The Poop on the Lawn

Steve Bridges

Kimas Tejas Nursery

Would you like to have the prettiest lawn on the block? Are you tired of having to fight brown spot and other fungal diseases? Does it seem that your lawn takes way too much water to keep it green in the summer? Are Chinch bugs a problem? If you can say yes to any of these questions, then you need to start an organic fertilizing program for your lawn. By feeding the soil and letting the soil feed the grass you can solve each and every one of these problems. Here is how it works.

     An unhealthy soil is one that is lacking in one or more essential elements. The perfect soil is 45% soil, 5% organic matter, 25% water, and 25% air. This first thing you notice about an unhealthy lawn soil is how hard and compacted it is. A compacted soil does not breathe and also makes it hard for water to penetrate easily. In missing these two ingredients, 50% of what you need for a healthy grass has been lost! This lack of water and air makes it hard for the beneficial life of the soil to thrive. It is the existence of these microorganisms in your soil that allows your grass to access the nutrients in the soil. You can encourage the life in the soil by making the conditions right for them to thrive. In doing this you will find that you have a healthy soil that produces a healthy grass. Sound simple? It is!

The first and most important step is to keep your lawn breathing. You need to aerate twice a year until your lawn feels lush and soft when you walk on it. Check with your rental yard to see if they carry aerators that you can rent by the day.  One kind you can pull behind your riding lawn mower.  There are other ways to aerate for the smaller lawns or if you do not have a riding lawn mower.  A simple spade fork can be used; just drive the fork into the soil and rock it back and forth.

     The second step is to stop using any synthetic lawn fertilizers or weed and feed. Many people have lost large trees to the weed part of the weed and feed. Begin by using an organic fertilizer instead. You will find many good ones on the market. These fertilizers contain not only the N-P-K that your lawn needs but also micronutrients and bio-stimulants to start feeding the life of the soil. In the beginning you need to fertilize in March, May, and October. After building a healthy soil you will be able to cut down to March and October going into the third year.  The fifth year you can get by with fertilizing just once in the spring. Follow the recommended rates on the fertilizer of your choice.

There are several other things that you can do to jump-start both your grass and the soil life. Use a liquid seaweed spray to foliar feed your grass to green it up and make the nutrients in the soil available to the grass. Use a bio-stimulant to build the populations of beneficial organisms in the soil. You can actually inoculate your soil with the microorganisms themselves by using a bio-inoculant. A top dressing of compost ¼ inch thick will amaze you. Instead of using a product like Ironite to quickly green your lawn, use Texas Greensand. It is mineral sand that is 15% iron with calcium and magnesium, both essential to a healthy grass. Don’t catch the clippings. You need 5% organic matter for a healthy soil. The improved life in the soil will use this as food and not let it build up as thatch. And there are many organic ways to fight insects and diseases if they do crop up. Going organic with your lawn care will save you money. A healthy soil (grass!) will use less water and have less pest and disease problems. And it will be the prettiest one on the block!