Darkcrisis 2020 Soil Test

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
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darkcrisis
Posts: 176
Joined: October 20th, 2014, 9:31 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN
Grass Type: TTTF
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Darkcrisis 2020 Soil Test

Post by darkcrisis » March 21st, 2020, 12:56 pm

I'm back again for the 6th season! This sample was taken from various sections throughout my entire 6000sqft TTTF lawn.

Image


Last year I applied TSP, SOP, fast acting gypsum, and moss-out a few times throughout the growing season. A couple applications of Milorganite were applied as a carrier for boron and zinc. BLSC was also applied several times throughout the season. I followed the Fall Nitrogen Regimen and have already had to mow twice this year.

Goals: Continue keeping the best looking lawn I can with the guidance of ST6!

Thanks for all of your help!



History:
---------
2019 Soil Test: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=24710&p=331075&hil ... 9#p331075v
2018 Soil Test: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23642&p=319907&hil ... is#p319907
2017 Soil Test: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=21865&p=300961&hil ... 17#p300961

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: Darkcrisis 2020 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » March 21st, 2020, 1:00 pm

Make sure to post a link to this thread into the Soil Test Interpretation Queue.

So, how has the lawn been doing (visually) by following the advice??? :confused:

User avatar
darkcrisis
Posts: 176
Joined: October 20th, 2014, 9:31 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN
Grass Type: TTTF
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Darkcrisis 2020 Soil Test

Post by darkcrisis » March 21st, 2020, 1:35 pm

The lawn looks great most of the year. It is dark green, thick, and almost entirely weed free. The moss out last year made a huge difference in the color! I enjoy the compliments and mostly enjoy sitting outside drinking a cold beer and admiring the results.

Spring problem: poa triv. I've been using velocity for a couple of years and it does help get rid of it visually. However, it rears its lime green face every spring and reminds me to get after it again.

Summer Problems: I have to spray some sunny areas for bermuda throughout the summer so I don't have ugly brown patches in the fall and winter, but I've got a good handle on that. Disease is another issue I have to worry about in the hot and humid transition zone. The serenade does help but I usually have to do a couple of applications of Disease-Ex.

I attribute most of the success of the lawn to this forum! I also enjoy doing yard work so that helps out a lot too!

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: Darkcrisis 2020 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » March 22nd, 2020, 11:44 am

Wow - nice!! It has really come around into shape.

Structurally, you're now in a medium Loam zone for the soil. The OM% is now in the Good-but-not-great zone. Keep up the efforts on the OM whenever you can.

In the cations, you're good on the Calcium and Magnesium. The Potassium is just a little low for the TEC, so let's target the 4% base saturation level. Keep up the SOP work, but go to 2 lbs/K every 60 days. The pH (driven by the cations) is at 6.7 - right where we want it.

The Phosphorus is now very good. Leave it alone.

Iron remains low and 2-3 lbs/K of granular Ferrous Sulfate every 6 weeks is the plan.

In the micro's, only Boron is short - that means 3 tablespoons/K of 20 Mule Team laundry soap every 60 days. Follow the Micronutrient Application Guide.

It's your call on the Nitrogen source - Milorganite at bag rate monthly is the best for you at the current Iron levels, but I'm OK with using Urea (46-0-0) at 2 lbs/K monthly instead.

Nice job!!!

User avatar
darkcrisis
Posts: 176
Joined: October 20th, 2014, 9:31 pm
Location: Knoxville, TN
Grass Type: TTTF
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Darkcrisis 2020 Soil Test

Post by darkcrisis » March 25th, 2020, 10:46 am

Thanks, Andy! You are the soil wizard and my grass is living proof!

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