Using Biochar for Growing Beautiful Lawns – Best Biochar Brands To Use

Biochar is an ancient soil amendment that can help solve many of the issues related to growing and maintaining healthy grass.

Created with organic products, biochar’s carbon-heavy particles have excellent water retention capacity that saves water, time, and money.

However, using biochar for growing beautiful lawns can be a bit confusing but these are the correct steps to follow.

1. Prepare your lawn.
2. Spread biochar.
3. Water your lawn appropriately.
4. Keep tabs on moisture levels.
5. Repeat the application if needed.

This guide will help understand what is biochar and how to perform these steps properly.

What is Biochar?

Lots of science and processes are involved in the creation and formation of biochar. 

Put simply, biochar is a soil-enhancement charcoal that has been developed and preserved over the years. In fact, farmers, landscapers, and gardeners have been using biochar to amend their soil quality, use it as an enrichment product, and enhance the soil’s water retention capacity for over 2,000 years. 

History of Biochar

Today, Biochar is not only a soil condition used to grow healthier plants and grass. With changing climate, drastic weather fluctuations, and an unhealthy environment, biochar has also found a way amongst sustainability experts as a way to capture carbon and reduce climate change.

For every ton of biochar produced, 2-3 tons of CO2 equivalent are removed from the carbon cycle. Many farmers across the world have now adopted the use of biochar extensively, and it’s time people became conscious of the environment and water benefits and started using it for homegrown plants and lawns. 

The use of biochar for soil nutrient preservation and development is believed to have arisen in the Brazilian Amazon over 2,000 years ago. 

Amazonians were thought to have created biochar by igniting, then burying, and smoldering biomass to establish the low-oxygen conditions needed for charcoal production. This process is known as slash-and-char cultivation, and it will result in up to 50% carbon sequestration, as opposed to slash-and-burn processes, which produce more ash and just 1% to 3% carbon sequestration.

Archeological findings suggest that native Amazonians thrived in agrarian civilizations that were maintained by amending nutrient-poor tropical soils with charcoal (a.k.a. biochar) and organic matter. In areas of the Amazon explored by Orellana’s expedition, recent geological surveys led by Michael Heckenberger and Eduardo Goes Neves have discovered remains of ancient settlements, 60-foot-wide “highways,” and soils made fertile by biochar.

Biochar- A Necessity in the 21st Century

Biochar is a boon for sustainable growth and maintenance of lawns. It is a hygroscopic product that can retain nutrients and water in the soil and plants, which leads to the healthy growth of grass and plants in your backyard. Using biochar will considerably reduce your watering requirements, save money on your water bill, and provide a better result when added to your soil. This is why many lawn owners, gardeners, and people who love greenery around them are shifting towards biochar to get the best results with minimum effort.

Benefits of Using Biochar

Water Retention

Biochar is a hygroscopic material, which means that due to its incredible potential to draw and hold rainfall, it is a suitable soil substance in many areas. Also, nutrients like phosphate and any additional fertilizers are retained and stored for the good of the plants.

One of the most significant advantages of biochar is that it can retain a lot of water underground, and one of the main reasons why lawns are being limited in certain regions is that they ask for a lot of water. Biochar’s water retention capacity saves water, time, and effort it takes to water the greens regularly. With biochar, you can feel less pressure or guilt around the sustainability of your lawn. 

Soil Amendment

Biochar’s highly porous nature has been shown to be good at storing both water and water-soluble nutrients. It increases water quality, reduces greenhouse gas emissions from soil, nitrogen leaching, soil acidity, and the need for irrigation and fertilizers.

Carbon Sink

A carbon sink is anything that absorbs the harmful carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere instead of releasing it into the air. Carbon sinks reverse greenhouse gas emissions and are a core tenet one of the transition to a more sustainable economy, 

Biochar is one of the leading carbon sinks and is a safe method of storing carbon in the earth for centuries, eventually slowing or halting the rise of atmospheric greenhouse gas levels. 

In compliance with the Paris Agreement, biochar is an active proponent of preventing carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere. This makes biochar not only a safe product to use but an active agent in preventing environmental degradation.

Best Biochar Brands – Reviews

If you are considering biochar for soil, Willow is, hands down, your go-to product. Willow is created based on the age-old recipe of soil amendment created in the depths of Amazon over 2,000 years ago. Produced locally in the USA, this biochar is made from Georgia soft pine wood and hasn’t been mixed or blended with any other materials. Willow biochar is made from a fast pyrolysis process with a consistent particle size of 1mm to 2mm and low dust content, making it safe, easy to use, and more effective in growing grass on the lawn. 

Plus, zero adulteration means you are confident about using pure carbon biochar for your lawn or garden. Willow does not only promise a land of greens; it promises safety and a healthy environment to your family and society. 

What is the Application Rate for Biochar?

For existing lawns, it is best used after aerating your lawn. The goal is to mix the biochar into the soil. It’s helpful to rake it in and then water it generously. It is recommended to use 1-2 bags per 1,000 square feet. 

For new lawns, you can mix Willow into the top 4-6″ of soil and then apply grass seed. A 5% mix into the soil down to the root zone is more than sufficient to give the best results. You need to then gently rake and turn the seed into the soil, so it is well covered.

Conclusion

Willow is high-quality biochar produced from a clean, single-source, organic feedstock. 

The specialized post-pyrolysis grinding process creates consistent particles that maximize the water and nutrient retention of the soil. Since it is free of any mixture and dust, Willow is one of the most effective and clean products to use. It is safe, highly-productive, and organic, enabling the grasses to grow lush and green in your backyard. 

If you have still not decided on the biochar, it is time that you do it now!