JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
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JHazzardB
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Location: OKC, OK
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JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Post by JHazzardB » September 24th, 2019, 10:31 am

It's been a little while since my last test but I finally got around to another.

Last test: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=10295&p=137353&hil ... st#p137353

2019 Test: Image

Front yard is ~5Ksqft and Back yard is ~4Ksqft.

Soil samples were taken by bulb planter. Jumped on it and removed the 4" deep soil and replaced the core.

I'm still trying to find a way to remove my magnesium. Haven't come up with anything yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

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andy10917
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Re: JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Post by andy10917 » September 24th, 2019, 7:28 pm

I'm still trying to find a way to remove my magnesium. Haven't come up with anything yet.
You can be patient, or be a patient. The soil doesn't care - you may...

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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: JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Post by andy10917 » September 24th, 2019, 7:55 pm

2013???? Were you waiting for the installation of a new Pope? :shock: :shock:

That's an interesting soil - somewhat on the heavy side (alright, it's on the heavy side) and good OM numbers. It will hold a lot of nutrients, and is OK as long a it drains well. I'm betting the soil is tough to work with - the Ca:Mg ratio is down around 4:1.

In the cations, Calcium and Potassium are low and Magnesium is quite high. How do you deal with that? Gypsum! Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) can displace Magnesium if you're patient - it works 70% of the time. Apply fast-acting Gypsum every 60 days at bag rate. Lowe's carries "StaGreen Rapid Gypsum", and Pennington is carried in some stores. Don't substitute other "garden gypsum" products.

Since the Potassium is low but the Phosphorus is high, you're hosed and on a mission - you need to find Sulfate of Potash ("SOP", 0-0-50). That's not so easy. Apply at 2 lbs/K monthly, but not within a couple of weeks of the Gypsum (it can displace Potassium too). Also, don't apply SOP after the end of October - pick it up in April.

Iron levels are good, but not available at your pH. Look into Milorganite for your Nitrogen (it contains a chelated Iron) or FAS foliar applications, if color is weak.

Your micronutrients are fine.

If you don't use the Milorganite for Nitrogen, then a high-Nitrogen fertilizer applied monthly will work OK.

This plan can be carried over to 2020.

JHazzardB
Posts: 417
Joined: August 7th, 2012, 11:16 am
Location: OKC, OK
Grass Type: Front Yard: KBG blend. Back Bewitched/Nuglade
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

Re: JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Post by JHazzardB » September 24th, 2019, 9:30 pm

I was waiting until I had to do some digging around the yard...

I’ll start applying The gypsum and continue on it into 2020.

I’ll grab the SOP but have a question. First application I’ll be able to get down would be October 5. Can I squeeze another monthly app in in early November given my more...temperate...climate than the north?

I’m also going pretty aggressively on urea for nitrogen. I’ve been applying about .25lb/K weekly for the last 3 or 4 weeks. I’m gonna try to keep it up through winter to test that vs. the large end of year feeding.

Thanks in advance!

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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: JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Post by andy10917 » September 24th, 2019, 9:49 pm

First application I’ll be able to get down would be October 5. Can I squeeze another monthly app in in early November given my more...temperate...climate than the north?
I wouldn't - the reason for the "end of October" cutoff is that Winter Kill and Snow Mold have been shown to increase the Spring after late-season Potassium is applied. The reward is not worth the risk. It's only a few university studies, by why risk it?


JHazzardB
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Re: JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Post by JHazzardB » September 24th, 2019, 10:07 pm

Darn good reasoning to me! Just didn’t know the reason for the cutoff. Thanks Andy!

TimmyG
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Re: JHazzardB Soil Test 2019

Post by TimmyG » September 24th, 2019, 10:40 pm

Probably not a lot of winter kill and snow mold in OKC being squarely in zone 7, but it's not a race. That spring app will come soon enough.

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