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Logan Labs Soil Test Results & Recommendations Help

10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

I received my soil test results and recommendations back today from Logan Labs. Test results:

Recommendations:

Text from the bottom of the report that was cut off: Total Applications over 6# should be split over a 40-60 day period

Rock phosphate, limes and gypsum can be applied in one application. Sulfur can, if incorporated. Try to incorporate all applications.

Adjust N based on color and growth. On Turf, core aerate prior to fertilizer application. Trace elements might be better dissolved in water and sprayed on.

So I guess my questions from here are: When do I apply these amendments? How often (put everything down over the 40-60 day period)? After I complete the above do I wait a year and retest? Any help is appreciated.


For those who haven't followed my other posts here and here, I am in the St. Louis, MO area and have a Fescue lawn.

Comment (1)

  • 10 years ago

    I really don't like their recommendations for a number of reasons. One, sulfur doesn't work. Surface applied, you'll lose three quarters to outgassing to the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (smog), so thanks for the air pollution. :-) They also recommend some rather difficult or expensive sources (11-52-0, for example). I have monoammonium phosphate on hand. You almost certainly don't. And so on. The zinc and copper aren't necessary, both levels are perfectly reasonable in your soil.

    In the below, I've assumed you have a northern lawn. If that's incorrect, this will still work, but southern lawns would benefit from a slightly different schedule.

    ME 22.9: This is a little overinflated by your excess calcium, which results in an ME that's somewhat high. I'm using a standard of 15 for soil applications as it's safe to do so.

    pH 7.6: Kind of high, but get used to it. There's not terribly much you can do about it (as mentioned, surface applied sulfur does not work very well). Fortunately, lawns are extremely tolerant of a pH in this range, although color will suffer a bit.

    OM 5.5%: In the Good range, so no specific work needs to be done here.

    Sulfur 13: Well within normal range.

    Phosphorus 147: While a bit low, it's nothing extreme and unlikely to be causing much in the way of visible problems. Still, with your pH, I'd really prefer this to be in the 260 range (higher pH levels inhibit phosphorus release). We use good old-fashioned starter fertilizer to do this--just get the cheapest as they all work the same. Recommendations below.

    Calcium 80.8%: High, but not a problem, and almost impossible to dispel. Certainly avoid any calcium sources.

    Magnesium 12.9%: On paper, a tad low. In reality, it's just fine--your very high Ca levels are masking some of the Mg in your soil. Your plants have no trouble getting all the magnesium they need, and then some. Don't add more.

    Potassium 1.8%: This is short on paper, and looks shorter in the soil than it really is. It should be enhanced, but not quite to the levels their recommendations listed. We use potassium sulfate (sulfate of potash) for this, which some garden stores and landscape places carry--or they'll order it for you. Recommendations below.

    Minor Elements: Fine, but I do mention iron and boron below.

    Iron 110: Just fine and not a problem, but it won't produce the best color at a pH of 7.6. Whenever you like, you can apply Milorganite at the bag rate to very slowly raise this.

    Boron 0.55: A tad low. This won't be an issue, but I would like to correct it. We use Milorganite as a carrier and 20 Mule Team Borax as the boron source. You can purchase 20 Mules at the grocery store in the laundry section. In a wheelbarrow or the like, dump the Milo. Spraying very, very lightly with water (I use a spray bottle like the kind people use to damp their clothes when they iron) will help the boron stick. Add the recommended amount of 20 Mule Team Borax and stir, spraying occasionally to get the stuff to stick to the Milo. Then apply over the recommended area. So if going for bag rate Milorganite (1 bag per 2,500 square feet), you'd add 7.5 tablespoons of 20 Mule Team Borax.

    Recommendations:

    May 10: Apply 3 pounds of potassium sulfate per thousand square feet.

    Memorial Day: Feed the lawn with starter fertilizer at the bag rate.

    June 15: Apply 3 tablespoons per thousand square feet (not a misprint!) of 20 Mule Team Borax.

    Labor Day: Feed the lawn with starter fertilizer at the bag rate.

    October 1: Feed the lawn with starter fertilizer at the bag rate.

    October 15: Apply 2 pounds of potassium sulfate per thousand square feet.