RESPONSIBLE LAWN CARE

 

SOIL QUALITY

Prior to land development and agricultural cultivation, the native ecosystem of tallgrass prairie built and maintained soils with high organic matter and porosity.  The high organic matter and porosity gave the landscape the ability to absorb rain and not shed runoff.  Hardy native plants and grasses had deep root systems which created pore spaces that allowed rainfall to percolate into the soil profile.  Soils rich in organic matter support an entire ecosystem of microorganisms that contribute to soil health.  Iowa soils have been significantly altered by tillage for farming and grading practices associated with urban development.  Years of tillage and soil erosion have caused the loss of more than half of Iowa’s topsoil.  The organic matter has bee reduced from a healthy, sponge-like 10 percent to less than 2 percent.  Often remaining topsoil is completely removed during development for urban growth.  Little to no organic matter remains and the graded soils are compacted.

 

Who cares?

Compacted soils with no organic matter cause nearly all the water to runoff during rainfall.  Stormwater runoff flows untreated to storm sewers and washes associated pollutants directly into the nearest receiving water.  Yards with poor soil quality contribute to water quality issues because of their inability to infiltrate water or make it available for turfgrass.  Rainfall runs off the lawn instead of providing water for the grass.  Any applications of pesticide and fertilizer may also travel in runoff to nearby water bodies, negatively impacting water quality in your neighborhood and beyond.

 

What can be done?

A compacted, nutrient poor soil with low organic matter content also requires more time and money to stay green!  Following the responsible lawn care tips on this page will help create a beautiful, healthy lawn that requires less water and reduced fertilizer and pesticide applications.

 

AERATION

The first step to a healthier lawn is to aerate with a plug or deep-time aerator.  A common misconception is that aeration itself helps relieve compaction and allows oxygen to permeate down to plant roots.  However, an application of ¼ to ¾ inch of compost is recommended after each aeration.  This will help fill the aeration holes with organic matter to amend the soil.  Eventually the void created by the soil plug will fill in.  To have a lasting impact on the health of the lawn, fill the plugs with good quality compost and reseed to get the greatest benefit from aeration.

 

COMPOST

Compost may be spread onto bare ground or existing lawns in a number of ways, depending on the size of the project and do-it-yourself ability.  It can be blown onto the lawn, applied with a skid loader, wheel barrow and shovel, manure spreader, or lawn fertilizer spreader.  A fertilizer spreader works well to apply a thin layer of high quality fine-graded compost to an existing lawn.  Grass seed is normally added with the compost to help fill in patchy turf or seed an area.

 

BENEFITS

Making the effort to upgrade a lawn with aeration and compost means less maintenance later.  A ¾ inch compost application will jump start a lawn and turn the grass a beautiful healthy green color.  The lawn will require much less water to stay lush and green and to keep the grass unstressed.  Cost savings can be significant during summer months.  The lawn will also require less fertilizer to maintain the lush green look so many homeowners desire. 

 

Compost improves lawn and landscape health by increasing porosity and organic matter content, breaking down nutrients and making them available to plants, improving plant hardiness and vigor, and retaining more water in the landscape.  When runoff is prevented from moving off the landscape, eroded soil, nutrients, and other pollutants do not enter receiving waters.

 

MORE TIPS:

• Begin mowing after the first of May and end near Labor Day.
• Set the mower at three inches high.  The higher the grass shoot, the deeper the grass roots, making it better able to survive dry periods.
• Use the mulch setting on the mower to leave the grass clippings on the yard.  Don’t lower organic matter content by removing clippings.  Grass clippings don’t contribute to thatch in yards with active soil microbes and healthy soils.
• Consider using native plants for accent in planting beds or in rain gardens to minimize the amount of turfgrass.
• Seed the lawn to a native turf mixture that has deep roots and thrives in Iowa’s weather conditions without extra care.
• If fertilizer is needed, use ONLY no-phosphorus fertilizers.  Most lawns already contain enough phosphorus, and this can be confirmed with a soil test.  Phosphorus is the main nutrient contributing to toxic algae pollution in the lake!!!
• Use lake-friendly lawn care products – organic and corn gluten based products are safe for your children and pets and do not contribute pollution to the lake.

 

 

If you would like information or assistance in testing your soil, upgrading your lawn, or using lake-friendly lawn care products, feel free to contact the Project Coordinator.