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Soil-First Lawn Care: Stronger Lawns Start with Healthier Soil

Combining soil health solutions with targeted traditional treatments for long-term lawn performance.

What Is A Soil-First Lawn Care Program? 

A soil-first lawn care program combines fertilizers and soil amendments with limited use of traditional weed and insect control, focusing on improving soil biology and root depth to help produce thicker, more resilient turf over time.

Davey’s innovative approach to soil and lawn care focuses on building healthy soil first, then supporting turf naturally to reduce overall chemical dependency without sacrificing results. Our turf experts are ready to help you create a lawn care program that will help your turf thrive.

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Why Homeowners Are Switching to Soil-First Lawn Care Programs

Lawn treatments that lessen chemical applications are gaining traction with homeowners. Additionally, Davey’s program that incorporates reduced chemical lawn care can promote healthier soil and deeper root growth, resulting in thicker, greener grass over time and better drought and stress tolerance.

Switching to Davey's Soil-First Lawn Care Program has been one of the best decisions I've made for my yard. Not only is my lawn healthier and greener, but I feel good knowing I'm avoiding harsh chemicals and supporting healthier soil. The result has been impressive without the worry of harming kids, pets, or the environment. It's reassuring to know I can maintain a great-looking lawn while making a more responsible choice.

Mike P

Homeowner

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Soil-First Lawn Care vs. Traditional Lawn Treatments

When it comes to soil-first vs. traditional lawn care, a traditional program focuses on surface-level results, while a soil-first program digs deeper. Davey’s Soil-First Lawn Program takes into account root depth, soil structure, species selection, and long-term turf resilience to no longer rely solely on chemical treatments as the primary source of care. 

While traditional treatments are centered on chemical applications and synthetic fertilizers, our Soil-First Lawn Care Program incorporates spot-treatments of weeds once or twice a year, uses strategic insect control when needed, and reduces blanket chemical applications overall. 

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What’s Included In Davey’s Soil-First Lawn Program?

Our Soil-First Lawn Care Program typically includes these steps, depending on the condition of the lawn and soil: 

  • Soil amendments for carbon and microbes
  • Targeted weed control
  • Insect and grub management (as needed)
  • Annual core aeration
  • Overseeding with premium seed blends
  • Seasonal lawn treatments with consistent monitoring and adjustments as needed 

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Our Services That Enhance Soil-First Lawn Care

Davey’s Soil-First Lawn Program comprises services that ensure your turf stays tough. These services include: 

  • Annual lawn aeration – Regular aeration helps relieve soil compaction, allowing roots to absorb water and nutrients more effectively, promoting healthy root growth and reducing thatch buildup. Lawn aeration benefits include thicker, greener, and more resilient grass that can withstand stress from foot traffic and drought. 

  • Overseeding with high-purity seed – Seed purity is an important part of overseeding a lawn. High-purity seed blends using species adapted to your region tend to have higher germination percentages and create more resilient lawns. 

  • Grub control – Natural, biorational, or Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) approved products can help control grubs. 

  • Soil testing and analysis – Healthy soil is the basis of creating a healthy lawn. Soil testing and analysis help pinpoint your lawn’s exact needs. 

Is soil first lawn care safe for pets and children

Is Davey’s Soil-First Lawn Care Right for You?

Our Soil-First Lawn Care Program is ideal for families with children, pet owners, environmentally conscious homeowners, and homeowners who are dissatisfied with traditional lawn care programs.

FAQ: Our Soil-First Lawn Care

Healthy soils provide better water retention, improved oxygen flow to roots, increased nutrient availability, and strong microbial activity. Without healthy soils, grass struggles to absorb nutrients regardless of how much fertilizer is applied.

Soil-first lawn care programs are designed to reduce chemical exposure. When traditional chemical treatments are used as part of our overall soil-first program, they are applied selectively with guidance on re-entry times to help keep families and pets safe. 

Color and density may be visible within the first season. The most significant benefits, including deeper root growth, improved soil structure, and reduced weed growth, develop as soil biology improves over multiple growing seasons. 

The exact number of visits and treatments by a lawn expert varies based on your yard’s size, condition, and your goals. Davey’s Soil-First Lawn Care Program includes multiple visits throughout the growing season to fertilize, apply soil amendments, target weed and insect control as needed, monitor and adjust as necessary, and offer additional services such as aeration and overseeding. 

Chemical applications are used strategically and sparingly.  Our Soil-First Lawn Care Program allows targeted weed spot treatments and selective insect control when certain thresholds are met. This approach avoids unnecessary blanket applications while still protecting lawn quality. 

A soil-first lawn care program is an excellent option for homeowners who want a beautiful lawn without being heavily dependent on chemical applications. This lawn care program improves soil carbon storage, supports beneficial microbes, and promotes long-term turf management as compared to traditional programs. 

Davey’s Soil-First Lawn Care Program is a great option for everyone.  It is ideal for families with children, pet owners, and environmentally conscious homeowners. It also is designed to aide properties with recently disturbed soils.

Most lawns can transition seamlessly to a soil-first program. First, a soil evaluation helps determine current conditions, nutrient deficiencies, and compaction issues. From there, a customized soil-first program is created to improve results over time. 

The best first step is a professional lawn evaluation and soil assessment. This allows your lawn care provider to recommend a program tailored to your property, soil conditions, and long-term goals. 

Davey Soil First Lawn Care
Davey Soil First Lawn Care

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