Discover the importance of deep grass roots and how you can encourage their growth.
Beneath the surface of every lawn lies a complex network of roots, intricately connected in the soil, providing the strength your grass blades need to stay green, lush, and beautiful. These grass roots are vital to the resilience and vitality of your lawn. They keep your grass in place, provide stability against erosion, and absorb the nutrients and water needed for growth. Deep grass roots are much better at retrieving those nutrients and supporting long-term resilience and health. Why do deep grass roots matter so much? The lawn care experts at Scientific Plant Service can help you understand the importance of healthy grass roots. We also recommend a few steps you can take to turn shallow roots into deep ones that improve the appearance of your lawn.
Why Are Deep Grass Roots More Beneficial?
The deeper the grass roots grow, the better. When grass roots extend deep into the soil, they provide:
- Access to more reservoirs for water and nutrients
- Access to more organic matter
- Increased microbial life, which means increased aeration and oxygen for your grass
Grass roots can grow anywhere between six inches and a foot long! Before grass shoots emerge above ground, some roots are already 2-3 inches into the soil. This is why keeping new grass seeds moist is essential to helping them grow and establish their roots.
Why Do Some Roots Not Grow Deep Enough?
With proper care at the early stages of planting, grass roots can meet their potential. There are various reasons why your roots may be shallow or not growing at all, including:
- Incorrect watering or poor drainage
- Poor-quality soil
- High foot traffic
- Poor temperatures or extreme weather, such as drought
How to Fix Shallow Grass Roots
If your grass looks unhealthy or shows signs of shallow roots, know that hope for your lawn is not lost. There are several ways you can encourage deep grass roots.
- Fix Your Watering Practices: To encourage deep root growth, practice deep and infrequent watering. Limit watering to when the soil becomes dry, apply uniform coverage, and water about .5 inches per watching session.
- Spot-Treat Weeds: Removing weeds from your lawn gives your grass more space to grow and ensures less competition for nutrients and water.
- Apply Nutrients: Slow release nutrients help maintain a healthy rootzone and promote deep growth. Scientific Plant Service uses POLYON extended-release fertilizers. POLYON is the only extended-release fertilizer recognized by the State of Maryland.
- Overseed Your Lawn and Patch Bare Spots: Introducing more resilient and diverse grass seed blends encourages deeper-rooting grass that can outcompete weeds that may germinate the following year.
- Water Seeds Correctly: Water as needed to keep seeds in the soil moist. Once the seeds germinate, switch to watering deeply and infrequently. When you water deeply and infrequently, you train the grass roots to grow deeper for their nutrients.
- Mow at the Proper Height: Once your healthy grass is established, mow at the appropriate height for your lawn (between 2.5 and 3.5 inches).
If you mow too low, you may “scalp” or tear the grass blades, making them weaker and susceptible to disease. If you are unsure how much fertilizer to apply or the nutrients needed for an ideal balance, schedule a soil test with Scientific Plant Service. Understanding your soil is essential to preparing your lawn for deep and healthy grass roots.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.