Frequently Asked Questions
Are PJC’s Renaissance® All Natural Premium Fertilizers safe?
Are all “Organic” fertilizers the same?
Why Soil Test?
Will my lawn have weeds?
What about grubs?
Does an Organic Fertilization Program Cost More?
Is there a Transition Period?
How will I know what’s going on?
Why choose an All Natural Organic Fertilization Program?
Are PJC’s Renaissance® All Natural Premium Fertilizers safe?
Yes! Our fertilizers are produced using all natural plant based inputs (no urea, manure or sewage sludge), low or no phosphorous, and slow release water insoluble nitrogen. Renaissance® fertilizers comply with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards, have been approved for use by NOFA, Bay State and MOSA organic certifiers and are on the USDA BioPreferred Product list.
Renaissance® fertilizers work with nature to improve soil fertility, stimulate soil biology, and add organic matter - all to promote healthy soil ecology. Because Renaissance fertilizers are granular and 100% Water Insoluble Nitrogen, when used properly they do not leach or run off and harm the environment. There is no contact problem for the applicator and the area is safe for use by people and pets immediately after application. Top
Are all “Organic” fertilizers the same?
No! There are several categories into which an organic fertilizer may fall: plant/animal meals, animal manure, chilean nitrate, bio-solids - municipal/industrial waste (sewage sludge) and synthetic organics or “Organic Based.”
It has been our experience that certain fertilizers lend themselves better to All Natural Turf Care (ANTC) than others and that some can actually work against an ANTC approach. PJC’s Renaissance® All Natural Premium Fertilizers have a high nutrient content and are plant based with the building block amino acids necessary to encourage the micro flora in the soil that aide in plant nutrient uptake.
A fertilizer can claim to be “organic” as long as it contains carbon. Synthetic organic fertilizers, or “Organic Based,” often contain Water Soluble Nitrogen (WSN) in the form of urea which results in rapid shoot growth, greater potential for run-off, burning and leaching into the groundwater. For more information please read "How To Choose an Organic Fertilizer " Top
Soil testing is the cornerstone to any successful All Natural Turf Care program. Soil testing provides critical information as to the current state of the soil; determines the type and amount of soil amendments necessary to improve soil conditions and is used as a base line to set expectations and determine a budget.
Many Lawn Care Companies say they will perform a soil pH test. Unfortunately a soil pH test tells you very little. It will tell you if your soil is acidic; in the Northeast acidic soil is almost a given. It tells you nothing about how much liming material is necessary to correct a pH imbalance. It does not tell you what type of liming material is required (calcitic or dolomitic) to correct pH.
For an organic program to be successful it is necessary to know pH, buffer pH, % Organic Matter, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), and Base Cation Saturation.
Armed with this information we customize a program to create the healthy environment your grass requires. Top
Most all lawns, even chemically treated lawns, have weeds to some degree - but they do not need to take over. Weeds are an indication of underlying soil conditions. Crab grass and dandelions typically grow in poor soil, low in organic matter, pH and calcium. At PJC we focus on why there are weeds and work to improve soil conditions to provide an environment that favors growing grass over weeds. As soil conditions and cultural practices improve, the turf becomes healthier and thicker enabling it to out-compete weeds. Unlike chemical programs that require additional inputs year after year, in time an organic program will requires less. Accepting a few weeds is part of an organic program; however, you can still have a great looking lawn! Top
Your best defense against insect damage is healthy grass and soil. A healthy lawn can withstand some grub infestation. PJC checks for grubs in late summer/early fall. If a problem is discovered, an application of hB nematodes will be recommended. Once applied the nematodes continue to work as long as the area is kept moist and a food source (i.e., grub larvae) is present. Top
Does an Organic Fertilization Program Cost More?
When comparing price it’s important to look at the total cost per season rather than per/application since the products and program aren’t the same. These costs include things such as fertilizer applications, pesticide applications, aerating, over-seeding, water usage, labor and mowing. While an organic program may initially cost more after reviewing the costs of numerous synthetic fertilizer programs we can say that overtime your costs will go down, your lawn will require fewer amendments, less water, and less mowing and ultimately you can actually save money. In addition, there are unseen environmental and health costs that synthetic lawn chemicals contribute to: stress to our water systems and biological base in the soil; and toxicity to birds, fish, aquatic organisms, pets, children and adults. Top
This will vary based on current conditions, duration on a synthetic program, weed/pest pressure, expectations and your budget. A soil test will help to answer this question. In the Northeast soils tend to be sandy loam, low in organic matter and acidic. When starting with poor soil conditions it can take 3-5 years to cultivate a dense stand of turf while working at changing and improving the underlying soil conditions. If you start with healthy soil and a healthy stand of turf the transition should be seamless. In addition, cultural practices can have the biggest affect either positively or negatively on the success of the program, so whoever is responsible for maintenance is a key component. Top
How will I know what’s going on?
We will leave a door hanger indicating what application/service was performed that day and post an “Organic Application” flag each time we are at your property. In addition, PJC will perform 3 site assessments and leave a copy with progress noted and trouble spots indicated. Most importantly, we are available to our customers by phone and e-mail and will respond within 24 hours during the business week. Top
Why choose an All Natural Organic Fertilization Program?
There is growing concern and mounting evidence regarding the adverse effect of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides on our lawns, and their effect on our children’s health, our health, the health of our pets and our environment. Annually across the nation over 140 million pounds of toxic pesticides are applied to suburban lawns in pursuit of the perfect lawn and garden. Unfortunately, most home owners are not aware that many of the substances found in traditional lawn care products pose significant health risks. The chemicals are not only harmful to you, but also leach into our water supply. They kill the organisms in the soil that provide the healthy environment your grass needs to grow. Your grass becomes dependent on the chemicals to grow rather than getting its nutrients from the soil. Click for health & environment
Today you can have a healthy lawn without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides through the use of cultural practices and organic materials. Let PJC help in your on-going efforts to have a beautiful, healthy lawn. Top