Phase 1 Summary
Initial Assessment Findings
Assessment Date
Sample Date
Site Size
0.6 acres — primary lawn + two garden beds
Soil Type & Texture
Sandy loam, high silica content, very low clay fraction — typical Martin County coastal profile. Near-zero water-holding capacity without organic matter.
Visual Observations
Patchy St. Augustine with dead thatch layer (~1.5") across southern lawn section. No visible earthworm activity anywhere on property. Roots pulling out at 2–3" depth with no resistance — shallow root mass consistent with compaction above. Two bare patches near AC unit drain line (approximately 8 sq ft each). Garden beds show heavy clay capping from repeated synthetic fertilizer application. Water beading visibly in northwest corner — hydrophobic layer confirmed.
Compaction Test Results (penetrometer)
Average 310 PSI at 3" depth across lawn zone. Peak reading 420 PSI near driveway edge. Garden bed compaction somewhat lower at 210 PSI but clay-capped surface preventing infiltration. Healthy target: below 150 PSI through active root zone.
On-Site Microscopy Findings
Bacterial diversity: low-moderate. Fungal hyphae: absent across all three samples — consistent with years of synthetic input and mowing below 3". Protozoa: flagellates present (sparse), no amoeba observed. Nematode types: bacterial-feeding only, no fungal-feeding nematodes — confirms fungal community collapse. Overall food web stage: 1–2 (early transition, dominated by bacteria with no fungal structure). Healthy lawn target: Stage 2–3 with fungal hyphae present and protozoa cycling active.
Diagnosis
What's Broken
| # | Deficiency | Severity | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fungal community absent | High | Microscopy — zero hyphae across 3 samples |
| 2 | Compaction layer at 3" depth | High | Penetrometer 310–420 PSI; shallow root pull |
| 3 | Hydrophobic layer — NW corner | Medium | Visual water beading; confirmed by infiltration test |
| 4 | Thatch accumulation (1.5") | Medium | Visual — blocking biology access to soil |
Root Cause Summary
The primary driver is a long history of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer (kills fungal hyphae on contact) combined with regular chemical herbicide applications. This eliminated the fungal community entirely, leaving a bacteria-only food web that can't build stable organic matter or support deep root growth. Without fungal threads bridging soil aggregates, the sandy soil collapses under foot traffic — which is why the compaction layer is so consistent. The hydrophobic zone formed because there's no living biology producing the compounds that let water penetrate sandy silica. This is a recoverable system — it just needs biology reintroduced in the right order.
Target Biology
What Healthy Looks Like for This Site
Site Goal
A St. Augustine lawn with visible fungal hyphae under microscope, protozoa cycling active across the root zone, compaction relieved to below 150 PSI, and roots reaching 4–6" depth — reducing irrigation needs and making the lawn resilient through Florida's summer heat without synthetic inputs.
Biological Benchmarks
| Metric | Current | 60-Day Target | 90-Day Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food web stage (1–4) | 1–2 | Stage 2 | Stage 2–3 |
| Bacterial diversity | Low-moderate | Moderate | Moderate-high |
| Fungal hyphae present | Absent | Traces visible | Clearly present |
| Protozoa (flagellates/amoeba) | Sparse flagellates only | Active flagellates | Amoeba emerging |
| Compaction (PSI avg) | 310 PSI at 3" | 220–250 PSI | Below 180 PSI |
| Root depth | 2–3" | 3–4" | 4–6" |
| Visible earthworm activity | None | Rare | Present in beds |
Protocol
Treatment Plan
About the inputs: All biological inputs are sourced from Treasure Coast Compost — worm castings, compost tea, and liquid extract produced locally in Martin County. No synthetic inputs. Applications are timed to soil temperature and moisture windows for maximum biological activation.
Application 1 — Foundation Inoculation
Week 1–2
Product
Worm casting top-dress
Rate
20 lbs per 1,000 sq ft
Method
Broadcast by hand, water in same day
Product
Compost tea drench
Rate
5 gal per 1,000 sq ft, diluted 1:4
Method
Hose-end sprayer, morning application
Product
Manual thatch removal (raking) + aeration pass
Rate
Full lawn zone
Method
Performed by Jake at visit
Application 2 — Fungal Establishment
Week 5–6
Product
Liquid extract drench
Rate
1 gal per 1,000 sq ft, undiluted
Method
Backpack sprayer, target NW corner first
Product
Biochar amendment (compaction + hydrophobic zones)
Rate
5 lbs per 1,000 sq ft (targeted zones only)
Method
Broadcast prior to second aeration pass
Product
Compost tea — garden beds
Rate
5 gal per bed, diluted 1:2
Method
Deep drench at base of plants
Application 3 — 90-Day Benchmark Treatment
Week 11–12
Product
Full compost tea cycle
Rate
5 gal per 1,000 sq ft
Method
Hose-end sprayer — full property
Product
Liquid extract follow-up
Rate
1 gal per 1,000 sq ft
Method
Backpack sprayer — problem zones
Your Responsibilities Between Visits
Watering: Water deeply 2–3x per week rather than daily light watering — deeper water encourages root depth. Early morning only.
No synthetic inputs: No fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides during the program. These will kill the biology we're establishing.
Mowing height: Raise mower deck to 3.5–4" for St. Augustine. Lower cuts stress the plant and reduce photosynthesis, which starves soil biology.
Photo documentation: Photo stakes are placed at 4 points during Visit 1. Please photograph each stake weekly — same angle, same time of day.
No synthetic inputs: No fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides during the program. These will kill the biology we're establishing.
Mowing height: Raise mower deck to 3.5–4" for St. Augustine. Lower cuts stress the plant and reduce photosynthesis, which starves soil biology.
Photo documentation: Photo stakes are placed at 4 points during Visit 1. Please photograph each stake weekly — same angle, same time of day.
Schedule
Application Visit Timeline
Visit 1 — Week 1–2
Foundation Inoculation
Thatch removal and aeration. Worm casting top-dress and compost tea Application 1. Place photo stakes at 4 points. Walk client through what to watch for and client responsibilities. (~3 hours)
Visit 2 — Week 5–6
30-Day Check-In & Fungal Establishment
Brief visual assessment and spot microscopy. Apply Application 2 (liquid extract, biochar, garden bed tea). Review client photo documentation. Adjust protocol if unexpected results. (~2 hours)
Visit 3 — Week 11–12
90-Day Benchmark Assessment
Full re-assessment — penetrometer readings across same 8 points, microscopy comparison to baseline, before/after photo review. Apply Application 3. Deliver written 90-day benchmark report. Review results together and discuss whether a maintenance program makes sense. (~3–4 hours)
Investment
Program Summary
Note: This sample plan shows the structure of the program investment. Your actual plan will reflect the size of your property, the number of problem zones, and the specific inputs your soil requires based on the Phase 1 assessment.
| Item | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — Assessment | Site walk, compaction test, on-site microscopy | Collected at booking |
| Phase 2 — Treatment Plan | This document | Included in Phase 1 |
| Phase 3 — Application Visits | 3 visits, labor, applications, 90-day assessment & report | Per proposal |
| Materials | Worm castings, compost tea, liquid extract, biochar | Included in Phase 3 |
| Program Total | Per proposal |