How to do soil test?

studawg66 – posted 08 April 2005 09:40

I hear lots of discussion about soil test results and recommendations on this forum. So how do I get a soil test and see how my bermudagrass lawn is fairing? What is the cost? How frequently do you do these tests?

For the record, the lawn is doing well, but the last year or so has given me more weeds than ever before. I still treat it with varieties of 24D, mecoprop, dicamba and fertilize somewhat regularly. It just seems like this year the clover and henbit have been much worse, and the onions have been AWFUL in the back yard.So I am thinking that a soil test might clue me in to an underlying problem (pun intended).

Any suggestions are appreciated.

ted – posted 08 April 2005 12:28

just take small scoops up with a knife or something. you can take it to a county ag agent, if you’re not in a metropolitan area. although the ph affects grass quality, it won’t have anything directly to do with the weed problems. the 24d should work on the henbit- you’ll need to add mcpp for the clover.

cohiba – posted 08 April 2005 19:33

Ted is right. Weeds have little to do with soil test results.If you have your soil tested, and find some shortcomings, you can adjust your maintenance program to correct those problems. This, in turn will produce better quality turf and will allow the turf to suppress weed growth. You can retest yearly to assure yourself that your new programm is working or see if it is not working. If you are happy with your turf there is no need to retest. We retest on a 3 year cycle. Every three years every part of the course gets tested and compared to previous test results. That information is used to “tweak” our maintenance programs. Costs I have seen are from a low of $6.00 to over $22.00. Depending on what tests you have done.

Good Luck and Take Care…………….

studawg66 – posted 16 April 2005 08:12

Thanks, guys.If it is not going to help the weed problem, I will probably not worry about it. My weed problem goes away with treatment and hot weather, I would just like for them to stop popping up in late fall and early spring. Maybe I need to be more aggressive with a preemergent in September.Thanks for the pointers!

ted – posted 16 April 2005 13:12

what he’s saying is that if you have a healthy lawn thru proper soil testing you won’t have as many weeds.

gco – posted 23 April 2005 18:42

Thank you very much. It’s great to know I didn’t kill the grass. I will double check the spread rate. Thank you again for the advice.