It’s alive – literally! Under your feet, a busy world of roots, microbes, fungi, and soil structure quietly powers everything we see above ground. Once we start paying attention to what’s happening beneath the blades, it becomes clear why soil biology and soil function sit at the center of resilient turf systems. Stronger roots, better nutrient cycling, improved water infiltration, and greater stress tolerance all start with healthy soil – something Virginia turf managers are depending on more than ever as the weather gets less predictable.

At the Virginia Soil Health Coalition, we work to help people see just how much the living part of the soil matters. Turf doesn’t thrive because we throw fertilizer or irrigation at it; it thrives because the soil is working the way it’s supposed to. Microbes, fungi, roots, organic matter, pore space, and water movement act together like a quiet underground engine. When that engine is tuned up and humming, everything aboveground looks good.

But here’s the fun twist: even though soils are complex and constantly changing, we’ve traditionally managed them with a shovel, maybe a soil probe, and sometimes our best guess. Don’t get me wrong, those tools still matter, but they may only show us part of the picture. The real challenge has always been seeing what’s happening underground in real time.

That’s where new technology is stepping up.

Read the full article in the January / February 2026 issue of Virginia Turfgrass Journal – https://theturfzone.com/vtc/?ascat=8&sub=issue&issue_id=9935&rti=true&rel=2