Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
Post Reply
Dargin
Posts: 246
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 12:42 pm
Location: Central Mass
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 1000-3000
Level: Some Experience

Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by Dargin » June 4th, 2019, 8:41 pm

I started working on this lawn 3 years ago. It's approximately 2.3k. Northern mix. Nothing elite.

Up until last summer I was blindly amending the soil with dolimitic lime, calcitic lime, and 10-10-10. I realize I'm very lucky if I didnt cause any major soil problems in that time.

I -manually- core aerated and dethatched when I first started. I wouldn't do either again even if I weren't now aware of the potential drawbacks to both. It was...a workout.

I've also overseeded a couple times and done some spot seeding in areas where poa annua and nimblewill were a problem. Tenacity got those under control.

With the exception of a small area that took winter damage, the rest of the lawn is on a proper preemergent routine for the first time. I consider that a small victory in itself.

I top dressed it twice with compost/humus and once with peat during those first couple years.

Since last summer I nixed the balanced fertilizers and got my N primarily from milo. I haven't applied any forms of P, K, or micros since. I did apply some ferrous sulfate via MossEX this May just to test it out.

Plenty of KH/BLSC apps, extra molasses apps, and a couple light apps of corn meal. Mulched a lot of leaves last fall.

Winterized with a last second urea app, after some snow came and went. It really seemed to lead to a nice and speedy spring greenup. The lawn's never looked healthier, despite myself.

I've been mowing twice a week; occasionally 3 if it calls for it and the weather permits. Trying to get things to thicken up and fill in, and it looks like it's been working. Keeping the blades razor sharp (bought a cheap bench grinder) and keeping it at about 3.5 inches going into summer.

I took my samples with a bulb planter and sampled at the 3-4 inch range.

I think that's about it.

Thank you very much.


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: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » June 5th, 2019, 8:32 pm

So, that's a pretty sandy soil with a TEC of almost 6. It has an OM% of over 5, so that probably means the mineral part of the soil is even sandier, and the OM is carrying the TEC forward.

In the cations, Magnesium and Potassium are low. Mixing 2 lbs/K of Epsom Salts with Milorganite/BSF every 90 days would help the Magnesium.

For Potassium, it's Sulfate of Potash ("SOP") at 2 lbs/K every month until September. Try to avoid applying it within a couple weeks of the Epsom Salts.

Phosphorus is plentiful.

Monthly apps of Milorganite or BSF is a good plan for Nitrogen.

Iron is good, and available at your pH.

In the micro's, Boron and Manganese are short - are those on the plan for 2019?

Dargin
Posts: 246
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 12:42 pm
Location: Central Mass
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 1000-3000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by Dargin » June 5th, 2019, 10:06 pm

Thanks a lot, Andy. Yes on the micros please. I've got Twenty Mule, and have manganese sulfate on the way.

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: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » June 5th, 2019, 10:07 pm

OK - then 3 tablespoons/K each every 60 days, as outlined in the Micronutrient Applications Guide.

Dargin
Posts: 246
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 12:42 pm
Location: Central Mass
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 1000-3000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by Dargin » June 5th, 2019, 10:10 pm

Will do!

Thanks again for your time.


john5246
Posts: 227
Joined: August 24th, 2018, 8:44 pm
Location: Chicago
Grass Type: KBG
Lawn Size: Not Specified
Level: Not Specified

Re: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by john5246 » June 7th, 2019, 8:42 pm

andy10917 wrote:
June 5th, 2019, 10:07 pm
OK - then 3 tablespoons/K each every 60 days, as outlined in the Micronutrient Applications Guide.
Micronutrient Applications Guide is in the FAQ's section rather than Articles if anyone is having trouble finding it.

Dargin
Posts: 246
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 12:42 pm
Location: Central Mass
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 1000-3000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by Dargin » June 12th, 2019, 8:13 am

Thanks, John. :)

Dargin
Posts: 246
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 12:42 pm
Location: Central Mass
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 1000-3000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by Dargin » June 26th, 2019, 10:46 pm

Are there any temperature restrictions on applying SoP? I did some searching but didnt come across the topic.

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: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » June 26th, 2019, 10:52 pm

Sorta, but not where you'd expect them. SOP isn't recommended here after September or October, as there are some studies that indicate it can raise the likelihood of Snow Mold and Winter Kill, when applied late-season.

Dargin
Posts: 246
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 12:42 pm
Location: Central Mass
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 1000-3000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Dargin's Home 2019 Soil Test

Post by Dargin » June 26th, 2019, 11:06 pm

You're right, I wasn't thinking that end of the spectrum. Good stuff. Thanks.

It might hit 90 here tomorrow and I kinda have to pull the trigger. Had me feeling uneasy.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests