DES MOINES –Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged homeowners to consider incorporating soil quality restoration efforts into their annual spring yard work.
Often in urban areas, especially new developments, the topsoil has been removed and what is left is compacted. Restoring soil quality helps yards and green spaces absorb and infiltrate rainfall, which reduces the homeowners need to water their yard while protecting water quality and preventing runoff.
“Iowa is known for it’s great soil, and rightfully so, but we need to make sure we are taking care of that soil so that it is healthy,” Northey said. “What made our soil so productive was the high organic matter content and porosity that absorbed rain and allowed roots to grow deep. Soil quality restoration helps recreate those conditions that allow plants to thrive.”
If you are establishing a new lawn, perform deep tillage (8-12 inches deep) before seeding or sodding to breaks up compacted soils. Add compost to increase organic matter. It is recommended that soils have 5 percent or more organic matter before sodding or seeding, which can be achieved by incorporating 1 to 3 inches of compost.
If you have an existing lawn, consider aerating the soil and then apply a blanket of compost in the spring or fall. An application of one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch of compost following aeration will help fill the holes with organic matter to amend the soil and allow existing turf to grow through the compost amendment. If your turf is patchy, add seed to the compost application to thicken up the vegetation.
“Improving the soil quality in your yard will make your lawn healthier, require less water and reduce the need for fertilizer and pesticide applications,” Northey added. “A better looking lawn and improved water quality in the state are possible when we better manage runoff through soil quality restoration and other measures that allow water to infiltrate.”
There are a number of other lawn care tips to help care for your soil and promote infiltration of water and prevent runoff.
- Begin mowing after the first of May and end near Labor Day.
- Set the mower at three inches high. The higher the grass shoots the deeper the grass roots, making it better able to survive dry periods.
- Use the mulch setting on your mower to leave the grass clippings on the yard. Don’t lower organic matter content by removing clippings.
- Consider using native plants for accent in planting beds or in rain gardens to minimize the amount of turf grass.
- Seed your lawn to a native turf mixture that has deep roots and thrives in Iowa’s weather conditions without extra care.
More information about urban conservation, rain gardens and a soil quality brochure are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov.
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