Soil plays a vital role in your garden and lawn. It is the basis for plant growth, as it stores and supplies minerals and nutrients that are essential for plant life and provides a habitat for organisms. It can dictate whether your plants will flourish or not, even though your plants prefer different growing conditions in order to survive and thrive. Some of these conditions include:
- The amount of moisture they need;
- Temperatures they can withstand;
- The amount of sun exposure they can tolerate;
- The competition, activity and demands they face;
- Invading threats;
- The quality of the soil they grow in.
The life of the plant depends on the health of the soil.
The most difficult thing about soil is that it is hidden from our viewing. While it may look still and lifeless, it is actually an intricate system that supports life.
As the regulator and collector of water, soil absorbs and stores moisture for plants and organisms to use and allows a constant flow of air 
through the soil. It also shelters plant and grass roots from extreme temperatures and direct sunlight. Living microorganisms and insects – such as fungi, bacteria, protozoans, and worms – live in your soil that affects the structure and aids in soil development. They are important in decomposing the soil and transforming dead materials into raw materials, making food available for plant growth.
Many gardeners experience weeds each year and watch their paid for, desirable plants struggle for food and growth. This is due to the fact that many weeds have adapted to grow in poor soil conditions. Inferior soil is prone to have weeds dominating the landscape.
The pH levels of your soil influences plant growth.
All plants require different levels of acidity, or the pH factor, for proper growth. The pH is important because it affects the availability and dispersal of nutrients to plants. An imbalance can have an effect on the plants root cells, affecting its ability to absorb water and nutrients. In addition to affecting how nutrients are dispersed to plants, pH levels also influences microorganisms that contribute to the decomposition of materials and nutrient release.
A pH level that is too high or too low will cause an improper balance. Checking the soil pH can be the difference in your garden flourishing or whimpering this season.
Why soil is important? It is the key element for grass and plants to succeed and resist problems like disease and weed infestations that take away from the necessary nutrients roots need. We can provide you with a no-cost soil analysis and plan of addressing specific soil needs, which will help improve turf quality throughout your landscape. Give us a call today at 314-770-2828 or use our simple contact form to discuss your soil needs.
