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For most people their lawn care maintenance starts and stops with a 4-Step lawn fertilizer program. However, if you really want to have a thick green lawn you need to go a few steps further.

A 4-Step Program is like treating the symptoms of an illness by medicating a patient as apposed to getting to the root of the problem. Just as a healthy individual needs adequate sleep and nutrition a good lawn starts with good soil. A 4-Step Program does nothing to improve the soil’s condition. I’m not saying you shouldn’t use the 4-Step Program, but getting your soil in better condition is critical to the success of your lawn.

Due to our region sitting on the Appalachian Plateau, our soil is very “clay like” . A compact soil makes it very difficult for grass to develop an adequate root system, which results in a thin lawn. For this reason, Jonathan Green has come out with a new product called Love Your Lawn – Love Your Soil. This 100% organic product improves the soil’s porosity to allow water, air and grass roots to enter the soil more readily. This product also encourages the natural soil microbes to release and recycle nutrients in the soil. Calcium, sulfur and iron can then promote a healthy, vigorous lawn.

In addition to improving the porosity of your soil, making sure your soil’s PH is neutral is critical to obtaining a thick, green lawn. For more information on why liming is so important check out my blog entry from three weeks ago.

In addition to improving the porosity of your soil, making sure your soil’s PH is neutral is critical to obtaining a thick, green lawn. For more information on why liming is so important check out my blog entry from three weeks ago.

Recommended Application Timeline

1.) MAG-I-CAL: Late March- End April
2.) Step 1: Late March-Early April (reseeding can be done in areas where Step 1 is not applied, or you must purchase a Step 1 for Seeding bag).
3.) Love Your Lawn – Love Your Soil: Mid to Late April
4.) Step 2: 6-8 weeks after Step 1 (Same goes for Steps 3 and 4)
5.) MAG-I-CAL: Early to Late September (reseed and over seed as needed)

** Step programs traditionally are associated with chemical fertilizers, however there are organic 4-step programs as well. Additionally, some users will mix and match chemical and organic fertilizers based on their lawn’s needs and their individual preferences.