Soil Builders - Education for Action

Healthier lawns. Healthier lakes.

Your Lawn Is Part of the Watershed

Water leaving your yard does not disappear. It flows into storm drains, streams, and rivers—and eventually into Lake Champlain. What happens on your lawn affects the lake.

Soil Builders: Education for Action

Healthy soil. Cleaner water.

Restore soil. Protect water.

Healthier lawns. Healthier lake.

Working soil. Working landscapes.

Weather extremes. Grounded solutions.

Resilient basin. Resilient lake.

The Problem with Conventional Lawn Care

Lawns are the largest irrigated “crop” in the United States. Managing them often involves:

  • Fertilizers 

  • Pesticides 

  • Frequent mowing 

  • Significant water use 

When rain falls, it can carry soil, nutrients, and chemicals off lawns and into waterways.

Phosphorus, in particular, contributes to algae blooms in lakes.

Healthy soil makes the difference

Lawns with healthy soil behave differently. They:

  • Absorb more water 

  • Reduce runoff 

  • Keep nutrients in place 

  • Support deeper root systems 

Compost is one of the most effective ways to improve lawn soil.

Why compost works

Compost improves lawn performance by:

  • Increasing infiltration 

  • Reducing erosion 

  • Supporting beneficial soil organisms 

  • Helping lawns withstand wet and dry conditions 

It builds resilience rather than relying on repeated inputs.

Three steps that make an immediate impact

1. Mow Higher

  • Keep grass at 2½–3 inches or taller 

  • Taller grass develops deeper roots 

  • Deeper roots improve water absorption

2. Feed the Soil

  • Test soil before adding nutrients 

  • Avoid phosphorus fertilizer unless needed 

  • Add compost to build soil health 

  • Leave grass clippings and mulch leaves 

3. Rethink Lawn Areas

  • Reduce lawn where it’s not needed 

  • Add native plants or pollinator habitat 

  • Focus care where lawn is actively used

Local context

Many soils in the Lake Champlain Basin already contain sufficient phosphorus. In Vermont and New York, applying phosphorus fertilizer is restricted unless a soil test shows it is needed. Building soil with compost is a lower-risk, longer-term solution.

What you can do this season

Start with one change:

  • Raise your mower height 

  • Skip unnecessary fertilizer 

  • Add compost 

Each step helps reduce runoff and protect water.

Key takeaway

Healthy lawns start with healthy soil. And healthy soil helps protect the lake.