I am considering going organic in my self-watering container garden and in doing research I found an article describing M.L. Altobelli’s fertilizer blend containing Gro Pro fertilizer, alfalfa meal, and…
Soil Health
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Sustainable Soil Mix
I am a landscape designer with a maintenance crew working on Martha’s Vineyard. We are reviewing our Specifications to update to sustainable practice. I have previously specified for soils to…
“Don’t Treat Soil Like Dirt!” or “Is Your Soil Healthy?”
by Thomas J. Akin I originally wrote this article for an ELA newsletter a little over 10 years ago; today I would call the article, “Is Your Soil Healthy?” Let’s…
Humic Substances: Markers of a Healthy Soil
by Dr. Elham A. Ghabbour and Dr. Geoffrey Davies Natural landscaping depends to a large extent on healthy soil. In this context ‘healthy’ means that the soil is carbon- and…
Soil as Carbon Storehouse: New Weapon in Climate Fight?
This article first appeared in Yale Environment 360. by Judith D. Schwartz In the 19th century, as land-hungry pioneers steered their wagon trains westward across the United States, they encountered a…
A Lesson on Connections: “Enhancing Ecosystem Dynamics for Trees” with Michael Phillips
by Emma Vautour As a student of ecology and an aspiring ecological landscaper, it was a privilege to attend the 2014 ELA conference and learn from many of the leading…
Dealing with Soil Compaction
by Nina Bassuk Soil compaction is the single most difficult and harmful environmental or abiotic condition that a tree or shrub can experience. There are other environmental problems such as…
Using CU-Structural Soil to Grow Trees Surrounded by Pavement
by Dr. Nina Bassuk Soils under pavement need to be compacted to meet load–bearing requirements so that sidewalks and other pavement won’t subside and fail. Soils are often compacted to…
Book Review: Teaming with Nutrients
Written by Jeff Lowenfels Published by Timber Press ©2013 Reviewed by George Batchelor What do plants eat? In his latest book, Teaming with Nutrients, Jeff Lowenfels writes for the gardener…
Celebrity Rehab for Lawns and Soil
by Phil Haynes Everyone can empathize with the trauma a person must go through to withdraw from chemical dependencies, and I believe there are some real similarities with rehabilitating your…
Carried Away: A Keynote Speaker Finishes His Message
by Jeff Lowenfels Authors spend a lot of time by themselves, as was abundantly apparent when I got a chance to Keynote at the ELA’s 2013 Conference on the subject…
Are Rain Gardens Mini Toxic Cleanup Sites?
by Lisa Stiffler Originally posted on Sightline Daily, January 22, 2013, by Sightline Fellow Lisa Stiffler, this post is part of the research project: Stormwater Solutions: Curbing Toxic Runoff. If…
