Dillo Dirt - Austin's Secret Ingredient For Lush, Green Lawns

Have you ever wondered how some folks get their lawn so thick and green, and keep it that way through the summer?

If you're like most people, you've probably tried everything from excessive watering to aeration, and perhaps even lawn treatment services without seeing spectacular results. Is there an important ingredient missing from your lawn care program? Top-dressing your lawn with Dillo Dirt is the single best thing you can do jump start your lawn's growth, make it thick and healthy before the stress of summer. If you're new to Austin or you're a first time home buyer, you may have never heard of Dillo Dirt. Others of you may have tried it without much success, simply because you didn't know the tricks of the trade. When it comes to Dillo Dirt, Lawn Ranger knows the best methods for applying Dillo Dirt for superior results.

Below are answers to commonly asked questions about Dillo Dirt.

"What is Dillo Dirt?"

Dillo Dirt is an all-natural organic fertilizer made right here in Austin. It's fine, dry, dark, lightweight qualities make it perfect for top-dressing lawns, some types of shrubs, flowers and vegetable gardens. It is neutral in PH so plants that require acidic soil like Azaleas and roses will require a different soil mixture and or fertilizer.

"Why should I use Dillo Dirt?"

1Dillo Dirt works faster, and lasts longer than most bought granular fertilizers. Dillo Dirt makes grass grow thicker than other fertilizers. Incredible results are usually seen after only a week or two, and Dillo Dirt continues to add nutrients to the soil as it naturally decomposes throughout the year.

2When combined with core aerating, top-dressing with a Dillo Dirt amends the existing soil base. Many of Austin's lawns do not grow well and burn easily in the summer, because their only soil base is a few inches of sandy loam (a fill dirt with no organic nutrients) on top of solid limestone rock. Core aeration will leave small holes in the lawn, which will fill in with sand and dillo; the sand and dillo allows for better air, water and nutrient intake by grass roots. To permanently add to the soil base or fill low spots you need to include some real dirt or sand, not just Dillo Dirt (a compost).

3Dillo dirt is friendlier to the environment than granular fertilizers. So rather than adding more applications of granular fertilizer, add Dillo Dirt.

"Why apply Dillo Dirt now?"

Ideally Dillo Dirt should be applied at the beginning of the growing season before it gets too hot, but it can be applied at any time. Dillo Dirt is very rich, or "hot," and applying it in the summer months it can burn the grass, unless special precautions are taken. The sooner you apply Dillo Dirt, the sooner your grass will become greener and thicker, and ready for the stress of summer.

"How much do I need?"

A thin layer of Dillo Dirt is all that is needed; about ½ inch. Applying too much may smother or burn the grass. For best results allow your grass to grow for a week or two prior to application, so more grass blades penetrate the dirt (especially important for St. Augustine lawns.) Allow the grass to grow for a week or two following application before mowing. We can tell you exactly how much you need, how much to water, and can answer other questions.

"Is it worth the cost?"

Definitely! No matter how you go about it, keeping your lawn green and healthy requires an investment of time and money. One application of dillo dirt often does a better job than a few granular or liquid fertilizer applications and watering excessively. A thick, healthy lawn helps protect against weeds, disease and summer stress. More often than not, it's cheaper to maintain a healthy lawn than to restore an unhealthy or damaged one.