Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
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summerfield1131
Posts: 7
Joined: September 4th, 2019, 10:10 am
Location: Long Island, NY
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Novice

Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Post by summerfield1131 » March 31st, 2021, 8:43 am

I just got my second soil test back. The front yard is looking better and better but the backyard is still struggling a bit. I think there’s some kind of strange grass back there. Bent grass maybe? The shade doesn’t help and it seems like there may even be an area with gravel beneath the soil where a playground used to be. :banghead: Too bad the soil results can’t help me correct those challenges...

I’m just glad the front is improving! Thank you so much!

Here’s last years results viewtopic.php?t=25371

And the 2021 results

Image

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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: Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » March 31st, 2021, 10:38 pm

Is this a soil test from the (good) Front Yard, the (struggling) Back Yard, or an (ugh!) mixture of both?

summerfield1131
Posts: 7
Joined: September 4th, 2019, 10:10 am
Location: Long Island, NY
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Novice

Re: Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Post by summerfield1131 » March 31st, 2021, 10:52 pm

Both last years and this years samples were taken from a mixture of the front and back yards. Do I need to start sampling them separately?

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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: Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » March 31st, 2021, 11:00 pm

I dunno -- I don't see anything that would account for a struggling lawn. I don't want to make the LL folks rich - I want to help you. I'll analyze this as it is, but averaging it between the good and struggling might be hiding an issue. Your call if the Back doesn't improve a lot this year...

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: Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » April 1st, 2021, 8:27 am

The soil structure is showing a sandy soil with OM bordering between poor and mediocre. Add organic matter to the soil however you can, in significant amounts.

In the cations, we're seeing a Potassium shortage, but the pH is a little high. Let's deal with it - sorry to say you'll have to locate and get Sulfate of Potash ("SOP") and apply it at 2 lbs/K monthly. It's not the easiest thing to locate.

Phosphorus is good.

Iron amounts are great.

In the micro's, Boron, Manganese and Zinc are short - do you wish to deal with those now?

For Nitrogen, you could use Urea (46-0-0) every 4-6 weeks at 2 lbs/K, or Milorganite at bag rate -- that's your call to make.

Overall, nothing is terrible, but there is progress that could be made.


summerfield1131
Posts: 7
Joined: September 4th, 2019, 10:10 am
Location: Long Island, NY
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Novice

Re: Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Post by summerfield1131 » April 2nd, 2021, 8:53 am

Thank you Andy. Let’s see how the back does this season.

I’ll deal with the micros too if you don’t mind. What do I need to do there?

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: Summerfield1131’s 2021 Soil Test

Post by andy10917 » April 2nd, 2021, 9:25 am

Get Twenty Mule Team laundry soap from the grocery for Boron. Get Manganese Sulfate (not Magnesium Sulfate) and Zinc Sulfate from Amazon or EBay. Apply 3 tablespoons/K of each every 60 days, as specified in the Micronutrient Application Guide.

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