Like any flower, tree, or shrub in your landscaping, your lawn requires all of the right components to grow well. It needs ample sunlight, the right amount of water, and nutrients. But the other important factor that Baton Rouge lawn care experts will use to help grass reach its full potential is soil quality.
Dirt has many different characteristics, and the soil at your property can be far different from that neighboring property. If you added soil to your lawn area or beds during the landscaping process, this adds additional differences. Understanding these characteristics of your soil is important for determining which turf will thrive in your yard and how to best maintain your lawn.
Characteristics of Soil in Baton Rouge
There are many different standards by which soil scientists classify soil. The various characteristics make certain soils the right choice for different purposes. For instance, when starting seeds, fine and lightweight soils are best to help germinating plants get the water they need. For trees and shrubs that need good draining soil, the soil should have a higher percentage of sand in it.
But these differences in soil can also determine how well grass grows in your yard:
- Soil Composition – Soils consist of a mixture of silt, sand, and clay. The ratio impacts drainage, nutrient retention, and propensity for compaction.
- Concentration of Organic Matter – Decomposition of natural elements creates nutrient rich soil, which is why compost is often recommended for gardens. The soil that your lawn grows in may be formulated with natural elements or can incorporate organic elements over time by absorbing decaying plants and animals.
- Soil pH Level – pH describes how acidic or alkaline the soil is. Soil with high alkalinity limits nutrients in the soil while soil that is highly acidic can start to burn away the roots of your grass.
- Compaction – Compacted soil leaves little room for nutrients and water to spread and makes it difficult for roots to grow down deeply.
- Salinity – The amount of salt in soil will affect how well the dirt will retain water and nutrients, although salinity that is too high can be damaging to turf.
- Cation Exchange Capacity – Each particle of silt, clay, and individual nutrients in soil has an ionic charge that is either positive or negative. Opposite ionic charges will attract like magnets. The right balance of nutrients to soil will ensure the right ionic exchange.
Balancing all of these different factors is key to getting a lawn that is both resilient and looks great. Because many of these characteristics are not easy to either monitor or adjust without the right equipment, working with a professional lawn care company in Baton Rouge is the best way to perfect your lawn.
Leeson Landscaping can ensure that your turfgrass and soil have everything they need with our extensive experience with lawn care and landscaping in Baton Rouge. Contact us today to learn more about our lawn care services for residential and commercial properties in your area.