The Ground Rules for your Lawn and Garden

Great gardeners know that

the key to lush green lawns and

spectacular gardens is to go underground.

"If we spent a fraction of our

gardening time caring for the

underground soil,we'd spend a lot less

time working on our lawns and gardens

above the ground," says soil remediation

scientist, Bob Richardson.

The ground does rule and ultimately

determine the beauty of our outdoor

landscapes.You can fertilize,water, buy

superior seeds, plants, and products, but

your lawn and garden will never have

that envied "golf course" look until you

begin at the beginning and fortify the

soil.

"You might be doing everything else

right, but bad soil will wreak havoc on

all of your efforts." says Richardson.

One of the most common solutions

for good, healthy soil is aeration. "Most

of us know what aeration is, but don't

do it," says Richardson. "Old-fashioned

aeration is back breaking work and no

one wants to spend the time, money or

energy to do it."

Ground Rules for Healthy Soil

Richardson offers the following

"ground rules" for healthy soil that will

enable you to create that golf course look

we all envy and long for:

1. Dig It. Try digging a small patch of

earth with a trowel. If the tool does

not penetrate the ground easily, the

soil is compacted. Compaction is

caused by the retention of salt, which

strips the soil of beneficial, essential

nutrients. Healthy soil is loose like

cake mix.

2. Pull It. If you pull up a small patch

of grass and the roots come up easily,

your soil's in trouble. Healthy soil

allows roots to penetrate down deep

into the ground and hold on tightly.

A storage "pantry" is created

underground allowing the roots to

easily draw water, nutrients and

vitamins on demand.

3. Test It. Do the "Earthworm Test."

Dig up a scoop of earth; if you don't

see any worms, your soil needs help.

Healthy soil is full of earthworms,

bugs and other beneficial organisms

that work the soil and deliver water

and food to plants.

4. Work It. Work with Mother Nature.

Use products like LazyMan Liquid Soil

Aerator monthly until poor soil is

restored.Then use it regularly in

spring and fall to maintain healthy

soil.

"Now there's no reason not to aerate

and create a lawn and garden that is the

envy of the neighborhood without any of

the hard work," says Richardson. "This

season sit back, relax, and just spray on

beautiful lawns and gardens.And

remember, the 'ground rules' the health

and beauty of your lawn and garden."

For a detailed analysis of your soil, call

your local Agricultural Extension agent.

For tips, advice and products to help you

maintain healthy soil, visit

www.OutsidePride.com, or call (877)

255-8470. From serious do-it yourself

landscapers to the novice homeowner,

you'll find a wide variety of garden

products that are easy to use and provide

substantial, proven results.