3 Lawn Care Resolutions that will GREEN-UP your Lawn & your Wallet!

January 9, 2017

Want to improve the look and health of your turf and spend less money doing it? These lawn care resolutions can greatly improve the appearance of your lawn; more efficiently utilize the products you apply and keep/put more money in your pocket.


RESOLUTION #1: TEST THE SOIL

Not all soil types are created equal, so how do you know you are applying the right nutrients to your lawn? If you don’t know the pH level, nitrogen analysis or nutrient deficiencies of your soil you could be wasting your time and money buying and applying the wrong products. Applying the wrong products or nutrient can significantly reduce the health of your turf and inhibit efficient nutrient uptake and potentially waste your money. In order to have a healthy lawn you must have healthy soil. Soil testing is necessary to find out what your soil needs. In Lawn & Landscapes' article, “Know before you grow,” Jeff Carroll, owner of Jefferson Sustainable Landscape Management states, “People will just pump fertilizer and pump fertilizer … and no one really does soil testing… typically, when doing soil testing, I find that the soil has way too much nitrogen as a result of over fertilizing.” The truth of the matter is, flying blind without a soil test can lead to failed plantings (especially with new seedlings) and a costly waste of fertilizer. Making a habit to soil test will benefit the health of your lawn(s) and your finances by reducing over-application, balancing pH levels for efficient nutrient uptake and save you money by only buying and applying the fertilizer/nutrients needed by your soil.


Pro Testing Tips from CLC LABS in Westerville, Ohio:


  • Sample during the first visit of the season, before you apply any fertilizer. If you've recently applied fertilizer, wait six weeks before taking the sample.
  • Remove any turf and thatch before sampling. If you're unable to do that, you can include the turf and thatch with the soil.
  • If you include turf and thatch in your initial test, be sure to continue including them in future tests for consistency.
  • For turf, use a 3-inch deep sample, but for trees or ornamentals, use a 6-inch sample.
  • Soil testing requires at least 10 to 12 cores for a typical 6,000 square foot lawn so take enough cores or the sample will be too small to test.
  • Use a zig-zag pattern to get a sample that represents the entire area.


RESOLUTION #2: ENSURE YOUR SOIL HAS A NEUTRAL (BALANCED) PH LEVEL

A balanced pH level is necessary for your turf to properly and efficiently take-up nutrients and successfully fight off weeds. When your soil pH level is unbalanced, you could be wasting up to 70% of the effectiveness of your lawn fertilizer or control products. A neutral pH level of 6.0-6.8 is recommended for optimal plant health. If your soil is alkaline (7.0 or higher) you should apply Sulfur, if your soil is acidic (6.0 or lower) you should apply Calcium, which is commonly found in Lime. The addition of an annual application of Sulfur or Calcium (Lime) will improve lawn health and it’s ability to take-up nutrients, which will protect the financial investment you make on fertilizer. Applying a soil amendment to your lawn like Lime will also encourage a stronger root system, return depleted nutrients back to the soil (ex: calcium and magnesium), assist with protecting it against environmental stresses and increase water-holding capacity and retention in drought. When you have successfully balanced the soil pH, the fertilizer you apply is utilized to its full potential and so is your financial investment. For optimum effectiveness, the recommended annual application of soil amendments to balance your pH is spring and/or fall, or anytime your turf could use a quick pick me up. It’s recommended to do a soil test prior to application in order to gage a better understanding of soil health. 

  • NOTE:  Refer to label instructions of soil amendments to determine, when, how much and how often to apply.
A graph showing the levels pH to best apply specific lawn nutrients

 RESOLUTION #3: BUY FERTILIZER BY THE TRUCKLOAD Purchasing fertilizer by the truckload (pick-up truck or 18 wheeler) may be daunting at first but can save you money in the long run. Buying more of the products you need at once can often reduce the total cost per unit, reduce the need to make multiple trips or orders, which can save you on gas, freight and time. Also, you can take the money you save on buying in bulk and upgrade your materials to higher quality products and get more bang for your buck!


For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
 
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service to find a distributor near you.

References:
http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/article/ll0115-soil-health-prep-testing/
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/Facts_about_Soil_E1566.pdf
http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/how-to-save-money-on-landscaping-costs/
http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/design/14-secret-landscaper-tips-and-tricks-pictures
http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/03/18/15-items-always-worth-buying-in-bulk

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