non-toxic mulch made from 100 percent recycled rubber tires. The mulch maintains its color for 12 years, so there’s no need for annual mulching.

* Look into switching out fertilizers and pesticides that can be hazardous to your health and the environment. Dynamite Organic All Purpose Plant Food is the only OMRI-certified (Organic Material Review Institute) plant food guaranteed to last up to three months, reducing the need for frequent applications. Scotts® Organic Choice Soils & Fertilizers offer a few other options. Scotts® Organic Choice Potting Mix is made of sphagnum peat moss and composted bark fines, and the natural ingredients deliver twice the growth of ordinary potting soil. Scotts® Organic Choice Lawn Food is made from chicken litter and feather meal nutrients, so it is 100 percent safe for the home.

* Avoid that stack of plastic garden pots we seem to end up with each spring and try using potless plants. The new PotLess Plants in Biodegradable Containers allow you to plant the container right in the ground. The container decomposes as the plant grows.

* Finally, be smart about waste disposal. A lot of retailers are offering lawn bags to help clean up your yard mess. This year, try Biodegradable Lawn & Refuse Bags that ensure lawn clippings and yard waste will decompose and not create more trash for the environment.

These products can all be found at your local The Home Depot store.