Services

Gardening

Gardening is our calling. We provide the expert, personal care required for the horticultural well-being of your property and landscape. We do this as a partnership with our clients, as the incredible gardens that we maintain and care for have a strong emotional attachment for them and for us. Ecocare strives to understand and promote the natural beauty of the property and it’s environment through both an aesthetic eye and horticultural expertise. Our garden care services can and usually include the following-

• Pruning-

  Often the most overlooked and poorly executed part of garden care, proper and timely pruning of all the plants in the landscape is of utmost importance in having the plantscape thrive and remain healthy. We are pruning experts.

• Watering-

  Proper watering of your plantscape is of critical importance in having the plants develop and thrive. Whether it be management of the irrigation system to hand watering new plantings and transplants, or supplemental watering during droughts, the plantscape needs water to thrive and survive and resist pests and diseases.

• Deadheading-

  No, that is not following Grateful Dead concerts around the country- it is a very important aspect of proper garden care that involves the removal of spent flowers and stems at the proper time to encourage reflowering and reduce pests and diseases. Many people do not deadhead properly and frequently enough.

• Staking and Guying-

  Staking and guying (tying) vines, perennials, shrubs and trees is important to help direct growth and support the plants while reducing potential damage. Certain plants such as Peonies require staking every season, and to do it properly and unobtrusively requires proper techniques and materials.


• Transplanting-

  Moving and/or dividing plants is an excellent way to expand the landscape and to edit the planting as it matures. Many plants also require dividing over time or they will lose energy and not flower as well. Transplanting requires proper timing and techniques but is not as difficult as it may seem. Watering is of utmost importance in transplanting.

• Pest and Disease Management-

  Ecocare is a Licensed Pesticide Application business in CT- License #PMBR 05031 Our business emphasis is on providing organic pest control methods and materials to reduce chemical pesticides and fertilizers in the landscape. However, in Connecticut, a Pesticide license is REQUIRED for most organic pesticide applications as well as any chemical treatments. Proper monitoring and scouting for pests are an integral part of Integrated Pest Management. This is to determine the most environmentally sensitive methods and timing to reduce pests and diseases in the landscape.

• Planting-

  Whether it is replacing a dated landscape, expanding to a new area, adding new plants or installing an entire new landscape, planting is what brings a property’s aesthetic together with the home and outdoor space. At Ecocare, we are Plantsmen, and have a wealth of experience in planting all kinds and types of plants. Be it trees, shrubs, perennials, lawns or meadows, Ecocare has the knowledge, equipment and expertise to install any plantings you can imagine and maintain them for years to come.

Design

Ecocare can help with your design needs in a variety of ways.

• Drone shots-

  We can take a photograph of your landscape with a drone and mark up the overlay for a fast and easy way to see how new landscape elements would fit into the existing landscape.

• Field Design-

  Most of our landscape design involves working directly with the client to determine what new plantings and landscape elements would work best in the landscape by using our extensive knowledge and experience to choose the right plant for the right spot. Field design is also the best way to proceed when there are many transplants to move around during planting.

• Sketches-

  We can sketch the landscape design in plan view to show where the new landscape elements would be and have a plan on paper to move forward with installation.

• Landscape Architecture-

  We work with local landscape architects to allow for permitting and to bring the entire landscape together in a master plan.

Installation

Ecocare can perform many of your landscape installation needs in house with all of our own equipment, labor and expertise. Among the most common landscape installation tasks we have and can perform include-

• Planting-

  We have extensive knowledge and experience planting large trees, Conifers, Deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreen shrubs, perennials, vines, ground covers, annuals, grasses, water gardens, wetland remediation, meadows; native gardens, pollinator gardens, Rose gardens, shade gardens

• Masonry-

  Walkways, patios and steps in bluestone, native stone, and granite. Fieldstone walls. Belgium Block edging and aprons. Fire pits. Outdoor grills. Fieldstone paths. Accent boulders

• Drainage-

  Curtain drains, French drains, channel drains, downspout drains, Rain gardens, bog gardens

• Grading-

  Hauling, moving and installing topsoil, compost and mulch. Gravel driveways. Erosion control

• Lawn Installation-

  Seeded or sod lawns

• Water Gardens-

  We have extensive experience installing a variety of water features including ponds, waterfalls, bog gardens, water lily gardens, Koi ponds, fountains, rain gardens

• Theme Gardens-

  Ecocare specializes in theme gardens-

  we have installed many different types on the extensive estates that we care for including-

  Moon gardens, Shade gardens, Rose Gardens, Herb Gardens, Bulb gardens and naturalizing, Conifer gardens, Japanese Gardens, Contemporary Gardens, Orchards, Berry Gardens, Vegetable Gardens, Native Gardens, Pollinator gardens, mushroom gardens

• Fencing-

  Post and Rail, Pool code fence, Woven wire, Picket, Cedar, stockade, PVC

• Sports related equipment including-

  Basketball hoops, inground trampolines, horseshoe pits, Bocce courts, volleyball courts, croquet courts, ice rinks

• Tree and shrub work-

  Pruning, removals, brush clearing, trail clearing, brushhogging


• Plant Health Care-

  Ecocare is an organic landcare company but we have the correct pesticide licensing to apply non organic control products that conventional companies use. A pesticide license is required in the state of CT to apply organic products as well. We prefer to use integrated pest management on the properties that we care for to limit pesticide use in the environment. We can offer PHC for your ornamental trees, deciduous and evergreen shrubs, perennials, Roses, Orchard, Berry gardens, vegetable gardens, ground covers and lawns.

• Fertilization-

  As an organic landcare company, we suggest the use of organic fertilizers and compost teas to help feed the plants in the landscape. The first step is a proper soil test to determine the exact needs of the specific plants in specific areas of the property. This is essential to really dial-in the exact nutritional requirements that will help the plants thrive, flower and resist pests and diseases.

• Water Management-

  Ecocare can help manage and maintain your irrigation system, but we do not install or service sprinkler systems. However, water management is of utmost importance in proper garden care and we can help with temporary watering as needed for new installations and transplanting. It must be remembered that a sprinkler system, even drip irrigation, does not supply enough water for new plantings and supplemental irrigation is a necessity.

• Containers and Annuals-

  Ecocare can design and install your container gardens each season as well as move, change out and maintain them through the year. We can also install extensive annual displays, bedding plants, hanging baskets, event displays, holiday displays, tropicals, greenhouse plantings, vegetable and herb gardens.

Turf Management

• Turf Installation-

  Seeded and Sodded lawns installed. Ground prep, soil installation, fertilization, pH adjustment, sterilized mulch hay for seeded lawns. Quality seed and sod installed for specific lighting and use conditions. Proper aftercare provided for lawn installations.

• Turf Health Care-

  IPM monitoring, soil analysis, fertilization, pH adjustments, pest and disease control, aeration, dethatching, over seeding, watering

• Turf Maintenance-

  Quality lawn maintenance using new, modern equipment specified to the site conditions and desires of the client. Mowers are sharpened and disinfected on a continuous basis. Meadow care. Brushhogging. Line trimming. Edging.