As you walk across a golf course fairway (probably looking for your golf ball), you might notice that despite all the foot and golf cart traffic and wear and tear the lawn gets, the grass looks pretty good – great, in fact.
Science is behind this perfect lawn. It’s lawn biology, actually. The secret to a great lawn lies in these scientific principles, and healthy soil is a key component of it.
We know this might be science nerd talk, but it’s a great way to understand why your lawn might be behaving (or misbehaving).
Products that can improve your soil health by increasing microbial activity are lawn biostimulants. Their presence in the soil – beyond nutrition like fertilizers – can help boost your soil health, and encourage better lawn health as a result.
Let’s talk more about these types of products, what they can do, and how they work to improve your lawn’s health and growth.
Lawn Biostimulants 101: A Closer Look at This Unique Product For Your Northern Virginia Lawn
You want a great-looking lawn – who can blame you? We all want a nice lawn that frames our home and boosts curb appeal, giving us something to enjoy every day.
But your lawn can only be as good as the soil it’s growing in.
Biostimulants for lawns can help improve your soil and give you a better lawn as a result.
Here are some of the ways they do that.
What Are Lawn Biostimulants? Let’s Dive Deeper Into The Definition
Lawn biostimulants are materials that when used in very small quantities can help stimulate grass growth.
They can come in a variety of forms – some are synthetic, while others are naturally occurring organic materials. The most popular types of biostimulants are humic acids, seaweed extracts, liquid manure composting, beneficial bacteria, and fungi. Since the range of products is wide, biostimulants are often defined more by what they do than what they are. And, basically, they stimulate growth.
At Turf’s Up, the biostimulant we use is our granular compost that contains mycorrhizae. This is a beneficial fungus that takes glucose from the plant and acts as a root for it. This enables the plant to soak up nutrition through the mycorrhizae that may have been unavailable to the grass roots in a bound compound.
Do Lawn Biostimulants Work? What Exactly Do They Do For Your Lawn?
A great-looking lawn will naturally grow in great soil. The absolute perfect soil would be 7 to 12 inches of topsoil rich with organic matter on top without too much clay or too much sand.
While soil already has a population of microorganisms living in it, many soils struggle and need some extra help. Maybe it’s soil that was dug up and all the good topsoil removed through new home construction.
Put simply, lawn biostimulants add microbes that help the plant better absorb available nutrients. This means less fertilization is needed because what is being applied is more fully being used instead of being wasted or left inert in the soil, unused by the plant.
This nutrition helps grass roots grow better. In fact, your lawn will develop more roots, allowing it to take in more water naturally, also reducing watering requirements.
Good microbes also fight bad microbes. This reduces occurrence of turf diseases and the need for fungicide applications.
What’s more, these benefits make your lawn more likely to survive harsh environmental conditions like drought.
The Biostimulant Trend
The use of biostimulants has risen steadily over the years since the first trials of these products in the 1990s.
The market continues to grow today as research shows the positive efficacy of biostimulants for lawns.
The global market for biostimulants is booming; it is expected to grow 10.4% this year and maintain that annual growth rate or higher through 2025.
Are Biostimulants Good For The Environment?
Biostimulants for lawns are not just for the benefits of root health, lawn resilience, and nutrient absorption.
In fact, they are also good for the environment. They are a sustainable way to improve plant growth and reduce inputs, as well as improve soil fertility, health, and structure.
What Types of Grass Do Biostimulants Help?
Grass typically grows well without biostimulants when the environment is favorable, offering exactly what plants need. Plants growing under minimal stress, in fact, will usually do OK.
But lawn biostimulants can be particularly beneficial where root growth, moisture stress, excess salt (called salinity), or other issues are present. In these locations, biostimulant-treated lawns can perform better because they develop a better defense system.
For best impact, apply them prior to the onset of stress or early in the season when the plant is actively growing.
Should You Hire a Lawn Care Company That Offers Lawn Biostimulant Services? How Can They Help Me?
There are quite a few lawn care companies out there that talk about how they care for soil health, but they really should back it up by offering services that can improve your soil the right way.
At Turf’s Up in Northern Virginia, we offer a completely unique lawn biostimulant service that uses a product that contains a beneficial fungus called mycorrhizae. It’s one of the most impressive products we’ve ever used.
It aids in rooting more than it helps with germination, so if your lawn is lacking in root growth and structure, this service can certainly help you get better results and a nicer-looking lawn to boot.
Hiring a trusted lawn care professional to apply biostimulants to ensure it’s done right and is needed on your lawn is the best way to ensure you’re getting proper care, and knowledge, and that the application is being done correctly. If you think your lawn roots are suffering and you need some additional help to improve the grass roots and soil, you definitely want to have a professional lawn care business that offers biostimulant services on your team.
When You Need Biostimulants for Lawns in Northern Virginia, Trust Turf’s Up. We Know Lawn Science
In addition to great lawn care, including adequate fertilization; proper mowing; correct watering; and annual aeration, overseeding, and topdressing, you might find that at some point your lawn roots are suffering and they aren’t taking in adequate water and nutrition.
If your lawn is having a lot of trouble – maybe it’s overall weak or discolored or is constantly full of weeds, diseases, and insects – then it’s likely stressed and not getting what it needs to thrive. To improve your turf’s health and appearance, you can improve its root structure with lawn biostimulants.
When your lawn is having some trouble, biostimulant applications could be part of the solution that could help get it back on the right track to proper growth, better color, and a heartier defense system against stressors.
If you are noticing your lawn is in a state of disrepair and you’re not sure what to do next, give Turf’s Up a shout. We can take a closer look and tell you what’s really going on with your beloved grass, as well as offer some suggestions to get you back on the road to that thick, green grass you adore.
Ready to learn why Turf’s Up could be your totally awesome choice for lawn care services in Northern Virginia? We’re stoked to learn more about you and help you have the best lawn on the block. Get started today with a free quote. Together, we can prepare a customized plan that is perfect for you and your lawn.
