Soil conditions
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Soil conditions
Need to put down gypsum and 0-0-50, can I apply both on same day??? Do I need to worry about the amount of sulfur that’s going down???
- andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions
I'm not trying to be mean, but that question can't be answered with 100% certainty given the information you have provided -- it's sort of like saying "I want to take a 5-mile trip in my car, do I need to stop at the gas station?". It all depends on how full the gas tank is.
That said, there is more than one answer. The is the "perfect answer" and the "real-world answer". In a perfect world, a Calcium source (Gypsum in this case) and 0-0-50 (Sulfate of Potash) would be applied a couple of weeks apart, as Calcium is a better competitor for the soil exchange sites than is Potassium. Is it going to hurt your lawn? No. Might a little Potassium get displaced and wasted? Maybe. If you're really pressed for time, the real-world answer is that it's better to apply both than do nothing.
About the Sulfur - again, the answer depends on how much Sulfur (as Sulfate) is already there. Sulfur/Sulfate excesses are pretty rare, but I can't be 100% sure without knowing how much is already present, and what the current pH is.
That said, there is more than one answer. The is the "perfect answer" and the "real-world answer". In a perfect world, a Calcium source (Gypsum in this case) and 0-0-50 (Sulfate of Potash) would be applied a couple of weeks apart, as Calcium is a better competitor for the soil exchange sites than is Potassium. Is it going to hurt your lawn? No. Might a little Potassium get displaced and wasted? Maybe. If you're really pressed for time, the real-world answer is that it's better to apply both than do nothing.
About the Sulfur - again, the answer depends on how much Sulfur (as Sulfate) is already there. Sulfur/Sulfate excesses are pretty rare, but I can't be 100% sure without knowing how much is already present, and what the current pH is.
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Re: Soil conditions
Thanks Andy!!! Can I post my soil sample from Logan’s lab—I know it looks like I just joined today but I joined a couple of years ago but forgot user name and password, so had to rejoin, I believe it states I have to be a member in the group for 90 days???
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: February 14th, 2020, 7:54 am
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- Grass Type: Tall Fescue
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Re: Soil conditions
Thanks Andy, ph is 6.8, sulfur is 31 ppm. Calcium is -28 deficit, potassium is -16 deficit, magnesium is 245 with the desired amount being 148
- andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions
Sure! Post the test - those rules are for busy season (which it ain't -- temperature going down to 8 degrees here tonight).
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Re: Soil conditions
Feel 4 you, 26 degrees for us!!!
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: February 14th, 2020, 7:54 am
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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)
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Re: Soil conditions
I don't do plans based on old soil tests, but I'll tell you that you don't have any problems doing what you asked about, outside of the chance that some Potassium might be lost.
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Re: Soil conditions
Old soil test don’t understand, test was done from Logan labs on 2/11/2020????
- andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions
Oh, sorry! The above line sounded like it had been laying around for a while...Thanks Andy, I have been wanting you to review my soil test but never got around to it.
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Re: Soil conditions
Please review my soul test and tell me what I need to do!!>
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
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Re: Soil conditions
You want me to review your SOUL ??? Really? That's a little above my pay grade - the Big Guy at the pearly gates does that.Please review my soul test and tell me what I need to do!!
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Re: Soil conditions
Sorry Andy, please review my soil test, thanks
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
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Re: Soil conditions
I've seen far worse than this - it's in an OK place to get a plan going...
Structurally, the soil is a bit on the sandy side - loam soils start at TEC's of 8, and you're at 7.72. That means that you'll have a bit of an issue with leaching nutrients away, but it shouldn't be a big issue. The OM% at 3.3% is mediocre and can be raised by regular applications of mulched leaves, peat moss and/or compost. The soil will improve a lot if that is done.
In the cations, the Calcium is a bit low and the Magnesium is high. The Potassium is low, but not terrible. These are combining to deliver a pH of 6.8, which is great but coming in the side door instead of being the optimal way to make a soil achieve that nice number. We don't want to let the pH rise much farther, so the use of Gypsum is good. If you have a Lowe's nearby, the Sta-Green Rapid Gypsum is a great product for this - at the heavy bag rate every 60-90 days. It will increase the Calcium while displacing some Magnesium. Applying Sulfate of Potash (0-0-50, "SOP") at 2 lbs/K monthly between April - September is how to raise the Potassium.
The Phosphorus levels are very good, and don't require supplementation. Sulfur levels are good, too.
The Iron levels are excellent and available at your current pH. Color should not be a problem.
Sodium levels are higher than I like, and a mild issue. The Gypsum applications will reduce the Sodium, which is good.
In the micronutrients, all is OK with the exception of Boron, Do you want to deal with that now? Let me know.
For Nitrogen, it's up to you to get 1 lb/K of Nitrogen down per month from green-up until Labor Day, and then go to the Fall Nitrogen Regimen(s). If you want help selecting a Nitrogen source, let me know - there are several difference approaches for that.
So, that's it - let me know if you require additional guidance. This isn't a tough plan to execute...
Structurally, the soil is a bit on the sandy side - loam soils start at TEC's of 8, and you're at 7.72. That means that you'll have a bit of an issue with leaching nutrients away, but it shouldn't be a big issue. The OM% at 3.3% is mediocre and can be raised by regular applications of mulched leaves, peat moss and/or compost. The soil will improve a lot if that is done.
In the cations, the Calcium is a bit low and the Magnesium is high. The Potassium is low, but not terrible. These are combining to deliver a pH of 6.8, which is great but coming in the side door instead of being the optimal way to make a soil achieve that nice number. We don't want to let the pH rise much farther, so the use of Gypsum is good. If you have a Lowe's nearby, the Sta-Green Rapid Gypsum is a great product for this - at the heavy bag rate every 60-90 days. It will increase the Calcium while displacing some Magnesium. Applying Sulfate of Potash (0-0-50, "SOP") at 2 lbs/K monthly between April - September is how to raise the Potassium.
The Phosphorus levels are very good, and don't require supplementation. Sulfur levels are good, too.
The Iron levels are excellent and available at your current pH. Color should not be a problem.
Sodium levels are higher than I like, and a mild issue. The Gypsum applications will reduce the Sodium, which is good.
In the micronutrients, all is OK with the exception of Boron, Do you want to deal with that now? Let me know.
For Nitrogen, it's up to you to get 1 lb/K of Nitrogen down per month from green-up until Labor Day, and then go to the Fall Nitrogen Regimen(s). If you want help selecting a Nitrogen source, let me know - there are several difference approaches for that.
So, that's it - let me know if you require additional guidance. This isn't a tough plan to execute...
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: February 14th, 2020, 7:54 am
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- Grass Type: Tall Fescue
- Lawn Size: 5000-10000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Soil conditions
Thanks a million Andy!!!
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: February 14th, 2020, 7:54 am
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Re: Soil conditions
Andy, what should the calcium to magnesium ratio be???
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
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Re: Soil conditions
Optimally, 8.5:1, but definitely between 7:1 and 10:1.
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Re: Soil conditions
Andy, can’t find the sta-green rapid gypsum in my area—— I can find encap fast acting gypsum is this the same product???
- andy10917
- Posts: 29739
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Re: Soil conditions
It's a good product, just typically more expensive
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- Posts: 27
- Joined: February 14th, 2020, 7:54 am
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Re: Soil conditions
Andy, do you know anything about earthworks products??? Landscape supply near me suggested that I use earthworks replenish 3-4-3 to help build up my organic matter???
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