Organic

Rainfall, Soil exceeds Contaminants

matter floats
Rivers Rise field capacity flow in
to the surface

Stress and
Soil nutrients Plants wilt,
Soil compacts disease takes
flush out cavitation
hold

THE PROCESS OF THE STORM

 A horizon: mineral
O horizon: loose and matter mixed with
partially decayed some humus
organic matter (decomposed
organic matter)

C horizon: partially
B (and E) horizon:
decomposed parent
mineral layer and
material, no humus
clay, minor humus
(or bedrock)

TYPICAL SOIL
PROFILE
 A LITTLE MORE
REALISTIC

“O”
“A”
“B”

“C”
 SOIL SATURATION

When water input

exceeds gravitational
pull, saturation occurs.
 Only mineral and
Microbe habitat lost sediment layers
remain

Pesticides, sewage,
other contaminants
replace O horizon,
infiltrate A and B
horizons
Chemical alteration
of soil occurs EXTENDED
SATURATION
pH is skewed
 Organic Turfgrass - Covering the basics
• Organics are not hard. Don’t over complicate it. It is simply about nutrition.
• Guidelines:
• Does the product help or hurt the microbes?
• Buy good quality Organics, a product with a diverse source of nutrients like
Fish, Kelp, Alfalfa, Soy, Rock Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate, Humates,
Bat Guano, Wheat Middling’s, etc.
• Avoid poultry manure, potassium chlorite.
• An Albrecht Soil Test for large or important properties. This will provide a scientific
document that you can use to baseline your nutrient levels before starting your
program. Perry Labs Tel 573-324-2931 or TX Plant & Soil Lab 956-383-0739
• Great mowing, edging, pruning, clean up practices
• Correct irrigation
• Get a 3 year commitment

Starts here with nutrition
• Spring – Organic Fertilizer
• Summer – Humates
• Fall – Organic Fertilizer
ORGANIC TURFGRASS
FERTILIZATION – THE BASICS
Options: depending on client’s
budget or your wishes
• Extra - Humates
• Extra – Organic Fertilizer
• Compost and/or Compost Tea
• Pre-Emergent’s – Organic or
Chemical
• Brown Patch control
 Water savings

Best plant Safe

performance environments
ONLY WITH
ORGANICS
Least
More ecological expensive
diversity maintenance
cost
The Chemical Merry Go Round
Poor Plants
Poor Soil
Stress
Junk
Fungicides
Fertilizer

Water Use Insecticides

Herbicides
CHEMICAL SOIL
Tight Soil

Low
Small
Infilteratio
Roots
n

Low
Oxygen
 Friable
Soil

High
Bigger
Infilteratio
Roots
n

More
Oxygen

ORGANIC SOIL
RAISING ORGANIC
MATTER 1% WILL RETAIN
AN EXTRA 20,000 GALS
OF WATER PER ACRE
 Soil as your water reservoir.
Soil with 3% Organic Matter, 18” deep will hold

120,000 gal of water per acre

ORGANICS WIN!!!!!!!!

Chemical Lawn Organic Lawn

Organic lawn maintenance costs less than chemical lawn maintenance
Just in water cost alone, you will save in real dollars each year

• $3,115.00 per acre in annual

reduced irrigated water costs

• $71.60 per 1,000 sq ft in annual

reduced irrigated water costs

Houston Water Cost Data: 1.4 Million gallons of water are needed to irrigate an acre per year on average.
Cost Formula: 1.4 million gallons at $.0089 Gal = $12,460.00 per acre per year on average.
Savings Formula: 25% minimum savings with the use of Organics = $3,115.00 per acre per year on average.
ALL ORGANIC BAYOU BEND
ANNUAL WATER SAVINGS – $11,000.00
1 2 3
Educate Be an Educate
Yourself example Others

THE WORLD NEEDS ORGANICS