When it comes to keeping your grass green, nothing is more crucial than understanding the soil that lies beneath. You may be wondering, “What’s the big deal? It’s just dirt, isn’t it?” Well, since you asked, no. According to the experts at LSU AgCenter, dirt is “soil removed from its natural habitat.” Soil, conversely, is soil that has not been removed from its natural habitat. So, when we talk about soil, we’re talking about “dirt” where it lives—in the ground.
Yet, more important than what we call it, is what comprises our soil. Generally, soil is composed of sand, silt, clay (the source of minerals), and organic materials. These four components combine in many ways resulting in a variety of soils with distinct properties. Often, the soil in one part of your lawn will differ from the soil in another part of your lawn. What’s more, because soil constantly changes, its properties change, too, though the changes usually are not obvious to the naked eye. That’s because there are five specific factors that contribute to soil development: climate, biota, parent material, topography, and time.
Climate refers to weather conditions, such as rainfall and temperature. Biota refers to organisms that live in the soil—anything from earthworms to fungi to microscopic bacteria. Parent materials can be organic (leaves, pine needles, peat) or inorganic (rocks, sediment, minerals). Topography refers to the slope of the land and affects water runoff. Time refers to how long it took a particular soil to develop, which may be hundreds or even thousands of years.
Some soils are more suitable to growing grass, ornamental gardens, vegetable gardens, or trees depending on their mineral composition, their pH levels, the amount of rain they receive, the relative temperature of the environment, the amount of sun they receive, and other factors. Clearly, then, a green healthy lawn depends on your soil’s health, and the only way to determine your soil’s health is to test it.
If you’re the hands-on type, request soil test kits from the LSU AgCenter extension office in your parish. Then roll up your sleeves, collect some dirt, and send the kits to LSU for analysis. They’ll send reports back to you. You can even get the good folks at your local extension office to meet with you in person to explain the results. If you’re not the hands-on type or don’t have time to do it yourself, a professional lawn service company can test the soil, explain the results, and recommend treatments, if necessary.
At Green Grass, we know your lawn is a big investment. It adds beauty, enjoyment, and even resale value to your home. Therefore, it pays to keep your soil healthy. Whether you simply need our advice on how to do it yourself or you prefer to take advantage of our professional services, we’re here to help.
