What Does It Take?

Last Updated on October 16, 2022 by Brian Beck

There is a lot of confusion, bad habit, poor science (bro science), myth, tradition and perhaps even a little superstition. While there is a lot of information to be aware of I want to break it down for you just to simplify so you can understand the basics and make a simple assessment as to where you stand on the scale of lawn success. Here are the five principles of any plant and what they need:

• Sunlight (this is not going to change you have all you are going to get
• Air (same thing applies here you have just as much as your neighbor, ain’t gonna change)
• Soil (This includes the microbiology that we are trying to reestablish and some already existing macro and micro nutrients)
• Water (you may live in a wet climate that gets over 50″ of rain per season but if you are in Colorado we get about 17″ on the Front Range, the turf is going to need about 50-55″ to stay healthy at the right time, sorry rainfall usually is not reliable)
• Nutrients (This includes the 16 macro and micro nutrients from the big boy on the block nitrogen to the mouse in the corner selenium)

If you do not have the right things at the right time you will cause stress, disease and ultimately death. While we are working on a grading system that will help people understand where they stand here is a simple test that you can answer to yourself that will help you know where you are.

1. Do you water at least twice per month during the off season? October -April?
2. Does your lawn turn solid green in the first week of April?
3. Do you have to fertilize before your lawn will “get going”?
4. Can you go more than two months without fertilizing before your lawn starts to look bad?
5. Can you go more than 4 days in 85 degree heat without watering?
6. Do you have a lot of weeds?
7. Does your lawn stay green until mid December?
8. Does your lawn turn brown during the winter?
9. Do you cut at least once per week? Do you cut twice per week?
10. Do you have urine spots in your lawn or do you get lawn blight often?

Here are the answers you should have:

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. No
7. Yes
8. No
9. Yes, everyday (robotic mowing)
10. No

This is how you should have answered. If not you probably are suffering from

1. Not enough organic matter in the soil (Carbon).
2. A lack of biology in the soil, shallow watering
3. A dead soil, use of synthetics
4. A dead soil, use of synthetics
5. A lack of organic matter in the soil, the use of synthetic fertilizers, shallow and frequent watering as opposed to deep watering.
6. The use of synthetic fertilizers
7. A lack of hydration and biology in the soil.
8. Severe dehydration, a lack of proper nutrient uptake in the fall
9. Inaction, poor service provider, no robotic involvement.
10. Shallow watering, not deep enough.

If you want help with your lawn next season we can eliminate the confusion and get you more targeted so you can get to success quicker. It is unbelievable how good the lawn looks and how little attention it needs when it is healthy.