Soil samples - how can they improve your lawn and landscape?

The soil is a major factor in the health or disease of your turf grass and landscaping. Soil samples are an analysis of the pH, nutrient level, and organic matter content. Once the results are in you can see what nutrients the soil is deficient in and take the necessary steps to create a healthy foundation for the lawn.

                What actually happens is we take a series of physical samples of the soil around the roots of the grass (or plants, trees) and send it to a lab that specializes in analyzing the sample. They send it back to us with the results and from there we can help determine what needs to be done to the lawn (if anything). The results will include the pH, nutrient content and OM (organic matter) content.

                pH is the measurement of the concentration of hydrogen ions. The ideal pH for grass to grow is slightly acidic (6.3-6.8). If your pH is too low lime can be applied. If the pH is to high sulfur can be applied. Proper pH is critical to the health and appearance of your lawn! If the pH is not ideal the grass can not utilize nutrients, meaning the fertilizer applied to the lawn will not be used by the grass, wasting your money and creating run-off pollution. This goes for Nitrogen, Potassium, Phosphorus as well as the micro nutrients like Iron, Maganeese, Zinc, Copper, and more.

                The nutrients are what you feed your lawn; part of what it needs to grow. Lawns can be deficient in Nitrogen for example, but they also may have an excess because no soil samples have been taken, and they are on a generic fertilizer program. Nutrients interact as well, so do not forget your micro nutrients when looking at the sample. If you have been applying the correct amount of fertilizer and the grass is not doing well, one problem could be lack of micronutrients.

                Organic matter is a wide variety of living and dead materials that come from animals or plants. OM supplies nutrients to the plants, creates a better soil structure, helping to remediate compaction and increase drainage. It also increases the number of micro-organisms. A way to increase organic matter is to top dress the lawn. This involves spreading a thin layer of compost or organic soil right on top of the lawn.

                As you can see, anyone who is serious about creating or maintaining a healthy lawn should understand the soil. To schedule a soil sample, or a lawn application please contact us