FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

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fsl
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Joined: October 18th, 2013, 8:45 pm
Location: Lower Westchester, NY
Grass Type: Northern Mix
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FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by fsl » August 23rd, 2016, 4:05 pm

Hi,

This is the second time I post my soil test results. The first results were posted in 2014. However, they were all done by the UMass lab. If it is still relevant, they can be found here:

http://aroundtheyard.com/soil/fsl-soil- ... 13647.html

This time all results were from Logan Labs:

Image

SK16F1: Front Lawn, 2000 sf. (was SKFS1 + SKFH2 in 2014)
SK16BG4: Back Lawn "Proper", 1900 sf. (was SKBG4 in 2014)
SK16BW3: Back Lawn Sub Soil Section, 600 sf. (was SKBW3 in 2014)

If you guys are busy or if it is too much work, you can ignore the SK16BW3 section because I can see grass grow best there so far. The grass condition in SK16BG4 is the worst.

I did the following as recommended in the 2014 thread:

SKBG4: 2014/06 and 2014/08
SKBG4 + SKBW3: 2015/04
- Mag-I-Cal: 9 lbs/K
- Epsom Salts: 1 lb/K

Thanks for all the work and looking forward to your interpretations!

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by andy10917 » September 24th, 2016, 11:21 am

OK - I can't easily do the "graphical format" because it only accepts one test result per interpretation type, and your areas are showing pretty large differences that can't be glossed over.

The TEC's are showing sandier soils in the Back and great loamy numbers in the Front. OM varies from Acceptable (Back) to Great (Front).

The Back Lawn proper could use some Phosphorus,and all lawns could use Potassium, but hold off on those for the Fall. Concentrate on the Fall Nitrogen Regimens article and get the lawn prepped to start well next year. Ping me in March about this thread and we'll get you a full-season Plan for 2017.

fsl
Posts: 25
Joined: October 18th, 2013, 8:45 pm
Location: Lower Westchester, NY
Grass Type: Northern Mix
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Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by fsl » September 27th, 2016, 2:18 pm

Thanks very much Andy!

Sure I'll follow the Fall Nitrogen Regimens. I have already dropped bag rate milorganite 3 times since Labor Day.

One question though: Since the Back Lawn proper's PH value is so low, should I add some lime now before the ground is frozen this year? I already have Mag-I-Cal and Encap on hand (Epsom Salts as well).

LoneRanger
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Location: Macomb County Michigan
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Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by LoneRanger » September 30th, 2016, 4:26 pm

Paging Dr. Dre .. Paging Dr. Dre ..

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by andy10917 » September 30th, 2016, 5:31 pm

I believe that the open question was addressed in a PM exchange, but I'm not positive.

PM exchanges are discouraged, but I do them for

1. Long-time members
2. People that live close to me
3. Members of ST6
4. Seriously good-looking women

The order of the above four categories is at my discretion. We need more members in Group #4, and less like HLG.


Mike2016
Posts: 58
Joined: September 10th, 2016, 10:54 am
Location: SW Wisconsin
Grass Type: 50/50 Perennial Rye/KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
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Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by Mike2016 » September 30th, 2016, 8:18 pm

andy10917 wrote:I believe that the open question was addressed in a PM exchange, but I'm not positive.

PM exchanges are discouraged, but I do them for

1. Long-time members
2. People that live close to me
3. Members of ST6
4. Seriously good-looking women

The order of the above four categories is at my discretion. We need more members in Group #4, and less like HLG.
Hmm, I keep trying to imagine what you look like. This is what I've settled on for now with this comment: https://youtu.be/YVtEX1J7tXQ


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

fsl
Posts: 25
Joined: October 18th, 2013, 8:45 pm
Location: Lower Westchester, NY
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: Not Specified
Level: Not Specified

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by fsl » October 10th, 2016, 10:51 pm

Sorry didn't realize that PM wasn't encouraged. But Andy did address all my questions. Specifically he advised that a fall nitrogen regimen and a lime plan ideally shouldn't go hand in hand. I think nitrogen is more important for my lawn at the moment so I am sticking to it.

Also I googled it a bit and found that a pH of 5.7, although not ideal, isn't THAT bad. You can find some charts by searching "ph nutrient availability", for example:

https://nrcca.cals.cornell.edu/nutrient/CA5/CA0539.php

LoneRanger
Posts: 2692
Joined: April 25th, 2014, 11:11 pm
Location: Macomb County Michigan
Grass Type: Front/Side - Emblem, Back - Panterra V
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Level: Not Specified

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by LoneRanger » October 11th, 2016, 9:33 am

^ However ST6 will have a plan outlaid next year that you should follow.

fsl
Posts: 25
Joined: October 18th, 2013, 8:45 pm
Location: Lower Westchester, NY
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: Not Specified
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Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by fsl » April 20th, 2017, 10:54 am

Hi, Dear ST6 Team,

Could you please recommend a soil amendment plan that I should follow this year?

Thanks!

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by andy10917 » April 20th, 2017, 11:00 am

Please add a Link to this thread in the Soil Test Interpretation Queue thread, so that you have a place in line

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by andy10917 » April 22nd, 2017, 5:41 pm

OK, here is some detailed info for the plans-by-ID:

F1:

A medium loam with excellent OM
Cations: a perfect pH marred by K shortage: add Sulfate of Potah (SOP) at 2 lbs/K monthly until 9/17
Micros: Boron is short, advise if you want to correct
Nitrogen: OP choice

BG4:

A sandy soil with great OM
Calcium: use calcitic lime at 9 lbs/K every 90 days
Use balanced fertilizer to achieve 1 lb of each nutrient, monthly until 9/17
Micros: Boron is short, advise if you want to correct

BW3:

A sandy loam with OK organic matter levels
Use a high-Potassium fertilizer to achieve 1 lb of N and K. Switch to Fall Nitrogen in 9/17
Micros: Boron is short, advise if you want to correct

That's a lot of detail in a small space. Ask questions if needed.

fsl
Posts: 25
Joined: October 18th, 2013, 8:45 pm
Location: Lower Westchester, NY
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: Not Specified
Level: Not Specified

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by fsl » April 24th, 2017, 10:45 am

Hi, Andy,

Thanks very much for the quick turnaround! The instructions are very clear, although I have one question:

For BG4/BW3, you advised to drop 1 lb of N as well (along with P/K for BG4 and K for BW3). What would happen if no N is dropped (i.e. only P/K and K are used respectively)?

Since I am at it this year, I'd like to do Boron too. Please advise!

Thanks!

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by andy10917 » April 24th, 2017, 12:06 pm

FSL, in most scenarios, applying no Nitrogen while applying other nutrients is not effective. You certainly don't need to apply a lb a month unless you're looking to achieve a very dense, dark lawn. But the nutrients work together, and nothing much happens when the "weakest link in the chain" is absent. Nitrogen does not store overly well in the soil from inorganic/mineral sources, so there isn't a reservoir to draw from.

Can you advise me on your thinking for reasons to exclude Nitrogen, so I can help you to achieve your goals?

fsl
Posts: 25
Joined: October 18th, 2013, 8:45 pm
Location: Lower Westchester, NY
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: Not Specified
Level: Not Specified

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by fsl » April 24th, 2017, 6:07 pm

Hi, Andy,

Thanks for the explanation!

Currently I am not in that stage of achieving a very dense, dark lawn yet. I still have that 'Jonathan Green Sun and Shade' Northern Mix, although I am very interested in getting the soil condition right slowly for a future renovation with KBG blends (maybe in a couple of years). Also I found that I don't need to put too much N before fall (normally I just do one Milo end of May). Presumably the fertilizers to get P/K and K have synthetic Ns, which I have tried once or twice before and they pushed the growth like crazy (and I only get time to mow at most once per week :-(

So it will be great if I can use less N. But if we do need a proper N ratio to get the P/K right in the soil, I'll drop N too.

Thanks!

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by andy10917 » April 24th, 2017, 6:48 pm

You realize that there really aren't P+K (only) fertilizers readily available, right? I can brew up P-applications and K-applications, but they will require separate applications or manual mixing, will probably cost more, require you to locate the individual items, etc. Are you sure you know what you're proposing?

fsl
Posts: 25
Joined: October 18th, 2013, 8:45 pm
Location: Lower Westchester, NY
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: Not Specified
Level: Not Specified

Re: FSL's Soil Test Results - 2016

Post by fsl » April 25th, 2017, 9:22 am

Thanks Andy! Right, if N isn't really needed, I do plan to do manual mixing. Since I need SOP anyhow for F1, I can use it for BW3 too (for the K part). Then I only need to get TSP for BG4 (for the P part, while mixing SOP for the K part). I have done Mag-I-Cal and Epsom Salts mixing in the past upon your soil amendment advice.

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