Soil Samples

[buckshot721]

Having tried w/o luck to grow a nice cover of grass on the front lawn, bought a soil sample kit that tests for PH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash. Ph and Potash were good, but it shows depleted phosphorus and nitrogen. My question is do I try to lay anything down now or wait till spring. (Michigan) Also what if anything should I use?

 

[Western]

Buckshot, those kits are fine, but for round $20, your state AG Dept should test your soil and they will give you specific recommendations as per type of grass/crop you intend to grow and for your area. A good place to start is your local Agricultural extension agent or similar.

As a "shot gun " approach, you could use a triple 13 or 13-13-13, (if going to use the certified testing, get samples and wait for recommendations) You definately want to go ahead a fertilize now for fall, it takes some time for PotAsh and Phosphorous to penetrate the ground. Aeration can also help your yard, helps the fertilizers and moisture get into the ground, ever been on a golf course? You will use more Nitrogen this spring (higher amounts) for greening and grass health.

 

[CBW1999]

Buckshot, those kits are fine, but for round $20, your state AG Dept should test your soil and they will give you specific recommendations as per type of grass/crop you intend to grow and for your area. A good place to start is your local Agricultural extension agent or similar.

As a "shot gun " approach, you could use a triple 13 or 13-13-13, (if going to use the certified testing, get samples and wait for recommendations) You definately want to go ahead a fertilize now for fall, it takes some time for PotAsh and Phosphorous to penetrate the ground. Aeration can also help your yard, helps the fertilizers and moisture get into the ground, ever been on a golf course? You will use more Nitrogen this spring (higher amounts) for greening and grass health.

Couldn't agree more with using the 'professional" testing service. Here, it is run through the extension service at the University of Vermont. Money well spent IMHO. Unfortunately, I didn't go that route.

I am recovering from the "shotgun" approach currently. It started with buying one of the test kits and doing it myself. Wasn't convinced of the results so I brought it to a local farm store that tests for free. Based on the numbers they wrote down as the results, I went to the fertilizer plant and was told triple 15 would "fix it right up".

All sorts of problems this year.......

From my experience, I would use the State/certified testing as it is available in your area. Wait for their results and recommendations on what and when to do it. As Western pointed out- some components need time to release into the soil and, aeration and proper drainage are important too.

best wishes!

 

[Fossil Farm]

Having tried w/o luck to grow a nice cover of grass on the front lawn

Some information on what was there previously would help. Did you add fill dirt to level out your yard, regrade, etc. just so we have an idea of why it may have failed (except for no water or mulch cover of course). N-P-K levels and pH testing are important, just need to let the testing service know what was there previously to get better results for you.

 

[buckshot721]

Yes I did have 10 yards of extra top soil I used to level out the areas. Did not use the whole 10 on the lawn. The area can grow weeds well but grass growth is sparse.

 

[Fossil Farm]

There are some herbicides that can kill or injure grass seed. It does not happen very often, but once in a while you can get a load of topsoil that somehow got treated and it may take a few months for the herbicide to dissipate from the load and allow the grass seed to germinate properly. Hopefully that is not the case and just adding the proper nutrients from the soil tests will get you a good looking lawn. Good luck.

 

[HarryN]

Do you have a lot of trees in your yard?

 

[buckshot721]

We use to have 4 large pines in the yard till the tornado last year.

 

[Western]

We use to have 4 large pines in the yard till the tornado last year.

You may have some high PH soil then, how deep was the topsoil you put on? I'd still get a sample from multiple areas in your yard, take it from 6" deep in several spots mix it in a clean 5 gal. bucket, pick out all the leaves ,twigs ect tra and you have a good soil sample to send. I would spend the $20 before I spent a few $100 on seed, fertilizer and frustration. You may need lime.

 

[gleaner000]

they are right.
pull a grid on the area.
pull a sample every 50 feet wide. mix in a bucket for each row of samples
then run to your local msu extension office to drop them off.
if its 100' wide, do 2 samples for every 50'
samples are 20 bucks or so
and accurate.
lime this fall and work it in if u can