One of the best superhero powers is invisibility, right? Admit it: you’ve wished for it at least a couple times.
Think of your lawn’s soil as a superhero. It’s invisible, hiding beneath the green blades of grass.
But man, its power is super important — and key to a healthy, thriving lawn.
The thing is, a lot of homes’ turf is growing on a thin layer of poor soil that could really use a boost.
How do you improve your lawn soil quality?
Here’s the dirt on healthy soil in Idaho.
Organic matter sounds all science-y, but it’s pretty basic stuff —plant debris, shredded leaves, animal manure, grass clippings.
Organic matter adds great lawn nutrition to depleted soils and brings in helpful microbes and earthworms that break down the organic matter, tunneling and creating pockets that lighten the soil and allow air and water to reach the roots.
And when those earthworms poop, it adds another boost to your soil.
This is a cool way to gradually add organic matter and enrich your lawn’s soil without digging everything up and starting over.
It’s important to add just enough organic matter to boost the soil without smothering the existing grass. Shoot for about a quarter-inch layer.
Use a lightweight amendment like compost or peat moss. If you just dump an inch or two of ordinary, heavy garden soil on top of the lawn, you'll kill the grass.
You can just scatter it with your hands if you have a small area. Or start with a few small piles throughout your yard and lightly rake it into an even, quarter-inch layer.
An easy way to add organic matter into your soil is to use a mulching blade on your lawn mower.
As the grass clippings decompose, they create a layer of compost on top of the soil. You can also mow over leaves in the fall instead of raking them, as this also adds organic matter into the soil.
If your lawn isn’t looking too great, even though you’re staying on top of your fertilizer applications, it could mean its soil pH is off, and needs lime or gypsum to balance it.
Soil pH is a way to measure the amount of acidity or alkalinity in your lawn’s soil.
If your lawn soil pH is too low, it’s time for lime, a soil amendment made from ground limestone rock, which contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.
Or, if your lawn soil pH is too high, your lawn might need gypsum, a mineral that contains hydrated calcium sulfate.
Both work to balance the pH level of your lawn. Once your lawn is balanced with the right pH, your soil can actually use the nutrients in your fertilizer, and flourish.
A simple soil pH test will tell you if your lawn’s soil needs a boost.
When your soil becomes compacted, your lawn can't breathe. Its roots can't take in water or nutrients, which weakens your turf and opens the door for disease and weeds.
Soil with a high clay content is especially likely to get compacted, as the particles squeeze together tightly, making it tough for water and oxygen to get through.
Aeration uses a machine to pull out tiny cores of soil from your lawn, allowing water and oxygen to get to the roots. You can almost hear your lawn sigh with relief.
Pro tip: Don’t rake up the little cores of soil left behind. Leave them to break down over the winter. They’re a great lawn nutrition boost.
Healthy soil is just one part of growing a green and thriving lawn in Idaho. Good lawn nutrition involves several important factors. It can get kind of complicated keeping up with it all, right?
Let us make it easy.
Choose an Idaho Falls or Boise, ID professional lawn care service that bundles your yard’s most-needed treatments into one convenient, no-fuss plan.
Fertilizing, weed control, grub control. Done.
We’ve got your back.
Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started.
Then kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard.