M's Soil Test 2021

[Irisbergamot]

Hey guys

2000sqft, northern mix, 1 hr west of Toronto, Canada. Nuked the lawn this summer and seed down date is August 10 (tentative). Mature maple and basswood providing +++shade to 1/2 of lawn. She gets most of her sun until noon and even that sun is diluted a bit from trees/buildings. I am able to water 1"/week or more as needed and mowing accordingly. I have a lot of 10-22-10 fert on hand. New seed is 90% tall fescue (hogans) and 10% kgb (award, jackpot, midnight). (can organic matter ever be to high? should I always mulch ALL of these leaves into her? maybe avoid during renovation time?)

thanks for everything guys. your last instructions got my lawn off the charts... and then I had to move and the new owners haven't mowed it in about 2 months (not because it's been a hot dry summer).

[andy10917]

Make sure to put it into the Soil Test Interpretation Queue

[Irisbergamot]

Best practices as always

[andy10917]

can organic matter ever be to high? should I always mulch ALL of these leaves into her? maybe avoid during renovation time?

I'm sure that there can be "too much" of anything, but an OM number of 5.4% is very, very good. Don't be bashful about the leaves - keep that number up where it is!

I have a lot of 10-22-10 fert on hand

Are you really convinced that you want to use it now? It is not a great match to what I see as a great solution.

[Irisbergamot]

I need the best solution - let’s do it!

[andy10917]

OK. Many items are fine for a starting point.

The soil is a little bit on the heavy side, which isn't a problem if it drains OK. The OM at 5.40% is great.

Since both Phosphorus and Potassium are low, we use a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10, 19-19-19, etc. The Nitrogen comes along for the ride in a single application. Select and post the NPK for application rate, the frequency will probably be monthly.

We'll do that until the P and K numbers come up, and then add Iron to the mix later. You're borderline on how much Iron is available due to the pH - any higher on the pH and Iron may become an issue.

That's it for now -- get me the NPK of the selected balanced fertilizer when you can...

[Irisbergamot]

Hey Andy thanks for doing this so quickly. truly.

Very relieved she's in pretty good shape at this point.

I have a lot of 15-15-15 on hand.

Renovation seeding (90%tttf, 10%kbg) will be next week with peat moss to cover. Also... I have been advised to go ahead with 0.2pd urea 14, 28 and 45 days post kbg germination.

what's the protocol with the 15-15-15 and any general wisdom for the reno fert routine? Should I go ahead and carry the 15-15-15 through until 2023? retest next summer?

Thanks and have a great weekend

[Irisbergamot]

Seeds going down today
Should I do a balanced fert or start the soil remediation in the fall?
Thanks

[MorpheusPA]

There wouldn't be an issue using the balanced fertilizer, although seed isn't going to make much use of it for the first month or so. But after that, it'll be in the soil, waiting for the seed (except the nitrogen, which will have gotten lost). The P and K, however, hang around.

[andy10917]

If you're on a remediation regimen, stick with it. Getting your soil providing ALL of the nutrients you need is the most important target. Forcing growth without having everything available in the soil can be a recipe for fungal or other trouble. Don't give up long-term gains for short-term prettiness. You'll get to the point where you can do the Fall regimens.

[Irisbergamot]

Ok sounds good.
So with the 15-15-15, go with 6 pounds/k on a monthly basis through until fall 2022? (Foregoing July-mid Aug).

Thanks guys!

[andy10917]

Plans are built for one season. Beyond that is at your own risk/discretion

[Irisbergamot]

guys I'm on day since seed down.......
is this soil too much clay? can you tell from the test? am I screwed?

[Irisbergamot]

I have tons of seed left

[Irisbergamot]

Think I I had some Reno hysteria there.

Grass is coming up. Thanks guys!

Slow and steady

[Irisbergamot]

Plans are built for one season. Beyond that is at your own risk/discretion

Andy, to get the soil balanced right from this point could you please steer me through the fall time?

The fescue has been mowed twice. The kgb is just coming up now. And today I threw down more seed on bare spots.

Last fertilizer was at seed down on August 13. It was 7 pounds of 15-15-15. First frost around here is last week of October.

I want to make it through this reno. I want to do what you said as specific to my test and forego the urea at differing intervals.

Thanks for everything.

[andy10917]

When I say that the Plan is for one season, I mean one full growing season, not a calendar season. Stay with the 15-15-15 monthly until the average first-frost date, then follow the Fall Nitrogen regimen about the Pause and winterizing. Urea will be the last application after the grass stops growing.

That should cover you for the rest of the year.

[Irisbergamot]

Excellent thanks

[Irisbergamot]

When I say that the Plan is for one season, I mean one full growing season, not a calendar season. Stay with the 15-15-15 monthly until the average first-frost date, then follow the Fall Nitrogen regimen about the Pause and winterizing. Urea will be the last application after the grass stops growing.

That should cover you for the rest of the year.

beating a dead horse here.....

tall fescue up and mowed several times. kbg now pouting on day 24 since seed down (sprouted on day 21).
when would you throw down that 15-15-15

[andy10917]

I'd wait for sprout-and-pout to end - that's your signal that the grass has properly established roots.