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Soil Testing Is a Great Tool in Growing a Beautiful, Healthy Lawn

Soil Testing — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:29:34 +0000

In today’s economy, having a beautiful lawn would not seem to be a homeowner’s priority. But consider what a green, healthy lawn can do for you …

-    improves your home’s value – curb appeal is absolutely necessary for selling
-    maintains your home’s worth if you are not planning to move
-    encourages you to enjoy your yard and use the full potential of your lot
-    saves money by limiting fertilizers and pesticides – these aren’t regularly needed when your plants and lawns are healthy.

One of the best tools you have at your disposal is soil analysis from soil testing companies such as Midwest Labs.

Soil testing can tell you:

1) Physical ingredients in your soil. Soil across the world is made up of three primary components, and the percentages of each are a factor in growing a healthy lawn:

* Clay
* Silt* Sand

The ideal soil for lawns is called “loam,” which is 40 percent sand, 20 percent clay, and 40 percent silt.

2) Consumers can also opt for contaminated soil testing. Options may include examining for harmful substances as lead.

3) Chemical imbalance. The overuse of chemical pesticides or fertilizers has been an environmental concern for years. Improving the balance of the fertilizing chemicals in the lawn, makes for healthier grass, but also puts less fertilizers into the environment.

Midwest Labs professional soil testing can offer more practical information on how to make improvements. Reasonable recommendations can be made to help you easily develop a green, beautiful lawn.

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Soil Testing Needed Before You Fertilize

Soil Testing — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:21:52 +0000

Instead of taking your best guess at fertilizing, use soil testing to scientifically determine which minerals and nutrients are needed in your soil. Different plants require different nutrients, and your soil will change from year to year.

Several nutrients are absolutely essential for proper plant growth. Equally as important is the pH level. Midwest Labs soil testing lab will advise the proper fertilizer and or lime you need to use, and they will help you to not over-fertilize your plants. Over-fertilization:

1.    is a waste of money,
2.    can lead to burnt, overgrown plants with maturation problems
3.    is bad for the environment.

Your soil testing results will report the pH level as well as levels of:

1.    phosphate,
2.    potassium,
3.    manganese,
4.    calcium,
5.    zinc
6.    and magnesium.

Based on the testing results, the soil testing lab will recommend the fertilizer you should use for optimum plant growth.

Soil Testing for Traditional or Organic Methods – Test 2-3 Months Before Planting

Soil Testing — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:35:47 +0000

The best time to take samples for soil analysis is 2-3 months before you seed your fields or plant your garden. This ensures that you’ll have enough time to get your results and make changes by adding fertilizers, lime or compost. The soil takes time to react with the chemicals, so retesting after applying treatments is often a good idea.

An analysis from soil testing lab, Midwest Labs, includes levels of key nutrients that are essential for your plants’ proper development. For instance, the typical test will determine the current levels of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese in your samples.

Once the testing is complete, a recommendation will be made about the best type of fertilizer to use for the specific types of plants you intend to sow.

For traditional growing methods, a customized analysis of your garden or farm fields ensures that you won’t waste money on over-fertilization, or worse yet: do your plants physical harm by adding too many chemicals.

For organic growers, the test will suggest what nutrient minerals are lacking. This will help you determine what organic mulch may be necessary. You can use compost as an alternative to fertilizers. If you opt to use this option or the chemical option, a soil testing lab is the best resource you have to optimize the success of your crops and gardens.

Soil Testing May Need Testing the Manure First

Soil Testing — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:35:47 +0000

One of the most nutrient-rich substances a farmer or gardener can use is manure, but not all manure is created equal.

Manure varied in nutrient content and in contamination levels – contaminated by microbiological pathogens or heavy metals in the environment. Because this variety is significant, it is just as important to test the manure you will be using as it is to test your soil.

Usually, samples of manure are sent to the lab, and then dried by the lab before testing. Their results are sometimes reported in a dry-weight measurement … just something to keep in mind when you receive results back from the soil testing lab.

You can sample manure either before or during hauling. If you sample before hauling, the results can help you to determine this year’s proper application rates. However, this is not always an easy process.

Sampling during hauling will be more accurate since the substances have had the chance to settle. It will also be faster and easier to obtain the samples. However, you’ll only be able to tell what nutrients the plants have already obtained if you gather the samples during the application process. The testing will still let you know what the plants were given in the fertilizer, and it will be a good gauge for next year’s planting.