Ron’s Articles

Organics. It Really Works!

October 2006

RuidosoI’m so glad it’s cooled off. Our record setting hot dry summer pushed me to the limit. When I’m not outside at my garden center or with my landscaping crews, I’m a Dallas firefighter. By mid August I’d had my fill of the heat. A trip to my Uncle’s vacation home in Ruidoso in the New Mexico mountains sounded good. Little did I know that it would turn out to be not only a relief from the heat, but a real psychological boost.

The story starts about 2 years ago. We were at Uncle’s home in Albuquerque. He’s a confirmed chemical guy. His yard was diseased and dying despite the fact that he watered everyday. And, overrun with dandelions, he was constantly applying chemical weed killers. His landscape looked so bad that he was ready to rip it all up and go to total cactus and rocks. I said, “You’ll be sorry.” They only get about 10 inches of rain a year, but there are grasses that can be sustained with about 20 inches.

I insisted, “We can save your yard!” He was skeptical, but I was determined. I didn’t have any of my blends with me, so I went to the feed store to buy some alfalfa meal, corn meal, dry molasses and compost. And, since one of the reasons for my trip was to pick up a load of the Soil Secrets products that come from New Mexico, I put those to use as well. He thought I had flat out lost my mind. But he got real excited when we applied the molasses because it smells like candy. By the time we left, he was starting to feel better. I’d given him a glimpse of hope.

The very next spring he saw a tremendous difference in his yard despite drought conditions. They’d only gotten 7 inches of rain. The first year on organics he used 49,000 fewer gallons of water and had the best looking yard on the block. In year 2 they had 9 inches of rain and he used 60,000 fewer gallons than he’d used pre-organics. And, he only watered three times a week. He was hooked on organics. So, we started shipping him our seasonal blends.

Now we’re shipping products to four of his neighbors. They’ve got a little micro climate going with their healthy turf absorbing heat, dust and solar glare. He’s amazed that his dandelions have all but disappeared. I’ve finally convinced him that if a dandelion appears he should dig it up, not spray it with chemicals. That’s easier now that his soil is healthy.

He has voiced one complaint. He uses our Super Bloom on his treasured roses. The blooms are so prolific that it takes it a lot longer to trim off the spent flowers. Overall he’s thrilled. I know because he undertook the conversion of his vacation property. And I know that because he needed my help dealing the City of Ruidoso.

Due to the threat of wild fires, the city mandated that people clean up any plant debris on their land. They issued him a citation because of his pine needles. So, I wrote them a letter as a professional landscaper and firefighter explaining that leaving plant material on the ground helps to conserve moisture and keeps the other plants from drying and dying up. Trees and shrubs that are starved for moisture are more of a fire hazard than and inch or so of dried pine needles on the ground. With wild fires the most intense heat isn’t at ground level. It’s up high in the tree tops. He won that battle.

As we left the 115 degree heat in West Texas, I was looking forward to 55 degrees at the 7,100 feet plus elevation in Ruidoso. But, I wasn’t sure if I was looking forward to my first glimpse of his landscape. Ruidoso had been on a mandatory watering ban - no outdoor watering whatsoever. I was afraid I’d see a dry barren landscape. When we turned the corner I spotted his property. It was the only lot with any green life. It was a living organism.

Just after we arrived it started to rain. It rained for 10 days. I could see the grass growing - about 2 inches a day. By the time we left his lot had about 18 inches of new growth. His neighbors had about 4 inches of growth. And, that vibrant growth goes a long way toward controlling erosion.

I came back from my vacation rested, refreshed and exuberant! Both of my Uncle’s properties were thriving despite drought conditions. Organics really works. Who knows what weather is our future. Whatever it is, I guarantee you’ll be better off if you’re 100% organic. Start by leaving the Autumn leaves where they fall. Just mulch them with your mower.