Organic Lawns for America

Soil Testing

 

Why Soil Test?

Knowing the nutrient content and pH of your soil is the first step of a working lawn care program. Lawns are grown on a wide variety of soil types and fertilizer requirements can vary greatly depending on what's going on in the soil.

Many nutrients tend to be over-applied resulting in imbalances in the soil and harmful effects on the environment. An excess of nitrogen can cause leaching and groundwater contamination or contamination of waterways from run-off. Many current fertilizers no longer contain phosphorus because it binds with the soil, and years of needless applications have virtually eliminated the need to apply phosphorus to a lawn ever again.

What is Soil pH?

A soil's pH is the measure of its alkalinity or acidity based on a scale from 0 to 14. Zero represents harsh acidity, fourteen is extreme alkalinity, with seven being neutral. The pH of a lawn's soil should be in the 6.0 - 7.5 range. If pH becomes imbalanced, it can directly affect the availability of nutrients in the soil. Limestone derived products are applied to soil that is acidic(sour), while alkaline(sweet) soils require applications of sulfur products. Adjusting the pH of your soil may take several years but is crucial for proper nutrient uptake and plant health.

The link below will bring you to an example of the soil test that we use at Organic Lawns for America.  Please check it out!

Download Soil test

What do I do with the leaves on my lawn?

If raking leaves has become a hassle, simply convert your leaves to mulch by attaching a materials collection system to your mower, or use mower deck systems that mulch the leaves and blow them right back into the turf. These mulching mower decks enable you to leave your rake in the garage and avoid bagging leaves. Even better, the mulched leaves provide a nutrient-rich boost to the soil.

However, make sure you mow often enough that the leaves are not creating a cover on your lawn.  In other words, you probably cant get out of raking completely.  If the leaves begin to build up on your lawn, even a little bit, you will be blocking sunlight and oxygen from reaching your grass and this is bad.