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After reading Mariners post on soil testing, I got to thinking and I would appreciate input on the following:
The dictionary tells us that Ph is a measure of acidity and alkalinity of a solution that is a number on a scale from 0 to 14, with a value of 7 representing neutrality.
To have a good lawn you need a good Ph to establish a good fertility in the soil.
The first step in establishing a quality lawn is to determine the fertility level of the soil you're working with. A soil test is the best way to do this.
Soil testing and fertilizer application also cannot overcome problems associated with excess shade, thatch, or improper management, physical problems related to the plant root system, this includes: low areas in the lawn where there is excess soil moisture or compacted areas that do not allow adequate water and air movement in the soil. Turf grasses require a number of nutrients for growth. Three of these are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, these are rarely lacking because of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and water in the soil.
Three important nutrients needed by lawns are: (N) nitrogen, (P) phosphorus, and (K) potassium, these are called "macronutrients", and are usually supplied by fertilizers and called fertilizer elements.
Nitrogen = helps give lawns green color and stimulates growth.
Phosphorus = is needed for root growth and is important for turf grass establishment.
Potassium = is second to nitrogen in the amount necessary for growth. It helps promote disease resistance, winter hardiness, and drought and traffic tolerance.
Soil Acidity, is a factor that affects grass growth. It is measured in terms of a PH scale. Any number below 7 represents an acid soil, the lower the number the more the acid. Numbers above 7 denote an alkaline soil condition. Most turf grasses will grow with a ph between 6.0 and 6.5, some will not. Soils in good physical condition contain the approximate ratio of water, air, mineral and organic matter. Such soils promote good deep root development.
Abscence of having a soil sample done on a lawn, and send to the county extension agent, what do you folks do to help in analyzing the needs of a lawn. Or do you buy a soil test kit. Or do you look for certain signs in the lawn.
The dictionary tells us that Ph is a measure of acidity and alkalinity of a solution that is a number on a scale from 0 to 14, with a value of 7 representing neutrality.
To have a good lawn you need a good Ph to establish a good fertility in the soil.
The first step in establishing a quality lawn is to determine the fertility level of the soil you're working with. A soil test is the best way to do this.
Soil testing and fertilizer application also cannot overcome problems associated with excess shade, thatch, or improper management, physical problems related to the plant root system, this includes: low areas in the lawn where there is excess soil moisture or compacted areas that do not allow adequate water and air movement in the soil. Turf grasses require a number of nutrients for growth. Three of these are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, these are rarely lacking because of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and water in the soil.
Three important nutrients needed by lawns are: (N) nitrogen, (P) phosphorus, and (K) potassium, these are called "macronutrients", and are usually supplied by fertilizers and called fertilizer elements.
Nitrogen = helps give lawns green color and stimulates growth.
Phosphorus = is needed for root growth and is important for turf grass establishment.
Potassium = is second to nitrogen in the amount necessary for growth. It helps promote disease resistance, winter hardiness, and drought and traffic tolerance.
Soil Acidity, is a factor that affects grass growth. It is measured in terms of a PH scale. Any number below 7 represents an acid soil, the lower the number the more the acid. Numbers above 7 denote an alkaline soil condition. Most turf grasses will grow with a ph between 6.0 and 6.5, some will not. Soils in good physical condition contain the approximate ratio of water, air, mineral and organic matter. Such soils promote good deep root development.
Abscence of having a soil sample done on a lawn, and send to the county extension agent, what do you folks do to help in analyzing the needs of a lawn. Or do you buy a soil test kit. Or do you look for certain signs in the lawn.
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