Soil Quality Restoration
Prior to land development and agricultural cultivation, the native ecosystem of tallgrass prairie built and maintained soils with high organic matter and porosity. The high organic matter and porosity gave the landscape the ability to absorb rain and not shed runoff. Hardy native plants and grasses had deep root systems, which created pore spaces that allowed rainfall to percolate into the soil profile. Soils rich in organic matter support an entire ecosystem of microorganisms that contribute to soil health. Iowa soils have been significantly altered by tillage for farming and grading practices associated with urban development. Years of tillage and soil erosion has caused the loss of more than half of Iowa’s topsoil. The organic matter content was reduced from a healthy, sponge-like 10% to less than 2%. Often remaining topsoil is completely removed during development for urban growth. Little to no organic matter remains and the graded soils are compacted.
Clean Water Is Everyone’s Business
Compacted soils with no organic matter cause nearly all the water to runoff during rainfall. Storm water runoff flows untreated to storm sewers, and washes associated pollutants directly into nearby streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. Yards with poor soil quality contribute to water quality issues because of their inability to infiltrate water or make it available for the turf grass. Rainfall runs off the lawn instead of providing water for the grass. Any applications of pesticide and fertilizer may also travel in runoff to nearby water bodies, negatively impacting water quality in your neighborhood and beyond.
Upgrade Your soil for a Better Lawn
A compacted, nutrient poor soil with low organic matter content also requires more time and money to stay green! Let us help you create a beautiful, healthy lawn that requires less water and reduced fertilizer and pesticide applications. Aeration helps to improve soil quality by facilitating the movement of organic matter into the soil profile. Compost improves lawn and landscape health by increasing porosity and organic matter content, breaking down nutrients and making them available to plants, improving plant hardiness and vigor, and retaining more water in the landscape. When runoff is prevented from moving off the landscape, eroded soil, nutrients, and other pollutants do not enter surface waters.
A New Lawn
Soil quality restoration is easiest when performed as part of final landscaping with new construction.
Deep tillage (8-12 inches deep) breaks up compacted soils.
An addition of compost will increase organic matter levels.
Recommended levels of 5% or more soil organic matter content can usually be achieved by incorporating 1-3 inches of quality compost into the soil before sodding or seeding.
An Existing Lawn
If you wish to improve a landscape with existing turf, you can aerate the soil and apply a surface blanket of compost in the spring or fall.
Aerate your lawn with a plug or deep-tine aerator.
A common misperception is that aeration itself helps relieve compaction and allows oxygen to permeate down to plant roots.
An application of ¼ to ¾ inch of compost is recommended after aeration. This will help fi ll the aeration holes with organic matter to amend the soil.
Eventually the void created by the soil plug will fill in.
To have a lasting impact on the health of your lawn, fill the plugs with good quality compost and reseed to get the greatest benefit from core aeration.
Compost may be spread onto bare ground or existing lawns in several ways, depending on size of project. It can be blown onto the lawn, applied with a skid loader, or wheel barrow and shovel.
Grass seed is normally added with the compost to help fill in patchy turf or seed an area.
Making the effort to upgrade a lawn means less maintenance later. The lawn required much less water to stay lush and green and to keep the grass unstressed. The cost savings can be significant during summer months. Soil tests showed an increase in available nutrients for the lawn after compost application. Therefore, the lawn required less fertilizer to maintain the lush green look desired by homeowners. Doing your part now to go green saves time, money and water later.
All Around Town Outdoor Services can help you with your Soil Quality Restoration. We can handle any size job, new or existing lawns.
Programs
Federal, state and county programs are available to agricultural and urban landowners. These programs provide technical and financial assistance to implement conservation practices.
URBAN INITIATIVE COST SHARE PROGRAM offers a reimbursement of 50% (up to $2,000) for landscape practices that protect and enhance water quality and address drainage problems. 75% of stormwater runoff must be managed on site to qualify. Practices that qualify for cost share include rain gardens, bio-retention cells and swales, permeable paving, soil quality restoration (deep tined aeration and the application of compost to lawn), etc. Funds are limited and are approved on a first come, first served basis. Rural and urban Scott County residents and businesses are eligible to apply. This program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Scott County Regional Authority.
Content created by Polk Soil and Water Conservation District and the Iowa Storm Water Education Program.
Find additional information about soil quality by visiting the following websites: