Last Updated on October 3, 2025 by Brian Beck
Knowing Your Audience and Understanding Soil Differences
Recently, I found myself in an online discussion about watering practices for lawns. The article someone had posted advocated for frequent and shallow watering—a method that’s pretty much the opposite of what I do. As I engaged with these folks, it became clear we were talking past each other because of our completely different climates and soil conditions.
In my case, I’m working with a cool-season climate and a soil that’s been enriched with carbon, particularly humus, which increases its water-holding capacity. That’s why I can water deeply and less frequently—sometimes only once every ten days—without any issues.
On the other hand, the folks I was talking to are in a warm climate with sandy soils that don’t hold water well at all. They’re used to a purely synthetic approach and assume everyone’s soil behaves like theirs—where water evaporates quickly and frequent shallow watering seems logical.
The key point I wanted to share—and what they didn’t realize—is that building up the humus in the soil changes the whole game. With more humus, the soil can store moisture like a reservoir, reducing the need for constant watering. It’s a totally different approach, but it’s one grounded in understanding soil biology rather than just following one-size-fits-all advice.
So, if you’re in a discussion about lawn care, remember that not all soil is created equal. Knowing your audience’s conditions and educating them about soil health can bridge that gap—and maybe even turn a few skeptics into believers.
