Soil Testing
Lawn Soil Testing in Shelby Township, MI
Master Gardener Lawn Care offers soil testing services to customers in Macomb County, Michigan. We partner with the lab at Michigan State University to conduct our soil tests. Our team will come to your property, collect the samples, and send them to MSU for testing at a cost of $45. Once the results are available, we will explain them to you and make recommendations for any necessary adjustments to your program. Alternatively, if you prefer to conduct the test yourself, you can contact the MSU extension office in either Macomb County or Oakland County. In this case, please provide us with a copy of the results so that we can make any necessary adjustments to your program.
About Soil Testing
The best lawns and gardens tend to have one thing in common, great soil. Testing the soil in your lawn is a relatively inexpensive task and will allow you to adjust the fertilizing program for your turf.
The soil testing kit can analyze the soil to diagnose the pH level, soil type, amount of organic material, how much salt is in the soil, and any deficiencies in the nutrient levels that may exist. This will assist you and your Michigan lawn fertilizing service in making the correct decisions regarding the addition of any supplemental application.
All this involves is simply digging up a soil sample from each area to be tested, seal it in a bag and ship it to the lab. After a short wait, you will receive easy-to-understand test results, along with guidelines for any needed soil improvements.
The only way to be certain which nutrients are lacking in your lawn is to carry out a soil test. Without the benefits that you would be gaining from using soil test kits, you could be applying too much, too little, or the wrong nutrients
Two of the items that Master Gardener Lawn Care looks at very closely are the pH and organic matter. A high pH over 7.0 means the soil is alkaline or sweet and needs acidic amendments such as sulfur to reduce the alkalinity. A low pH is under 7.0. The ideal is a soil in the (6.5-6.8) range.
Please note that the majority of soil tests that we have performed in our area have had a high pH. Do not use lime until you have your soil tested! The best way to determine the pH of your soil is through soil pH kits or by sending a soil sample to a soil testing lab. If it’s too low you add lime to bring it up. If it’s too high you add gypsum to bring it down.
Also note, that in the areas of new development (homes under 10 years old) and on clay subsoil, we see very low organic matter. This also has a very negative effect on the turf’s health. Anything you can do to add organic matter will greatly improve the overall appearance and health of your lawn. We have a few Master Gardener secrets that will greatly help so reach out to our expert lawn care team to learn more about our soil testing services!
For more information, questions about our soil tests or to book an appointment contact Master Gardener Lawn Care in Shelby Township and nearby cities.
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