Healthy soils contain many natural enemies of insect pests, including insect predators, pathogenic fungi, and insect parasitic nematodes.
So healthy soils not only are beneficial to the plants, grasses and anything with a root system, it can also help in the reduction of pests and weeds, therefore decreasing the need/use of herbicides and pesticides.
Naturally aerated soils (from healthy microbial activity) are usually the healthiest soils
Benefits of naturally aerated soils
- Great microbial activity. The microbes create the aggregates, or pore spaces, within the soil that allow for water and oxygen infiltration as well as creating the deal soil structure.
- The soil has the ability to store the water deep, opposed to the water running off the surface and down the sidewalks, gutters and streets and into the creeks, streams and rivers.
- ZERO “plugs” and mess caused by mechanical aeration, which only lasts about 6 weeks per USGA and University of Arizona. www.USGA.org. 8/3/2018
- Intensified oxygen saturation to the root zone
- Better soil structure helps to alleviate erosion issues
- Much higher tolerance for any drought issues
- Reduction in pathogens
Compacted soils are typically not healthy soils
Potential causes of soil compaction
- Over fertilization can reduce the biological activity that aerates the soil naturally - decrease in microbes
- Overwatering
- Drought
- Heavy clay
- Machinery and Foot traffic
- Over use of Herbicides and Pesticides
Scenarios typically prone to soil compaction
Sports Complexes
Residential Homes
City Parks
All Golf Courses - Public and Private
