Lawn Flooding




Much of the country has experienced unusual levels of rain this spring. Many areas have set records for them most rain ever from March through May, and, the month is not even over.

Over-saturation when there is nowhere for the water to drain to pushes out soil oxygen and breaks down soil structure.  According to the experts, the best soils should contain about 25% air.  Lack of oxygen in the soil kills off or greatly reduces the aerobic bacteria soli content.  Aerobic bacteria should outnumber anaerobic bacteria by ratio of 10:1 or more.

Some factors that determine the extent of the difference between atmospheric and soil air constituents include depth in the soil profile, soil pore size distribution, and soil water content.

• Depth: Oxygen levels generally decrease with depth in the soil profile due to slow diffusion rates of oxygen from the surface through the soil.  Seventy five percent (75%) of soil organisms are found in the top 2 inches (5cm) of soil.
• Pore size distribution: Soils with large pores promote more rapid oxygen diffusion into and through the soil, and carbon dioxide movement out of the soil. Soils with small pores have slower oxygen diffusion into the soil and carbon dioxide diffusion out of the soil. Sandy soils generally have low total porosity but large individual pores. Clay soils generally have high total porosity but small individual pores.
• Aeration and drainage: Soils with large pores generally have good drainage (less water) and aeration, while soils with small pores generally have poor drainage and aeration. Thus, sands generally have good drainage, while clays have poor drainage and are more likely to become anaerobic (deprived of oxygen) as microbes use oxygen more rapidly than it is replenished through diffusion.
• Soils with more pores filled with water have less space available for air, thus become anaerobic more rapidly than drier soils.
• Water vapor: Soil air has a relative humidity very close to 100%. (Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor actually in the air relative to the amount the air could hold at that temperature.) This is much different than atmospheric air, which may vary in relative humidity between 5% and 100%, sometimes within 24 hours in semi-arid and arid regions.

Improving Clay Soils

When you have improved your clay soil, it will drain faster and will warm up earlier in the spring. That means it will be workable earlier in the year. There are many things you can do to improve clay soils, including raising the beds (to allow for better drainage) and, especially, adding lots of organic matter. Organic matter is critical. Without it, there is no humus.  By adding organic matter and improving aeration as well, you will create an environment that allows beneficial soil life to start working to restructure the soil and form valuable humus.

When standing water is gone, I recommend Nature's Magic with Aerify for Clay Soil to break-up the clay particles and replenish organic matter and some of the lost biolife, followed by Super Compost Tea. Super Compost Tea will replace the missing good biolife, detoxify and build the soil, and start your organic lawn recovery.

Here are just some of the many benefits of premixed Nature's Magic and Aerify.

• Helps loosen clay and reduce compaction
• Eliminates the need for mechanical aeration
• Bioactivates both clay and sandy soils and increases Organic Matter
• Buffers harsh chemical salts or chlorides found in many commercial fertilizers
• Bio-activates the soil and detoxifies
• Provides carbon which feeds beneficial soil microbes
• Improves soil structure and aeration
• Stimulates root growth and supports most plant functions
• Unlocks and chelates major and minor nutrients. Reduces fertilizer needs
• Improves plant's ability to capture (fix) atmospheric nitrogen
• Prevents Thatch buildup and helps stimulate the decomposition of existing Thatch
• Increases earthworm activity
• Makes iron and other nutrients more available in poor pH soils
• Improves plant resistance to disease, insects and other stress
• Supplies over 30 micro-nutrients and vitamins
• Increases nutrient density in grasses
• Works as a catalyst for both soil regeneration and plant growth
• Improves water retention during drought
• Helps wet soils drain faster
• It is safe and environmentally friendly
• Maximizes fertilizer benefits