Hi Guys, I built a new house and Im seeding the lot, I picked up a few big sacks of seeds from a farm seed/feed supply store. Grass is starting to grow, is there anything I can do to promote growth as my soil is not the best in the world. I water the from rain water I store in 250gallon water totes going into a pump, is there something I can add to the water to help growth?
- Thread starter Jay87T
- Start date
Do a soil test. A real one. dig a few samples and send to a lab.
Otherwise you're only guessing.
you can add anything and it's probably going to help some aspect of the grass - but you might end up having too much growth without good root development. Have a lab tell you exactly what the soil needs for well balanced, strong growth.
Otherwise you're only guessing.
you can add anything and it's probably going to help some aspect of the grass - but you might end up having too much growth without good root development. Have a lab tell you exactly what the soil needs for well balanced, strong growth.
Dave H (MI)
Well-known Member
This would be THREE for the soil test. When I made my budget for planting this year I did it on what I "thought" would work. Then I sent soil to MSU for testing this Spring. Was able to beat my budget by about $2K just on one field by following their recommendations. I was planning on putting on a lot of unnecessary nutrients.
But you are talking lawn and I don't fertilize there. Just makes it grow more and I have enough to do.
But you are talking lawn and I don't fertilize there. Just makes it grow more and I have enough to do.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
Some one told me that grass likes lime. Yes get soil tested. With acid rain, good chance you will need lime. I just add lime and skip the soil testing. Farmers add Ag lime every few years. So my guess is you will too. Some say that lime will help the nitrogen too.
I'm at the mercy of mother nature. I plant grass, it looks great, no rain, their goes all my efforts. So add water when needed.
I'm at the mercy of mother nature. I plant grass, it looks great, no rain, their goes all my efforts. So add water when needed.
grass doesn't like lime - it likes a soil with a ph level within a certain window.
If the ph isn't right, the grass can't use other nutrients effectively.
It really depends on where you live and the kind of soil you have - in some parts of the country, the soil's too alkaline and adding lime would be the exact opposite of good!
If the ph isn't right, the grass can't use other nutrients effectively.
It really depends on where you live and the kind of soil you have - in some parts of the country, the soil's too alkaline and adding lime would be the exact opposite of good!
notjustair
Well-known Member
Know any farmer putting down granular starter on their fields? A five gallon bucket of that goes a LONG way. Every few years I put a little on the yard when I do the fields. Don't use much - it can be hot. You really need a soil test. If your pH isn't in the right levels all will be for naught. I've never looked into yard pH, but for crops 6.5-7 is a good range. I live with some fields outside that range because some I could pour money on them to death and never get them there. I've got a 5.7 that won't be getting anything to help it. I feel lucky to have it at that.
What do you mean grass doesn't like lime? I put on 1/2 a ton of lime every year and lawn does great. The brown spots behind house is were the wagon loads of wood in the winter. I all so grind all my leaves up as they fall and never rake any of the leaves off the yard.
Tom OConnor
Member
Jay,
It is all relative to how nice a lawn that you want. I will bet that these people know exactly what their ph levels are.
It is all relative to how nice a lawn that you want. I will bet that these people know exactly what their ph levels are.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
If I recall my HS chemistry, ph 7 is neutral. Anything less is an acid and anything more is basic. My adding lime, you are trying to raise the ph number. Farmers put tons of lime on their fields. The guy across the road, had lime applied 3 times last fall before he planted winter wheat.
I've never heard of farmers having too much ph.
I've never heard of farmers having too much ph.
showcrop
Well-known Member
Add K or potash to the water. If your soil is bad as you say it is, You will need a lot of water, and you may end up needing to truck in more loam and start over, because you need organic matter in the soil to retain the water. Sandy soil lets it just run down through. But, since you have to try to make it work, the most important thing is to help your grass to put down roots, to where there is moisture, Potash helps root growth. Potash does not tend to move readily down through the soil when broadcast on the surface, but if you can dissolve it in the water it may penetrate better. You can get K by buying fertilizer where the last number is the highest, as in 4-2-22.
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