LiveSoil addresses drought challenges with new soil that reduces water use

LiveSoil is introducing and demonstrating its proprietary microbe-rich living soil at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Orlando. LiveSoil gives golf courses a new option to combat nationwide drought challenges and address random dry spots that have plagued golf courses superintendents.

Attendees can visit the LiveSoil booth (#3651) to learn how the product reduces water usage by up to 60 percent while supporting strong turf performance and long-term soil health. The Cornell University soil lab found LiveSoil delivers significant water savings, which is a major concern for golf courses, especially those facing drought.

“The pressure on golf courses to reduce water use while maintaining high-quality playing conditions continues to increase,” said Neil Curtis, chief development officer of LiveSoil. “LiveSoil is ideal for courses concerned about water usage, turf resilience and conservation. By improving soil biology and root strength, we support healthier grass, reduce dependence on excessive watering and chemical utilization. Our product also supports long-term sustainability goals without compromising playability.”

LiveSoil integrates directly into existing native soil rather than replacing it, enhancing soil performance while preserving course-specific conditions, according to the company. The 100-percent plant-based, chemical-free formula contains billions of beneficial microbes that bond moisture and nutrients to the root system, supporting consistent turf performance even during periods of limited irrigation.

“I have been the golf course superintendent at Deepdale Golf Club for 37 years. Over the last four years, one tee box location was consistently problematic due to extreme dryness,” said Tom Fedora, golf course superintendent Deepdale Golf Club, Long Island, N.Y. “Despite irrigation improvements and repeated remediation to reseed or replace sod once or twice a year, the soil simply would not retain moisture. In April 2025, we applied LiveSoil to this problem area. For the first time in four years, we did not need to reseed or replace sod thereafter. The results exceeded expectations. The turf is the greenest it has ever been, and the soil is now retaining moisture consistently. This is a condition we had never achieved before, despite repeated efforts.”