Importance of Soil Testing

[GS]

A soil test will measure the chemical structure of the soil. Healthy grass begins with healthy soil. Healthy soil has a proper nutrient balance consisting Major Macronutrients, Minor Macronutrients, Secondary Nutrients, and Micronutrients. Soil Tests will measure organic matter, pH levels, calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, excess lime rates, sulfur, zinc, manganese, iron, copper, and boron in the soil.

Soil test gives a snapshot of the present state of the soil and serves as a tool to measure the progress as soil structure improves.

With out a test you are just guessing at what the lawn might need.

[PineCrestWoods]

Here we go.... GS..... glad you started this one. I don't really have anything to contribute at this time :-) But I will nod my head in agreement.


When you do your fert apps.... do you tailor each treatment to that specific property, or do you use the same formula (product) for all?


Would a person test a soil before application of anything? Or just when a problem is noted?

[Budrock]

I agree...but with some hesitancy

We have the most terrible red clay down here that you've ever seen. Yet, soil test after soil test will only call for an addition of lime.

I don't understand it, but it grows grass...

[GS]

I would say the majority of my lawns get the same program. But if the test says different we will do a custom program at no extra cost unless we need to do major soil amending. It all depends on the test. We like to test the soil right when we get them to sign the Contract For Services. This will let us know what program to do and how to tailor it to them. If the test is way off and the yard needs a lot we will do a test every year or two until it is how we want it, otherwise onces every 3-4 years is good enough. Every yard is different.

[Sammy]

If you got problems with the lawn, you should get a test.

[completelawncare]

I agree that testing is necessary.

Let me give and example of why.

One of my clients, a city recreation department has 10 athletic fields. I tested each one individually. Nine of the 10 came back with similar results, but the 10th one had a pH of 5.1, which was way off from the others that averaged about 6.1.

This one field has never been able to grow bermuda grass, and no one knew why. Now we know. The strange thing is that it is next to 3 of the other fields. I can't explain why the pH is so far off, I just know that it is, and can now treat it accordingly

[PineCrestWoods]

I would imagine they brought in a lot of fill to build and grade the atheltic fields?

[completelawncare]

I would imagine they brought in a lot of fill to build and grade the atheltic fields?

Actually... No...

Only the fields that the older kids play on are on any kind of grade.

My guess is that it has something with what was there before. This land was donated to the city by my former boss and is adjacent to some rice mills.

When they mill rice, they take the hull off of the grain. Years ago they would burn these hulls, just to get rid of them. This area is where one of these burn piles was. The soil is black, because it consists of lots of burnt rice hulls.

[PineCrestWoods]

Well then..... I stand corrected.

[DynaMow]

Well then..... I stand corrected.

nothin new about that.

[GS]

I have done hundreds of test and it is very common for 2 neighbors to have different soils.

[PineCrestWoods]

Do you recommend test kits, or just sending samples away for analysis?

[GS]

Do you recommend test kits, or just sending samples away for analysis?

I recommend you hire me to do it. You can get them done locally too

[PineCrestWoods]

I don't think you'd like the commute. Pulling your 100' long rig would chew up a lot of fuel!

[GS]

I don't think you'd like the commute. Pulling your 100' long rig would chew up a lot of fuel!

I charge by the hour. I'll go where you are but its much cheaper if you do it

[PineCrestWoods]

Have you used Midwest Laboratories?

[GS]

That is where I mainly go. I do so many that I get a good deal. Plus It is local and on my way to everything, and I get my results in 2-3 days.

[PineCrestWoods]

Do you use a probe?

[GS]

Do you use a probe?

I have a soil plugger.

[No Brown Lawns]

What about the CEC?
Where does this stand when considering your soils property?

[GS]

The lower the CEC the sandier the soil and the higher the CEC the more clay you will have. You would ideally like it to be around 18 but could range from 15 to 20.

[PineCrestWoods]

The compost and organics Rob uses would help even things out.

[No Brown Lawns]

What form of mineral or organic substance is more likely to be attracted to the plant for uptake by the root?

[lawnchick22]

Budrock -- are you using your local extension office for testing? have you poured through the results? cause, it's more, way more info than just 'add lime'.....yes, we have clay soils, but the testing done by NCSU has a wealth of information.
We use this (free) service...it takes a couple of weeks (sometimes) to get results, but certainly worth while.