Common Symptoms
Does your lawn look thin and yellow? Is the soil hard as a parking lot? When watering, do you start to get run-off into the gutter after just a few minutes? Is the root system of your grass shallow and easy to pull up? Does your yard look worse than your neighbor that “never does anything to his yard”? These are all indications that the soil structure in your yard is poor. The purpose of this article is to give you an annual program that will feed the grass and improve the soil to offer a more efficient and disease-resistant lawn. The Root of the Problem To prosper, plants need well-drained soil with a coarse texture. The dirt should be friable i.e. crumbly and loose. Over time, the organic matter in our lawns is used up without replacement. The microorganisms that feed on the organic material dwindle and are also killed off by fungicide and pesticide applications. The result is a hard-packed, lifeless soil. The root system of your grass becomes shallow and cannot efficiently take up nutrients. Fertilizers dissolve and run off without being used and the lawn becomes more susceptible to drought and disease. This program focuses on feeding the soil as much as on feeding the grass. We will be adding organic matter, an important soil amendment, throughout the year. By their nature, these products have a cumulative benefit and are not fast-acting. You will see a gradual improvement each year that you apply this schedule. In the end, you will have a better-looking yard with less water, fertilizer, and effort. The Soil Additives Compost - In any of its forms, compost is an essential element for good soil. In this program, we will be recommending cow manure compost. This product has been fully composted to be odorless and is easy to apply with a fertilizer spreader. Compost will provide microorganisms and nutrients. It will also help the soil hold nutrients by keeping them from leaching. Existing microorganisms in the soil will break down the compost into humus. Humates - This substance is a combination of soil microbe remnants, minerals, and organics. It will become part of the soil structure where it improves drainage and increases the availability of nutrients to the microorganisms and the grass. Apply as either a liquid or granule.
Organic Fertilizer - Southwest Fertilizer’s Earth Essentials is a combination of organic components that will feed slowly and add to the soil structure. Revive - Polymers that will open up the soil and allow for water penetration, as well as Iron to help green up the grass. Available in both liquid and granular form. Southwest Premium Gold Fertilizer - A blend of slow and quick release fertilizer that will feed the lawn steadily for up to 3 months. Contains 3% Iron to keep the grass a deep green color. Southwest Premium Winterizer - The correct blend of nutrients to help grass move energy into the root system for the Winter. Proper winterizing will lessen freeze damage and help grass come in stronger in the Spring. The Schedule March 1. Aerate the lawn 2. Apply Southwest Premium Compost or Farm Dirt Compost
3. Apply Southwest Premium Gold Fertilizer April 1. Apply Southwest Earth Essentials 2. Spray or spread Revive June 1. Apply Humate 2. Apply Southwest Premium Gold Fertilizer October 1. Aerate the lawn 2. Apply Southwest Earth Essentials 3. Apply Southwest Winterizer