MARIETTA, Ga. - Soil is the foundation of a healthy lawn. Therefore, one of the first steps in any lawn care program is to develop a healthy soil.
While there are several ways to ensure a healthy soil - including fertilization, liming and aeration - the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) said soil testing should be done soil periodically to determine its pH (acidity/alkalinity balance) and nutrient status. PLCAA suggests this practice because a lawn's health is only as good as the soil it grows in.
According to turfgrass agronomist Dr. Chuck Darrah, CLC LABS, Westerville, Ohio, "A soil test can reveal a lot. It can tell whether the soil is acidic or alkaline and show whether levels of phosphorous and potassium are deficient or acceptable."
Darrah likened the soil test to a routine check up. "A soil test is a series of tests run on your soil to see if everything is OK for the type of grass being grown," he explained. "It's like part of a 'physical exam' for the lawn. It shows [a] lawn care company what 'shape' a lawn is in and what to prescribe to correct any deficiencies."
Darrah cites the following reasons for testing soil:
- Every university recommends soil testing.
- A soil test is environmentally responsible.
- Most soils aren't perfect for growing a good lawn. Soils can be markedly different within a community. They can often vary from the backyard to the front yard of a single property.
- Soils constantly undergo change. The quantity and availability of plant nutrients in the soil changes as a result of clipping removal and/or the addition of fertilizer or soil amendments, like compost.
- A soil test is an important measure of the soil's ability to supply nutrient elements needed for good plant growth.
- The benefits of maintenance fertilization programs are often wasted if minimum nutrient and pH needs are not addressed by soil testing and corrective applications.
"While it is true that great-looking lawns can be produced with the right nitrogen program," said Darrah, "long-term plant health cannot be assured unless other nutrients are present in at least minimum levels and the soil pH is near the optimum range for the plant."
For more information about PLCAA visit www.plcaa.org.
