Many don’t realize that the soil in which the grass of our lawns grows in, is alive and teeming with microorganisms. Made up of sand, clay, silt, organisms and organic material, the soil is in fact a mini ecosystem right in your back yard. With the organic material and microorganisms, soil is set apart from plain old dirt, and along with the decayed animals and plants that make up the organic material, your lawn has a fantastic base upon which to grow and flourish. However, the soil needs to be kept fertile for your lawn to look healthy all year round, and so here are a few tips for maintaining fertile soil in your yard:
When mowing, mulch:
The clippings left over from when you mow your lawn act as a wonderfully natural fertiliser for the soil and give back to the soil what’s removed with every mow. Grass finds being mowed extremely stressful, and so it’s important not to remove more than a third of a blade at any one time.
Create a compost pile:
Composting is another great way of naturally fertilizing your soil, and can include anything from fruit and vegetable scraps, to eggshells and leaves. Once the pile that you’ve created has been given some time to break down, it can be spread over your lawn in the same way as a regular fertiliser.
Purchase a high-quality fertiliser:
There are some incredible fertilisers available on the market today, that have been crafted after years of research and contain the perfect blend of nutrients for the average lawn. There is commonly a combination of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium inside a good fertilizer, and some companies have even formulated their fertilisers so that they contain time release pearls, meaning your lawn is continually being fed and nurtured at its roots.
If you’re desperate to achieve a beautifully lush and healthy, green lawn, then the reality is that it won’t happen without a little bit of help. If your lawn is disappointing despite your best efforts, it might be time to call in a lawncare specialist and have them diagnose the soil to see if its poor quality might be affecting the lawn, or whether there are any other underlying issues that need to be addressed. Their help and guidance will get you started on the path to greener grass, and you could soon be looking at reaching the dizzying heights of lawn stardom, with the best lawn in the neighbourhood!
