While every lawn owner has the same desire . . . namely a weed-free, perfectly green lawn . . . the truth is that many lawn programs actually create soil profiles which favor weeds and crabgrasses rather than turf. They typically indicate soils that are compacted and nutritionally out of balance . . . especially as it relates to calcium and soil pH.
Every plant has a preferred soil profile in which it will thrive while competitive plants will not. Each soil profile includes:
- the combination of all the various nutrients (and their inter-relationships)
- soil pH
- porosity
- compaction
- amount of air and water
- critical soil biological communities
- soil characteristics
- and so much more
There are literally trillions of possible combinations of all these factors and one plant that is perfectly suited for the existing combinations at any moment in time. The secret is to understand the current profile; discover what profile is required for the plant(s) you want to grow; and take whatever steps are needed to modify the soil profile from where it is to where it needs to be for your desired turf or plant(s). By doing so, the turf or plants will thrive including being more naturally resistant to insect and disease issues.