Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021
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- Posts: 89
- Joined: September 11th, 2019, 5:40 pm
- Location: Lancaster County, Pa
- Grass Type: tall fescue
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Some Experience
- 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: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021
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?
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?
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- 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
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.
Located in Lancaster, Pa.
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- Posts: 89
- Joined: September 11th, 2019, 5:40 pm
- Location: Lancaster County, Pa
- Grass Type: tall fescue
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Some Experience
- 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: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021
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?
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?
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- 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
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
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
- 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: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021
I love Milorganite, but its contribution to soil OM is not huge.How do you feel about Milorganite to raise the om %?
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- 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
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!
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!
- 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: Soil Test Tom Picciani March 2021
I am not a fan of ironite, at all.
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- 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
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!
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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