Best Lawn Wetting Agent For Your Soil

Lawn wetting agents are substances that help to increase the soil’s ability to hold nutrients and moisture, and in turn, help to keep the lawn looking healthy and green all summer long.

They work by attaching themselves to the soil particles, which then makes it easier for the water to penetrate the ground.

What is a Wetting Agent?

It’s basically a detergent or surfactant that attracts water to the soil’s surface. By applying a lawn wetting agent, you’re helping the water soak into the soil where it can be accessed by your lawn’s roots.

In addition to making the water available to the roots, a lawn wetting agent also helps increase the soil’s ability to hold nutrients. This means that your lawn will be better able to withstand periods of drought.

Different Types of Wetting Agents

There are different types of wetting agents available, including granules and liquid concentrates. Granular and liquid concentrates need to be watered in well, but it is always best to check the product label.

Hose-on bottles are also available and do not require watering in.

When Do I Need To Apply A Wetting Agent?

When lawns have hydrophobic soils, they will not soak up moisture, which can lead to dry patches.

Wetting agents help lawns to better absorb moisture, which can help them to better tolerate hot temperatures and resist drought.

They are typically applied when the weather is cool, either in the morning or afternoon. Repeated applications can be made every few months, as needed.

Product Recommendations

Ready-to-use Soil Wetting Agent

Lawn soaker is a lawn wetting agent that comes in a 2L clip-on ready-to-use bottle, and it can be used to treat up to 150m2.

Slow Release Lawn Fertiliser

A slow release fertiliser is a type of fertilizer that is released slowly into the soil over time. This helps to provide a consistent supply of nutrients to the plants, which can improve their growth and health.

Slow release lawn fertiliser can be made from a variety of materials, including organic matter, synthetic materials, or a combination of both.

They are often used in situations where the soil conditions are less than ideal, such as in areas with poor drainage or high levels of clay.

Slow release fertilizers can help to improve the quality of the soil and make it more hospitable for plant life. In addition, they can help to reduce the amount of work that is required to maintain a healthy lawn.

Soil Amendments

A soil’s characteristics can make or break a lawn. The wrong soil type can cause all sorts of problems, from compaction to waterlogging, that will prevent grassroots from being able to take hold and thrive.

This is why it’s so important to make sure that you have the right soil base before you even think about laying your lawn.

The best soil for a lawn is one that is free from compaction, has good drainage, and is rich in nutrients.

If your soil doesn’t meet these criteria, don’t despair – several soil amendments can be made to improve its quality.

Compacted Soil

Soil compaction is a soil problem that happens when the soil is tightly bound together, making it difficult for roots to grow.

Compaction can occur from high foot traffic, kids or pets playing in an area, or any other activity that puts pressure on the soil. Heavier clay soils are especially susceptible to compaction, as they bind together easily.

When compaction occurs, it can limit the number of nutrients and water that reach the roots of your lawn.

This can make it difficult for your lawn to grow deeper into the soil. To help alleviate compaction, aerate the soil with a garden fork, aerating sandals, or a tyne aerator.

You can also add soil amendments to improve drainage and make it easier for roots to penetrate the soil.

Sandy Soil

Sandy soil can be problematic for growing healthy turf. Sandy soil does not hold nutrients well, so it is difficult to get the grass to take up the nutrients it needs.

Sandy soil also dries out quickly, so it is important to water sandy soil deeply and regularly.

Sandy soil can also be prone to compaction, which can damage grass roots and make it difficult for new seedlings to take root. One way to help address these problems is to add organic matter to sandy soil.

Organic matter helps sandy soil retain moisture and nutrients, and it also helps improve the structure of sandy soil, making it less prone to compaction.

If you have sandy soil and are having trouble growing healthy turf, consider adding organic matter or using a thatch layer. You may also need to water sandy soil more frequently than other types of soil.

Soil PH

Ideally, soil pH should be between 5.5 and 7. This range is considered neutral and will support most plants.

However, soils can become either acidic or alkaline depending on various factors. acids can be created by decomposing organic matter, while alkalis are often found in areas with high limestone deposits.

Testing your soil’s pH is the only way to know for sure what kind of soil you have. This can be done with a soil pH testing kit.

PH Testing Kits are available here, these products are easy to use and come with easy-to-follow instructions.

Once you know your soil’s pH, you can take steps to adjust it if necessary. This can be done by adding soil amendments such as lime to raise the pH, or sulfur to lower it.

Clay Soil

A soil with a clay base can make it difficult for the roots of your lawn to grow down into the soil profile.

Clay soils will often struggle to drain water away, especially if it is compacted. To help improve soil with a clay base, you can apply a clay breaker like gypsum.

Soil amendments like gypsum can help to improve soil structure, porosity, and drainage. In addition, they can also help to loosen compacted soils and improve root and lawn growth.

Hydrophobic soil

Hydrophobic soils are often to blame for unhealthy lawns. These soils repel water, making it difficult for the roots of grass to access the moisture they need.

As a result, hydrophobic soils can cause the lawn to yellow and die. In addition, hydrophobic soils can also lead to increased weed growth, as the weeds are better able to access water than the grass.

One way to overcome hydrophobic soils is to use a lawn wetting agent. Lawn wetting agents help to break down the hydrophobic barrier, allowing water to penetrate the soil and reach the roots of the lawn grasses.

As a result, lawn wetting agents can be an important tool in maintaining a healthy lawn in less than ideal soil conditions.

Making Amendments Before Laying a Lawn

Before you lay a new lawn, it’s important to test the soil and make sure it is of good quality. If the soil is too sandy, clay-like, or has poor drainage, you may need to make some amendments.

Amendments can improve the soil’s texture, drainage, and ability to hold nutrients. Once you’ve made any necessary amendments, you’re ready to install your new lawn!

In most cases, if you’re using new soil rather than existing soil, amendments won’t be necessary.

However, it’s always a good idea to test the soil before you begin any work. That way, you can be sure your new lawn will have everything it needs to thrive.