To be successful in taking an all natural or organic approach to maintaining turf grass it is best to establish a baseline of your soil’s quality. Taking a soil sample and sending it to a lab for chemical analysis is key. Armed with the soil test results you’re suspicions will be confirmed or at the very least you will know what to add to the soil.
Information you want to be sure your lab can provide includes:
- organic matter
- available phosphorous
- exchangeable potassium, magnesium, calcium & hydrogen
- soil pH
- buffer index
- cation exchange capacity
- percent base saturation of cation elements
You may be asking why the above is important?
- organic matter – ideally in 5 – 7% range; carbon source to feed the beneficial microbes
- available phosphorous – too high and your likely to see weed pressure from crabgrass & other annual weeds
- exchangeable potassium, magnesium, calcium & hydrogen – of particular importance is Ca:Mg ratio, 7:1 – 10:1 range, low levels of calcium and high levels of magnesium tend towards greater weed pressure and compaction. Also helps determine proper liming material if need (calcitic or dolomitic limestone)
- soil pH – 6.5 – 6.8 to encourage growth of grass, nutrient availablility
- buffer index – how much lime might be necessary
- cation exchange capacity – >6 or you’ll have difficulty growing grass, soil just won’t hold nutrients
- percent base saturation – are the cations in the proper relationship according to the Albrecht method to deliver a healthy crop of grass?