Soil conditions

Learn how improving your soil can lead to a better looking lawn
Trashburner
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Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 14th, 2020, 3:30 pm

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???

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andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 14th, 2020, 4:39 pm

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.

Trashburner
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 14th, 2020, 5:15 pm

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???

Trashburner
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 14th, 2020, 5:21 pm

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

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andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 14th, 2020, 6:00 pm

Sure! Post the test - those rules are for busy season (which it ain't -- temperature going down to 8 degrees here tonight).


Trashburner
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 14th, 2020, 6:05 pm

Feel 4 you, 26 degrees for us!!!

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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 14th, 2020, 6:20 pm

Thanks Andy, I have been wanting you to review my soil test but never got around to it. Thanks man, cheers!!!

Image

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andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 14th, 2020, 6:55 pm

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

Post by Trashburner » February 14th, 2020, 7:11 pm

Old soil test don’t understand, test was done from Logan labs on 2/11/2020????

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andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 14th, 2020, 7:22 pm

Thanks Andy, I have been wanting you to review my soil test but never got around to it.
Oh, sorry! The above line sounded like it had been laying around for a while...

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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 14th, 2020, 7:45 pm

Please review my soul test and tell me what I need to do!!>

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andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 14th, 2020, 8:04 pm

Please review my soul test and tell me what I need to do!!
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. :amen: :amen:

Trashburner
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 15th, 2020, 6:39 am

Sorry Andy, please review my soil test, thanks

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andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 15th, 2020, 10:36 am

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...

Trashburner
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 15th, 2020, 10:58 am

Thanks a million Andy!!!

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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 15th, 2020, 8:58 pm

Andy, what should the calcium to magnesium ratio be???

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andy10917
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 16th, 2020, 9:18 am

Optimally, 8.5:1, but definitely between 7:1 and 10:1.

Trashburner
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 16th, 2020, 4:40 pm

Andy, can’t find the sta-green rapid gypsum in my area—— I can find encap fast acting gypsum is this the same product???

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by andy10917 » February 16th, 2020, 5:41 pm

It's a good product, just typically more expensive

Trashburner
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Re: Soil conditions

Post by Trashburner » February 17th, 2020, 10:51 am

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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