Soil Analysis: Testing Soil for Optimal Growth

Vitamins and other supplements can keep you healthy, but they can also help your lawn and garden. You wouldn’t take nutrients you don’t require; your doctor would run tests to find the best for you. Think of landscaping specialists as your “green doctor” on call. We can provide lawn and garden tips based on soil testing results. Get your garden tested for soil analysis now to ensure the optimal growth of your plants.

Broadcasting fertilizers randomly can cause more damage than good, as different soils can have different nutrient compositions. You can harm your lawn by using more fertilizer than your lawn needs. Many people believe that more nitrogen is better for greening up a yard. However, excessive nitrogen, a key ingredient in lawn fertilizers, can cause a condition called “brown patches,” which causes the same symptoms as its name.

Soil Analysis

For healthy plant growth, there are 18 essential nutrients. The air supplies three nutrients: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The soil must provide the remaining 15 nutrients. This aspect is the primary function of plant roots: it absorbs the essential elements that a plant requires. A soil test is a way to determine the level of nutrients in the soil and tell you if there are any deficiencies or excesses. It can also help you choose the right fertilizer for your lawn and garden to correct any faults.

Primary Plant Nutrients

The Big Three, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium, are nutrients plants require in higher quantities than other elements. They are called macronutrients. These numbers are shown on fertilizer bags as the number 10-10-10. However, fertilizer mixes can contain micronutrients essential for healthy plants but only in trace quantities.

The Problem with pH

Your lawn and plants might not be able to absorb fertilizer even if you follow the soil-test recommendations. The pH of the soil is the key to unlocking the availability of these nutrients. The pH of the earth is simply a measure of its acidity or basicity. If the pH isn’t balanced correctly, it can prevent plant roots from taking in nutrients even though they are in the soil. Landscaping specialists, such as affordable landscaping Mashpee MA, can assist you with lawn tips to help you choose the right turfgrass type for both your growing area and your soil type.

Soil Analysis Tips

• Before you plant or grow, make sure the soil is tested. If you have warm-season turfgrass, it is best to test the ground in the fall and winter. This action gives you time to apply fertilizer to your garden or lawn and to fully incorporate the soil into the soil for optimal plant growth.
• Test your soil every two to three years to see if the nutrient levels are within or close to normal. However, if you notice that some nutrients are too high or low in your soil, it is worth testing every year to ensure that the results remain within acceptable limits.
• Set your fertilizer spread settings correctly for maximum coverage and to avoid burning plants.