Your lawn needs nutrients to grow and thrive, just like almost everything else in the world. The type of soil that your lawn draws their sustenance is an important factor because soils have different levels of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and other nutrients. Over time, your plants and lawn will use up all of the available nutrients in the ground. This process leaves your lawn empty and your lawn will become malnourished, weaken, and grow brown as well.
In order to prevent this problem, you can introduce fresh nutrients to your ground by using soil amendments and fertilizers. Do you need to know what soil amendments and fertilizers are right for your lawn? No problem! You will want to conduct a simple soil test in early spring. Why early spring? If you add amendments early enough, you will be preparing your lawn before the grass grows up and gearing up for the hot summer months to come when lawns are their most lush.
Soil tests can vary, but below are some of the most basic features summarized from HobbyLawnCare.com:
“Clear the thatch and grass over a spot in your lawn that’s representative of the overall condition of the area – you don’t want to sample the odd spots in your yard, like the soil right next to a road, sewage pipe or compost pile. Dig an angled hole in the soil three inches deep, then slice off a one inch thick slice of soil from the edge of the hole. Dump the slice of ground into a clean plastic bucket.
Take 10 or more soil samples from throughout your lawn, strenuously avoiding those odd areas the entire time. Dump all the samples into the same bucket, then mix the soil in the bucket together to create a composite sample. Pluck out any rocks or roots you find while you’re mixing the soil.
Next, you’ll want to check your cooperative extension’s website to see how much soil and exactly what paperwork is needed to have the sample tested. Seal the appropriate amount of soil into a plastic bag and complete the required paperwork, then either mail the sample to the testing lab or bring it directly to a cooperative extension office. You may need to include a check covering the cost of the service.
Testing can take a couple of days, a couple of weeks or a couple of months, depending on the lab and its workload. The results of the test will show you what nutrients your lawn lacks, and some even suggest particular amendments and application rates. If you need to lime or add compost to your lawn, the results will let you know. If the ground’s lacking phosphorus, the results will let you know. If your soil’s pH is out of whack, the results will let you know!”
