3 Key Steps for a Beautiful Lush Lawn Next Spring: Aerate, Compost, Overseed (Part 2)

This is the second of a three-part blog series on Fall lawn care for a lush Spring lawn. Read about the aeration and overseeding to learn about the full process.

STEP #2 TO A LUSH AND HEALTHY LAWN – FERTILIZE WITH COMPOST TO STRENGTHEN THE LAWN

Now that aeration has improved your soil’s absorption-ability, spreading ¼ to an inch layer of compost (depending on the condition of the soil) will deliver to your lawn a boost of essential nutrients that will promote its overall hardiness and good health.

Compost is a combination of natural material that decomposes into organic matter, containing humus and nutrients that act as a natural fertilizer. It keeps your soil biologically active and feeds the grass.

WHY COMPOSTING IS BEST

This added energy source will sustain your lawn’s root system during the dormant winter season. Grass roots will use the essential nutrients that the compost puts back into the soil to grow healthier and more robust during the cold months. Unlike other types of fertilizers, the compost’s naturally slow release of nutrients assures that roots can maximize their intake of these critical nourishments. These composting benefits will help to provide a boost of energy to the lawn in the Spring. Additionally, using compost to fertilize is the most green and eco-friendly method to re-energize your lawn’s growth as it naturally supports the environment.

OTHER BENEFITS TO USING COMPOST AS FERTILIZER:

• Helps neutralize alkaline and acid soils

• Improves moisture retention

• Promotes the decomposition of thatch

• Aids drainage by restoring the structure to the soil

• Increases shoot density

• Sustains beneficial microorganisms

• Opens up heavy clay soils and bulks up sandy soil

ADDING COMPOST TO CLAY AND SANDY SOIL

Many times yards in newly built homes are filled with soil that is clay-heavy or sand-heavy. This soil composition is not ideal for the sustainability of a healthy and lush lawn. With clay-heavy soil, the ground is too tight to absorb water and nutrients from the surface sufficiently. In contrast, the sandy soil’s soft structure cannot retain water and nutrients long enough for the grass roots to take in enough nourishment. Adding compost to your sandy or clay-heavy soil will add the structure to your soil that allows grass roots to thrive, while producing natural energy essential for the long-term sustainability of a beautiful yard.

COMPOST BLOWER

At Indresano Corporation, we use a pneumatic blowing system to spread the compost evenly. The blower works quickly and efficiently to cover large amounts of compost, leaving your lawn with consistent coverage and depth. Depending on the terrain and condition of the yard, a motorize spreader may also be used.

NEXT UP -- OVERSEED THINNING AREAS AND BROWN PATCHES

Once you've fertilized the your lawn with compost, the next critical step to a lush healthy lawn in the Spring is to overseed those areas needing some TLC in the Fall. Check out the third blog post of this lawn care series to learn about the benefits of overseeding!