Healthy soil is an essential factor when it comes to caring for your lawn. Imbalances in soil condition can cause a lot of issues for your grass, shrubs, trees and landscaping plants, despite how hard you work to maintain a beautiful property. At Arbor-Nomics, we offer premium lawn care services for clients in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area. Our team of Certified Landscape Specialists enjoy helping our local customers find ways to improve their lawn’s wellbeing, and we want to help you do the same. Read below to learn more about soil quality, and why it is vital to the long-term success of your lawn.
Understanding Soil Composition
Loam soil is the best for growing healthy grass. It contains a mixture of clay, silt and sand and is beneficial because the well-balanced soil composition assists with nutrient and water retention while providing adequate drainage and airflow. Loam soil will also help to keep erosion at bay. Unfortunately, the naturally occurring composition of soil in the Atlanta, Georgia area contains high amounts of clay. This means that most soil will need to be amended to achieve best results.
Soil Layers
It is also important to understand the function of individual soil layers and how it effects plant growth. The top layer of soil is composed mostly of organic matter such as decaying plants, insects, fallen leaves and grass clippings. Beneath this organic material is the topsoil, which is the region where most of the plant growth happens. It is here that roots proliferate, as they seek out essential vitamins, minerals and water. This layer is normally somewhere between 6” to 20” deep. Next is the subsoil layer, which is mostly made of clay or sand. There is little organic material found here and is therefore of little help to plants. However, the composition of the subsoil can influence water drainage. The final layer is made of solid bedrock.
Testing Your Soil
If you want to have the best soil possible, then the first step is to gain more information about your existing soil composition. This will give you a general idea of the quality of your soil, so you can determine whether adjustments or amendments are necessary. It is important to test multiple areas of your lawn since composition can vary from one location to another.
What Kind of Adjustments Can be Made to Improve Soil Quality?
A wide variety of actions can be taken to improve poor soil quality. Property owners can create a more balanced soil composition by bringing in additional sand or silt. The pH balance can be changed with compost or other amendments, and additional soil nutrients can be provided with chemical fertilizers and compost.
Are You Looking for Ways to Improve the Health and Beauty of Your Lawn? Call Arbor-Nomics
Is your lawn showing signs of declining health? Revitalize your lawn today with help from the experts at Arbor-Nomics. Our Certified Landscape Specialists are ready to help you achieve your lawn care goals. Contact our office for more information about our wide variety of professional services or to schedule an appointment for your next lawn care treatment in Atlanta, Woodstock, Alpharetta, Cumming, Johns Creek, Marietta, Dunwoody, Roswell, Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Georgia or a nearby community.