Introduction:
Welcome to our in-depth guide on how to observe and assess the health of your lawn. Whether you’re just starting in lawn care or you’re a seasoned veteran, understanding what to look for and how to interpret what you see and feel can make a huge difference in your lawn care approach. Let’s dive into the art and science of lawn observation.
1. Initial Site Evaluation: (we should call this “site arrival”?)
- Photographic Time-Stamping: With every visit take a photo of the front or of the location to time stamp arrival as well as being crucial for monitoring progress over time. Take another upon leaving to document the amount of time on site.
2. Sensory Observations: (Or “Boots on the Ground”)
- Walk the Property: Identify grass types, plant diversity (including weeds), trees/crown overhang/roots, shrubs/garden beds, shade to sun locations, sidewalks, driveways, curb line, pathways, patio, traffic, lawn furniture/ornaments, mower to mowing direction(s) and level issues and anything that would have an impact/outcome
- Feeling the Ground: As we walk understand how to gauge soil compaction, root health, and surface evenness through each footstep. Lack of grass roots feels like it moves/mushy beneath our feet. Great netting feels tight which will come to you in time as you identify each for you. As you walk you can feel the worm castings and more.
- Visual Assessments: Need to kneel and get into the rough of things to Identify your findings to produce that visual feedback loop for future site evaluations. How to interpret worm castings, soil color, and other visible signs of lawn health.
3. Core Sampling:
- The Importance of Core Samples: Using a core sampler take as deep a core sample, this will tell you compaction depth as well reveal soil type, organic matter, root depth, and more.
- Interpreting Core Sample Results: Learn to read signs of root-feeding insects, worm activity, and carbon content. Take a picture of the core to compare to future pics to see visual improvements or degradation.
4. Using a Penetrometer:
- Measuring Compaction Levels: 150 PSI is optimal for roots and microbe nutrient cycling, 300PSI is compaction, plant diversity can break this up, but this is where your salts hang up and roots will not penetrate, as well as water and air hang up here, not being able to move further, thus anerobic conditions producing alcohols and (lets take from our current past chats to fill in here about each Alcohol, vinegar formaldehyde
5. Conducting Infiltration Tests:
- Performing Infiltration Ring Tests: On my commercial sites we can check infiltration that will allow us to fine tune our watering schedules, monitoring by taking core samples to hand squeeze for moisture %, as well visual improvements, take pictures.
6. Consider External Factors:
- Seasonal and Weather Impacts: How different times of the year and recent weather conditions can affect your outcomes, take pictures and file for future reference.
- Time of Day Considerations: Understanding the importance of timing, especially for measuring brix (sugar content) in plants.
7. Understanding Past Influences:
- Legacy and Past Management: Assessing the impact of previous care, construction, and other legacy issues on your lawn’s current state.
Conclusion:
Lawn observation is an ongoing process that requires patience and attention to detail. By following these guidelines, you can develop a keen eye for lawn health and a deeper understanding of how to nurture and regenerate your lawn effectively.
Call to Action:
Feel free to reach out to us at Stangl’s Enviro Lawn Care for more personalized advice or to discuss our regenerative lawn care services. Happy observing!
