Residential Roadmap
Root & Soil Restoration
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This is where it all starts, the most important intersection of the plan, where homeowners and soil meet. It’s also the simplest place to start.
Soil is a complex subject. I will be writing many articles about it, but for now all you need to know are a few simple steps to get your soil moving in the right direction before you even put a shovel in the ground. You’re going to have to trust me until I can get the facts and and learning section up to speed.
Simple Steps:
Stop using any type of herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, or chemicals on your lawn.
Keep your lawn at least 4” tall.
When you mow, do mulching instead of bagging.
Start fertilizing your yard with soil building organic fertilizer.
Why:
Ending use of harmful chemicals and fertilizers will kick things off.
Allowing your grass to grow taller has at least two benefits. The roots will grow deeper, you won’t have to water as much, and the taller grass will block out a lot of ‘weeds’ from growing (I personally let the weeds grow. They are green and I can mow them if I want.)
Mulching mowing will feed the nutrients from the cut grass back into your soil. It will also create a layer that will help retain moisture.
Only bag when you need to feed your compost.
Organic fertilizer acts different than synthetic. It feeds your soil instead of a quick feed to the grass.
If you put too much synthetic fertilizer down, it ‘burns’ the lawn. Too much all at once. If you put the right amount down, it makes the grass greener quicker, but it’s not helping your soil. On some levels, it’s harming it.
When you use organic fertilizer, it is slow release. You can put down as much as you want (within reason of course. don’t cover the grass). You could even aerate before you apply it to get some of it deeper in the soil.
Brands like Milorganite, Ecorganite, or something of the same nature will do this for you. Milorganite stands for Milwakee Organic Nitrogen.
Do these simple things, and you are already having an important impact. The fish where your runoff goes will thank you.