Horticulturists agree that time spent improving what is happening below the surface of a lawn greatly reduces the time needed to maintain what is on top of it. The ideal soil for grass meets five requirements:
1) it is slightly acidic;
2) it contains an adequate supply of nutrients;
3) it allows for deep root growth;
4) it supports a thriving population of beneficial microbes, and
5) it retains adequate moisture.
You can achieve these ideal conditions by adding various amendments to your soil. For example, applications of lime or sulfur will modify pH. Fertilizers can supplement the nutrients already in your soil, and organic material can improve soil structure as well as the soil’s ability to retain water and to support microbial activity.
Learn more: American Horticultural Society (http://ahsgardening.org/).
