ECUPirate Soil Test

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
Post Reply
User avatar
ECUPirate
Posts: 353
Joined: April 1st, 2014, 10:58 am
Location: Eastern NC
Grass Type: Bermuda
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by ECUPirate » May 26th, 2020, 1:33 pm

Image

User avatar
ECUPirate
Posts: 353
Joined: April 1st, 2014, 10:58 am
Location: Eastern NC
Grass Type: Bermuda
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

Re: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by ECUPirate » May 26th, 2020, 1:57 pm

First soil test in our new house and it looks ugly. Current yard is a mixture of centipede and weeds and while I know this soil is best suited for centipede, I'm getting ready to seed Bermuda in a few weeks. From my previous experience with low pH and Bermuda, I know calcitic lime and I are going to become best friends.

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: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » May 26th, 2020, 11:00 pm

Ummmm, yeah...

There is work there no matter where you look. The structure says it's a very sandy soil, with a mediocre OM% number. Bottom line, both lots of organic matter and even Humic Acid too are warranted. For the HA, it's a little late to get the first application down and still get the treatment right before the real heat. Apply 2 lbs/K Humic Acid down just before the steady heat is expected and then again around Labor Day.

In the cations, you're low across the board. Good calcitic Lime at the "heavy" bag rate, mixed with 2 lbs/K Epsom Salts, every 90 days. It's gonna take a while, and I'm sure that doesn't surprise you.

Since Phosphorus, Potassium are both low, we might as well get a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 19-19-19 -- which brings the Nitrogen along for the ride in one application. Get one and post the NPK for application rate and frequency. Don't apply the fertilizer within a couple of weeks of the Lime mix.

The one surprise us that Iron is fine.

In the micro's, you're my first Fearless Foursome candidate this year - up for that in 2020?

User avatar
ECUPirate
Posts: 353
Joined: April 1st, 2014, 10:58 am
Location: Eastern NC
Grass Type: Bermuda
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

Re: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by ECUPirate » May 27th, 2020, 8:09 am

Thanks, Andy!

Yeah, we'll go for the micros this year as well.

As far as "steady heat", what do you consider those temps to be? 90+ consistently? Looks like I have a few more weeks before we get too hot, as the temps for the next 2 weeks are in the 70s and 80s. Also, what's your thoughts on Anderson's Humic DG? A good source of humic acid or look at something else like Natural Guard's HuMic? Natural Guard's product comes out to about $15 cheaper per 40lb bag.

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: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » May 27th, 2020, 5:14 pm

Also, what's your thoughts on Anderson's Humic DG? A good source of humic acid or look at something else like Natural Guard's HuMic? Natural Guard's product comes out to about $15 cheaper per 40lb bag.
Ah, I see!! Somebody cut high school on the day that math lesson was taught. :no:

Did you (and I know where you got the bad info from) calculate how much of the actual product is in the 40-lb bag? The Anderson's Humic DG product is 70% HA, and the Natural Guard product is 35% HA. It is also far dustier than the DG (dispersable granule) Anderon's product.

I tried many, many products - 30% didn't do anything, 50% were weak and/or had other problems, and 10% were effective but cost too much for what you get. The Andersons' product kind of stood out. I will not be offering application rates or guidance on any other products, because too many of them suck - I'm not going to fall into the "can I substitute tunafish salad for Kelp Extract in my BLSC batch?" trap again.

BTW, if you have to pay for shipping, which costs more - two 40-lb bags or one 40-lb bag? The amount of the actual ingredient needs to be considered.


User avatar
ECUPirate
Posts: 353
Joined: April 1st, 2014, 10:58 am
Location: Eastern NC
Grass Type: Bermuda
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

Re: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by ECUPirate » May 27th, 2020, 6:25 pm

I didn't compare the ingredients before asking that question :banghead: , which I'll work on for future questions. I ordered the Anderson's Humic DG today and it should be here by Saturday. :good:

Also, if you don't mind me asking, what's the epsom salt for? Is it due to the magnesium deficiency or does it serve a different purpose?

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: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » May 27th, 2020, 8:16 pm

It's for Magnesium. "Epsom Salts" (or Epsom Salt) is actually Magnesium Sulfate. Don't let the word "Salt" scare you - almost everything you use is chemically a salt. That doesn't mean it is like Table Salt (Sodium Chloride). We use the name "Epsom Salts" because that's what it is called in Rite Aid, CVS,etc when used as a Soak in baths - and it's easy to get there.

The amount "134" is the absolute lowest amount of Magmesium should ever be at, when measured at the 4" depth. You're significantly lower than the lowest rung of the ladder, and hence I'm trying to raise it.

User avatar
ECUPirate
Posts: 353
Joined: April 1st, 2014, 10:58 am
Location: Eastern NC
Grass Type: Bermuda
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

Re: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by ECUPirate » May 28th, 2020, 11:02 am

Andy, what are your thoughts on using dolomitic lime in lieu of calcitic lime with epsom salts?

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: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » May 28th, 2020, 5:32 pm

ECU, sorry to say, but between Admin, Moderator, and Soil Test Interpretation duties, I can't really spend much time going over item-by-item substitutions and modifying the plans/amounts and frequencies for one Member (and the numbers *would* change). I've written 28,494 postings and answered that numerous times - try the Search function.

For the micro's, get Twenty Mule Team laundry soap for Boron (from the grocery), and Manganese Sulfate/Zinc Sulfate/Copper Sulfate from EBay or Amazon. Apply according to the Micronutrient Application Guide - 3 tablespoons/K of each micro every 60 days.

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: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by TimmyG » May 29th, 2020, 11:15 pm

ECUPirate wrote:
May 28th, 2020, 11:02 am
...what are your thoughts on using dolomitic lime in lieu of calcitic lime with epsom salts?
You're looking to take corrective action, not apply maintenance products, so go with the faster acting products. Except for an odd-ball product by Pennington, dolomitic lime is going to be very slow acting, months to years.

User avatar
ECUPirate
Posts: 353
Joined: April 1st, 2014, 10:58 am
Location: Eastern NC
Grass Type: Bermuda
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

Re: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by ECUPirate » June 4th, 2020, 12:21 pm

andy10917 wrote:
May 26th, 2020, 11:00 pm

Since Phosphorus, Potassium are both low, we might as well get a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10 or 19-19-19 -- which brings the Nitrogen along for the ride in one application. Get one and post the NPK for application rate and frequency. Don't apply the fertilizer within a couple of weeks of the Lime mix.
I found some 13-13-13 for the balanced fertilizer.

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: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » June 4th, 2020, 12:29 pm

OK. 7 lbs/K on the 13-13-13, applied monthly except in July. Make the August application after August 15th.

User avatar
ECUPirate
Posts: 353
Joined: April 1st, 2014, 10:58 am
Location: Eastern NC
Grass Type: Bermuda
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Experienced

Re: ECUPirate Soil Test

Post by ECUPirate » June 4th, 2020, 1:36 pm

Thanks Andy!

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests