Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
Post Reply
Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by Masbustelo » September 24th, 2018, 2:39 pm

I have 3000 square feet of some type of Northern Mix. Several years ago I added 3 cubic yards of compost, and then again the same this year. The yard has been in grass for 125-150 years. I have never raked the leaves in the fall, just let them work in to the grass. I recently manually eliminated nimbleweed and creeping charley, which was about 50% of the yard, and then about three weeks ago over-seeded with Menards Turf Champ Shade Grass mix (40% Perennial Ryegrass, 35% Annual Ryegrass, 25% Creeping Red Fescue). The area was originally an oak forest. The soil is a wind deposited Loess (very fertile, no rocks, no gravel, no sand) and I am on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. I have considerable shade and the yard is a continuously changing blend of sun and shade. This year I basically wanted to get something growing and then perhaps over seed next year with some higher grade of TTTF or KBG. I don't have an irrigation system, and have never fertilized, but I do plan on starting a proper or appropriate fertilization regimen. https://Broken image.com/a/1ZPAwDG

TimmyG
Posts: 2244
Joined: May 15th, 2012, 6:04 pm
Location: Dracut, MA
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Experienced

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by TimmyG » September 24th, 2018, 3:17 pm

You'll want to try that image upload again.

Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by Masbustelo » September 24th, 2018, 4:27 pm


User avatar
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: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by andy10917 » September 24th, 2018, 4:40 pm

Use a different image posting site - that one doesn't work. I use Photobucket.

Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by Masbustelo » September 24th, 2018, 7:22 pm

How's this?
Image


User avatar
ken-n-nancy
Posts: 2571
Joined: July 17th, 2014, 3:58 pm
Location: Bedford, NH
Grass Type: Front: KBG (Bewitched+Prosperity); Side: Bewitched KBG; Back: Fine Fescue Blend + Prosperity
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by ken-n-nancy » September 24th, 2018, 7:55 pm

Masbustelo wrote:
September 24th, 2018, 7:22 pm
How's this?
Image
Can see that one, thanks! It is a pretty low resolution, but it does seem legible, especially since we've all seen Logan Labs reports before!

User avatar
ken-n-nancy
Posts: 2571
Joined: July 17th, 2014, 3:58 pm
Location: Bedford, NH
Grass Type: Front: KBG (Bewitched+Prosperity); Side: Bewitched KBG; Back: Fine Fescue Blend + Prosperity
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by ken-n-nancy » September 24th, 2018, 8:03 pm

Actually, now that I looked at the soil test, I'm wishing you lived a little closer, as I'd like to bring over an excavator and a dump truck in order to take that lousy soil off your hands and put it all in my yard!

Practically perfect balance in the major cations which results in a nearly ideal pH, a fantastic phosphorus level, lots of OM, a TEC that holds gobs of nutrients...

Andy will be providing an official soil test interpretation, but I just had to express my soil envy right away. I don't recall ever seeing a better set of soil test results.

If you can't grow grass there, you won't be able to blame it on the soil! Lack of sun maybe, but it won't be a soil problem!

Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by Masbustelo » September 24th, 2018, 8:40 pm

I believe this is known as benign neglect. These loess soils, are supposed to be among the best in the world.

User avatar
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: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by andy10917 » September 24th, 2018, 9:39 pm

Please out a link to this thread into the Soil Test Interpretation Queue, or I'll wind up forgetting that I need to do this test.

TimmyG
Posts: 2244
Joined: May 15th, 2012, 6:04 pm
Location: Dracut, MA
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Experienced

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by TimmyG » September 24th, 2018, 9:42 pm

Those numbers are consistent with the "black gold" I remember in Illinois as a kid, albeit closer to Chicago than you. It went on as deep as you could dig and spawned the most insane nightcrawlers you ever did see. No one ever even thought of fertilizing the lawns or vegetable gardens. And rocks? What rocks?

Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by Masbustelo » September 24th, 2018, 9:55 pm

Where is the soil test interpretation located?

User avatar
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: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by andy10917 » September 25th, 2018, 11:12 am

That's a pretty nice soil...

The soil is definitely on the heavy side, with a 20+ TEC. That's fine as long as it drains properly. And the OM% at 8.54 is great too. You have no reason to complain about the soil structure!

In the cations, all is good but we can tweak the Potassium a bit. Get a bag of Sulfate of Potash ("SOP", 0-0-50) and apply it at 2 lbs/K monthly starting next April. It isn't easy to locate the product. Do not substitute with Muriate of Potash (0-0-60) - it is a harsher Chlorine-based product that has a high salt index (burn potential) and should not be used for tweaking the cations. Do not even bother looking for Sulfate of Potash in quantity at the big-box stores.

All of the above lead to a pH of 6.7, which is heavenly.

The Phosphorus is at super-luxury levels.

The Iron is at great levels, and at your pH should be bioavailable.

With the exception of Boron, the micronutrients are fine. Get a box of Twenty Mule Team Laundry Soap from the grocery store and apply it every 60 days at 3 tablespoons/K, as outlined in the Micronutrient Application Guide (in the Articles area of the site).

As stated previously, if you can't grow a lawn on that soil, consider taking up knitting as a hobby!

Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by Masbustelo » September 25th, 2018, 12:21 pm

Andy thanks for the analysis. I feel bad that you guys have slaved over your projects and my good numbers dropped into my lap. The soil drains very well, I've never had standing water or any run off. Is there an ideal organic matter content one should shoot for? I was planning on adding more compost in the spring, is that a good idea? Or leave well enough alone? The soil is pretty productive, here are some peppers I picked yesterday.
Image

User avatar
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: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by andy10917 » September 25th, 2018, 12:27 pm

An OM% of 8%+ takes decades to happen for most people. You can add whatever you care to - but I doubt you'll see additional noticeable change with more. That said, compost is always good for soil and keeps the microherd at work and happy.

Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by Masbustelo » September 25th, 2018, 12:33 pm

What would be the frequency of the application with the Sulfate of Potash?

User avatar
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: Masbustelo's Soil Test September 2018

Post by andy10917 » September 25th, 2018, 12:42 pm

Oops! I corrected the original post to specify "monthly". Sorry!

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests