Last Updated on August 29, 2023 by ILGM Ninjas
This year we saw a lot of lawns that were damaged. This was very predictable and expected as far back as June of 2021 when we saw the May rainfall with 70° temperatures and almost a years worth of rain five way to mid 90’s a zippo when it came to precipitation. This set the stage for winterkill that would occur some 8 to 9 months later when the hot summer with no rain gave way to the warm fall that trapped lawns in a state of stress, typically with shallow root structures from shallow watering as most people did not water in May and hoped that this would somehow carry into June. The temperatures jumped so much combined with a lack of moisture that the stress was high and the potential for failure was almost inevitable. Once the lawns experienced the first hard freeze the die was set and a potential dry winter turned out to be the driest in 20 years and with no snow and warm temperatures come May the reality was apparent and obvious. All of this, or at least 95% of it was completely preventable. How did we get here? Well a lot of it begins with the soil. Being damaged by synthetics that kill off the microbial life, the life responsible for transferring nutrients from the soil to the plant. The carbon (organic material) in the soil which is lacking severely, cannot help the soil retain water as there is about 1/2 to 1/3 of what is needed and also because carbon is an energy source for the microbes which you are killing with synthetics is simply not there. Because the microbial life is not there, combined with shallow watering and thick thatch which is preventing water from getting to the shallow roots in the first place stands little chance of surviving the 6 to 7 months of extremely dry conditions. Are you starting to see how a lawn apocalypse occurs and how it can be prevented? Introduction of carbon, biology, nutrients and growth stimulators combined with deep and infrequent watering is the starting line. The finish line is a lawn that is highly disease resistant, nearly weed free, more water efficient, heat and cold tolerant with a green up a month before any of your neighbors and a lawn that stays green without turning brown well into December. Biological can compete with Synthetics and win. If you want to know more call us and we can go over a plan with you on how to finally win with your lawn.