Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
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Adam_M
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Joined: April 22nd, 2017, 12:29 pm
Location: Southwest PA
Grass Type: Midnight, Bewitched, Prosperity
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Some Experience

Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Post by Adam_M » March 30th, 2020, 9:54 am

Hi!

I'm back for the annual soil test interpretation. 2019 was a bit of a tough year for the lawn - had some fungus and then fertilizer burn - so I backed off on the 19-19-19 from the 2019 plan - skipping a June dose, as well as the entire fall regimen except the winterizer dose of 46-0-0 after the top growth ceased. That also meant no Milorganite (and the boron it sometimes carries) during the same time periods. ...And no OM additions except for the plethora of leaves. In previous years, I've topdressed with peatmoss.

I expected the pH would jump back up, thinking that 2019 was a sampling error, but I was disappointed to see it all the way back up at 8.1, as well as the OM drop.

Let's get this soil back on track in 2020!


2019 Thread: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=24894
2018 Thread: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=23937


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andy10917
Posts: 29739
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Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
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Re: Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » March 31st, 2020, 8:58 pm

Well, unfortunately my suspicion that the pH number from the 2019 test was not-for-real was right. Ugh.

I don't see much that indicates that changes in the 2019 regimen requires change. 19-19-19 remains a good solution, although doing half-as-much, twice as often might be a good idea if application issues are happening due to path irregularities, etc. Nobody makes two errors in the same spot twice in a row (please don't prove me wrong).

Ignore the Magnesium "shortage".

Iron is good, but unavailable. Consider foliar FAS if you want good color.

In the micro's, Boron is the only one that is short - up for it in 2020?

You know what to do about the OM%...

Adam_M
Posts: 215
Joined: April 22nd, 2017, 12:29 pm
Location: Southwest PA
Grass Type: Midnight, Bewitched, Prosperity
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Post by Adam_M » March 31st, 2020, 10:09 pm

Thanks Andy, as always.

Yep, we will take on the boron this year. 20 mule team per the micronutrient guide, every 60 days?

Makes sense in the 19-19-19. I'll do my best to not prove you wrong about the same mistake in the same place twice. I did change spreaders last year and the learning curve of the new one could certainly have been part of the issue.

I've noticed you are moving to foliar fas instead of Milo for iron in high pH soils this year. Did something change?

And yes, I know the drill with the om. My goal will be to get about 1/4 inch down as often as the lawn can integrate it and the $ allows.

By the way, you predicted improvements in the lawn look were coming. They were absolutely there until a combination of fungus and user error intervened. We are on the right track for this heavy mess off a soil.

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andy10917
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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: Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » March 31st, 2020, 10:18 pm

I've noticed you are moving to foliar fas instead of Milo for iron in high pH soils this year. Did something change?
Look, somewhere betweem pH 8.0 and pH 8.3, even Milo chelation can't do the job, and that's when only foliar FAS works. You can try the Milo, but I can't guarantee the results - YMMV.

And for the Boron, it's 3 tablespoons/K every 60 days, yadda, yadda, yadda...

Adam_M
Posts: 215
Joined: April 22nd, 2017, 12:29 pm
Location: Southwest PA
Grass Type: Midnight, Bewitched, Prosperity
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Post by Adam_M » April 1st, 2020, 1:05 pm

Sounds like some science may be in order when the yard really gets going. No way to learn and understand what the different iron delivery mechanisms can do without trying!


Adam_M
Posts: 215
Joined: April 22nd, 2017, 12:29 pm
Location: Southwest PA
Grass Type: Midnight, Bewitched, Prosperity
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Post by Adam_M » April 1st, 2020, 3:15 pm

One question Andy:

Given the winterizer at the end of 2019, and the idea that the lawn shouldn't need any N until sometime in mid/late May (and yes, I know that's not a hard date - watch the grass and it'll tell you when), how early could I get started with 19-19-19? Would it be harmful to start in April so I can get more P and K down in total this year?

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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: Adam_M 2020 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » April 1st, 2020, 3:47 pm

Yes. It's a trade-off, but getting soil remediation done trumps the wait for the "fade-out" in my book - with the one caveat that the grass must have woken up on its own.

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