[cutntrim]

How often are you guys doing soil tests? Problem lawns only? New customers before you start a program? Annually at each customer property?

Are you using custom blended fertilizers as a result of the test results? I've got an account set up with a soil testing facility, but haven't submitted any soil samples to date.

[GLAN]

I do home testing for the basics

I only do it on suspect lawns and or when I start a new lawn and I don't trust what the owner has told me about past maintenance.

[Hamons]

I soil test every account annually. I then supplement my base program by what the soil test shows.

So the soil test shows that I need more K -- then I supplement with more K during one or more of my applications.

Sometimes it is just with more of the same fertilizer or sometimes I use different fertilizers. Depends ont he results.

[NC Lawnscapes]

Basically the same here as Hamons does but before you send off to that testing facility check with your local extension Office and see if they dont offfer soil testing for free as they do here in NC

They even supply the supplies to mail the samples off

[cutntrim]

Unfortunately they charge for that service here...especially if they're getting samples from 75+ properties all at once.

[GLAN]

Same here with the extension......get like 2 or so Free being a Commercial member.....after that they charge per submission.

I'll tell ya though......the home tests work,

Look at this

http://www.benmeadows.com/store/dept.asp?dept_id=3643


One of these is all you need

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/pr...ge.asp?id=3063

[cutntrim]

I was thinking that I might purchase a home kit, take some samples and test them myself. Then send them along to the soil lab and compare the results to find out the accuracy of my at-home testing.

[GLAN]

My extension does on the spot or relatively immediate basic testing...........using the same as I do at home



Back in College we used the same thing



Want or need precise....then send to a lab and pay them.

Other than that I can get paid from my customer for my own testing if I chose to.

[NC Lawnscapes]

I have home test i keep in the truck to test the PH in soil come to think about it only 1 dollar a piece at the big box store and can help you to decide weather or not to plant this plant or that plant here or there

[Hamons]

Ya'll must be smarter than me. I can't tell from a simple home test what a lawn needs.

How do you tell wheter to dolomitic or calcitic lime?
How do figure rate of application of different elements?
What does your home soil test show you?

[GroundKprs]

I agree with Jeff. I never even attempted self analyzing kits. Oldtimers in the biz years ago told me the minimal data you could get on your own was not worth the time you spent. You lose money on just a basic NPK test when you compare your time to the cost of a lab test.

Only reason for a test kit would be getting some onsite instant readings. I have found the Kelway to give very accurate pH readings just to quickly assess a site.

[GLAN]

The larger kits can test for Calcium and Magnesium

PH is a range.......Truf et al. have a range of PH that they prefer....so it's not absolutely necessary to have a precise number

[timturf]

Originally posted by Hamons
Ya'll must be smarter than me. I can't tell from a simple home test what a lawn needs.

How do you tell wheter to dolomitic or calcitic lime?
How do figure rate of application of different elements?
What does your home soil test show you?

depends on the base saturation of calcium and magnesium as to which lime to use. cec will determine the rate!

just spend the 8-16 dollars and get a quality soil test!

[Hamons]

I knew the REASONS to use dolomitic or calcitic -- I just don't know - or care to know - the mathematical equations necessary to figure it out.

What labs do people use?

In the past I used spectrum analytic --

This year I am going to try MDS Harris labs.

[timturf]

Is mds harris labs in nebraska? Many years ago, when sending in soil samples thru scotts, they went to harris labs in nebraska. Are they the same lab? How to contact them?

tim