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What does Blackburn Services endorse:

We suggest a system with a foundation in Organicas, and also a responsible, controlled use of inorganic synthetic fertilizers.  Inorganic synthetics should only be utilised for short-term problems as unusual needs arise in urban areas.  This endorsement promotes healthy, depp, living soil with superior water-holding characteristics.  To accomplish this, we adhere to these principles:

1.  Assess your environment.

2.  Encourage soil microbes - apply organic based fertilizers and soil amendments.

3.  Encourage deep roots - eliminate short duration, frequent watering schedules.

4.  Recycle nitrogen and carbon - use mulching mowers.

5.  Use acclimated plant varieties - always choose plants that are meant to grow in this area.  Also, sun exposure requirement are different for every plant.  Shade plants go in the shade; sun-loving plants fo in the sun..

6.  Balance the soil pH - a soil test can reveal problems that cannot be seen.  Adjusting the soil pH will unlock nutrients that are already available in the soil.

Poor results in the landscape are almost always a result from either poor soil conditions or improper varieties of plant materials.  Common treatments only treat the symptoms of the problem, and not the core issue.  

Most landscape management programs symptoms of pr problems, a balanced landscape program of organic and synthetic provides a pro-active solution.  Limiting need to address disease and pest out breaks with spot treatments.  We understand how to suggest landscape management programs that will break your turf and gardens dependency on chemicals.  With time, your turf and garden can survive with very little extra attention.

Services Offered:

Building sustainable site environment and aesthetically pleasing curb appearance.

Balance budget and performance, proactive approach to managing and building sound landscape foundation

Large holding site management maintenance.

Environment  and horticultural practices

Much of the information regarding "natural organic" and "synthetic-inorganic" chemistry is blow out of proportion, without a solid hands on experience in landscape management, biology, ecology and horticulture.  In most cases, consumers rely on industry professionals to make the most cost-effective decision.  Or no long term goals are set to bring cur appear to the forefront.  Blackburn Services believes in balanced approach in implement landscape maintenance programs that have a foundation in cost-effective organic products, while also allowing synthetic inorganic  products in a responsible fashion.  We believe that an "all-or-nothing" approach to synthetics or natural products on anyone's part is both close-minded and expensive, especially in grounds maintenance.  

Most consumers are aware that synthetic fertilizers have dominated your culture for more than 50 years, and by conventional indiciations, these synthetics appear to be effective.  But they are effective at what price?  Unfortunately, the price is a damaged environmental landscape, degraded plant habitat with synthetically chemical dependent plants.

So what can we do as consumers to help reduce these environmental costs while still maintaining cost-effective beauty in our landscapes?  The answer is to look back at how Mother Nature managed resources for millions of years before modern science came into play.  Our society seems to have forgotten that the fertilization practices of our forefathers were completely bases on a recycling of nutrients with virtually no outside help.

Organic principles attempt to imitate Mother Nature.  To accomplish this, we should recycle nutrients by feeding the soil (micro-organisms).  not the plant,, micro-organisms in the ground are a part of a soil food web and this soil is very much alive.  Organic landscapers should do everything possible to stimulate these micro-organisms by feeding them a various of compounds made of carbon.  Therefore, the study of "organic" is always based on those compounds that are based on carbon.  These products are self-sustaining and with proper practices, the soil can recycle its own nutrients and make them available to plants.  This recycling will reduce a plants dependency on fertilizers.  This independence and self-sustainability results in long-term savings for those who choose to follow organic practices.  Organic products include lignite, poultry litter, alfalfa meal, feather meal, compost or manure.  synthetic organics include methylene urea and urea form.  

Inorganic Principles:

These are normally salt-bases, synthetic chemical compounds that are water soluble.  For this reason, synthetic fertilizers must be processed in a way that allows them to slow release their   

nutrients use of various coatings.  Even with such coatings, the benefit to the plant is always short term, especially in high rainfall areas like south central Texas.  These coatings compounds have xero benefits to the soil and actually damage soil-recycling micro-organisms.  Without micro-organisms, the plants which reside in these areas become completely dependent on synthetic fertilizers for survival.  In the long term we may have damaged plant environment.  Synthetic chemical bypass natural symbiotic relationship the environment has and only feed the plant.  "Synthetic-Inorganic" product include urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and potassium sulfate.

Which is Best?

Simply discussing "organic' is sure to bring on a debate amount landscape professionals.  "Synthetic" inorganic eterlixers have dominated the agricultural/landscape industry for 60 years.  "Natural-organic " fertilizers have been around at least as long as agriculture has been in existence.  There are many misconceptions.  However, it can generally be agreed that organics are best for long-term improvement, and in-organics synthetics are best for rapid response.  

We have taken the time to experience and listen intently to both disciplines.  When performance counts, both disciplines have solid science behind them.  We have found that your landscape wins whenever disciplines from both schools are applied.  Much like everything else in natural environment, balance somewhere in the middle in regards to a landscape management program and the ne4ed to implement that most cost effective management program that can sustain long-term results while minimizing labor and synthetic chemical dependence.