Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
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starpartyguy
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Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by starpartyguy » March 30th, 2021, 1:03 pm

Attached is my soil test in jpg format.
Image

Thanks,

Starpartyguy

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andy10917
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Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by andy10917 » March 31st, 2021, 10:33 pm

Tom:

There isn't ANY detail here to explain issues, status or what you've done to the lawn/soil -- it kind of ties our hands about helping you. Please spend a few minutes and tell us about progress/challenges/etc. Please?

starpartyguy
Posts: 89
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Location: Lancaster County, Pa
Grass Type: tall fescue
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Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by starpartyguy » March 31st, 2021, 10:57 pm

I m just looking to see if I need any corrections to the soil. Overall I think I’m doing ok. No bare spots this year. Lots of clumps where I treated for nutsedge last 2 years. I’m concerned about organic matter percentage. I’m mulching every mowing. But overall I’m just wondering if I need anything special to improve the soil .

Located in Lancaster, Pa.

starpartyguy
Posts: 89
Joined: September 11th, 2019, 5:40 pm
Location: Lancaster County, Pa
Grass Type: tall fescue
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by starpartyguy » March 31st, 2021, 11:02 pm

Here’s some pictures
Image

Image

Apologies for cross posting. Just trying to show what I got. Two years ago, half that lawn was dead from grubs!

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andy10917
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Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by andy10917 » April 1st, 2021, 8:00 am

The soil structure shows a somewhat sandy soil with a TEC of 6.43, and am OM% in the mediocre range at 3.64%. Just mulch mowing isn't going to change the OM significantly - the same organic matter is just being recycled. Add mulched leaves, peat moss and/or compost multiple times a year to raise the OM and it will affect the TEC too.

In the cations, things are actually OK, if a bit unusual - there is a lot of Potassium and a small shortage of Calcium. You don't see that very often. The net result is creating a pH of 6.5, so we'll leave things alone for a while there - it's in the sweet spot.

Phosphorus is somewhat low, so I'm going to say that you should use Starter Fertilizer with the highest middle number in the NPK that you can find. Use it monthly except July and August, at bag rate.

The Sodium number is higher than I like to see. It will bear watching. If you want to deal with it now, apply fast-acting Gypsum once now and again in September at bag rate.

The Iron is actually one of your bigger issues, and it's big enough to affect the lawn color. Apply Ferrous Sulfate at 2-3 lbs/K every 6 weeks, but not at the same time as the Gypsum.

You have some micronutrient shortages - do you want to deal with them now, or wait until the Gypsum and Iron apps are completed?


starpartyguy
Posts: 89
Joined: September 11th, 2019, 5:40 pm
Location: Lancaster County, Pa
Grass Type: tall fescue
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
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Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by starpartyguy » April 1st, 2021, 8:38 am

I’m 5 miles from the Susquehanna River so that might explain some of the soil peculiarities.

I put down 50 lbs of iron, 25 lbs at a time over 10k last year. Didn’t seem to change the numbers.

How do you feel about Milorganite to raise the om %?

And I was planning on using starter fertilizer anyway because that was your 2020 recommendation.

Thanks for all you are doing.

Tom P

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andy10917
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Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by andy10917 » April 1st, 2021, 7:44 pm

How do you feel about Milorganite to raise the om %?
I love Milorganite, but its contribution to soil OM is not huge.

starpartyguy
Posts: 89
Joined: September 11th, 2019, 5:40 pm
Location: Lancaster County, Pa
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Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by starpartyguy » April 3rd, 2021, 11:11 am

Ok I ordered 3 25 pound bags of iron supplement, ironite. And I ordered 50 pounds of Lesco starter fertilizer.

Getting too old to push the spreader that much. I ordered a Chapin pull behind spreader with auto-stop. A little overkill for 10k of lawn. But better than a heart attack, lol.

Trying to get the most done before May. I have cataract surgery coming and I’ll be restricted to 20 pounds and no lawn tractor riding for a week after each surgery.

So many logistics!

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
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Level: Advanced

Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by andy10917 » April 3rd, 2021, 11:43 am

I am not a fan of ironite, at all.

starpartyguy
Posts: 89
Joined: September 11th, 2019, 5:40 pm
Location: Lancaster County, Pa
Grass Type: tall fescue
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
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Re: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021

Post by starpartyguy » April 4th, 2021, 6:15 pm

I hear you. It’s what I could get quick. I did find Brant ferrous sulfate for$42, of course after buying ironite. From groworganic. Com. I’ll get that next time.

But from 3 years of following the advice on this forum, no clover, no dandelions, no wild violets. That has never been my lawn EVER! Thank you so much!

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