2. Soil Amendments If Needed – Only if your soil test shows a need for the application of soil amendments will the appropriate amendment(s) be recommended. One of the primary reasons for applying soil amendment inputs is to balance PH levels if your soil test shows your lawn is to alkaline or acidic. Having the right PH increases the availability of nutrients to your lawn and helps increase the populations of beneficial soil organisms breaking down nutrients into their plant usable forms. Another important reason to apply soil amendments like aerobic compost is if soil tests show a lack of organic matter in your soil. Having appropriate levels of organic matter in the soil allows water and nutrients to bind to the soil and prevents the leaching of nutrients. Organic matter is also a crucial component of building up the levels of beneficial soil microorganisms in your soil, which help break down organic nutrients into their plant usable forms. Since MN law prohibits the application of phosphorus unless used during new grass establishment (i.e. seeding or sodding) or if soils test shown insufficient levels, phosphorus will never be applied unless required. If your soil in fine, than we won’t recommend adding an amendment you don’t need.
3. Early Spring Weed and Organic Based Feed – Application of corn gluten meal which is a 100% OMRI listed organic fertilizer and potash. In addition to the corn gluten meal fertilizer application, your lawn will be treated with a pre-emergent herbicide to control crabgrass and liquid iron to promote a dark green color. The weed control active ingredients naturally found in corn gluten are called di-peptides. They require a building up period in the soil for 2-3 years for best results, so corn gluten alone will not prevent problem weeds like crabgrass and other weeds during the first two years of use. This is why we still use the conventional pre-emergent application to prevent weeds from taking over while we are building up the natural weed control properties in the soil derived from continued corn gluten meal applications.