At Hartland Designs Inc., landscaping isn’t just a service—it’s an art form. As a boutique residential landscaping company owned by Rebekah Lamphere, in Grafton NY, Hartland Designs specializes in creating, installing, and maintaining stunning annual and perennial gardens, vegetable beds, meadows, woodlands, lawns, and custom hardscapes. Every project is rooted in craftsmanship, ecology, and a deep respect for the landscapes they care for.
Heading into the 2025 season, Rebekah and her team made a bold move: they committed to eliminating synthetic fertilizers across their properties and transitioning fully to organic plant nutrition. Leading this shift in day-to-day field operations was Maintenance Crew Supervisor Nora Riccardi, who shared Rebekah’s vision of healthier soil and more resilient plantings.
To support this transition, Hartland Designs introduced a natural trio of amendments: VERMILUV worm castings, VERMILUV worm extract, and a liquid fish emulsion for nitrogen. The team used these primarily in their annual garden installations, generously dressing each plant with worm castings at planting time. Throughout the season, they followed up with biweekly feedings of worm extract diluted at roughly one liter per two gallons of water.
The results were outstanding.
“This practice in combination with supplemental fish emulsion for Nitrogen yielded fantastic results in all the bedding plants,” Nora shared. “I would say we had phenomenal growth and bud output in all the annuals, and the perennials in the surrounding areas responded well too.”
Even more encouraging, the move away from synthetic fertilizers brought no downsides—only healthier plants and improving soil.
“There were no noticeable drawbacks to switching to all-natural products,” Nora said. “I am excited to see how the vitality of the plants and soil improves over time as we continue to utilize organic materials that build soil health. I would definitely recommend these products!”
With Rebekah’s leadership and Nora’s hands-on expertise, Hartland Designs is proving that beautiful landscapes thrive best when the soil is alive.