Soil Science

When designing a sustainable landscape the site conditions tell us what we can a can not do. Soil type and structure is the most important factor when determining what type of landscape to install.

Long Island and in particular the South and North forks provide a perfect example of how complex soil types how they can differ locally. The basic geological footprint of the two forks where formed during the last Ice Age around 20,000 years ago. Glacial deposits called Terminal Moraines and Recessional Moraines left behind deposits trapping the silts and sands that built up forming the land we see today. For further reading please see. "Geologic History of Long Island Sound" by Ralph Lewis, Geologist, Connecticut Geological and Natural History Survey, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.

Local knowledge such as soil and subsoil type provides a platform for the landscape design. Trees, shrubs, plants and lawns in a sustainable design are all selected in accordance with the makeup of the soil.