OT: Soil samples sent to MSU soil lab

[civildawg88]

Has anyone sent soil samples to the MSU soil lab here? My lawn is not performing like I want it to and someone recommended this to me. Just wondering if anyone has had experience doing this. Thanks,

 

[Mr Todd French]

Very helpful. Let's you know exactly what and when to put on you lawn. Lots of people just trow out weed and feed a couple time a year and the some lime. They will break it down much better for you

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

BioLogic is another great option. link

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

Yes, send them every few years for my wildlife food plots. I usually pick up some sample boxes from the MAFES agent in the county to mail the sample in, but I guess any small box will work.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Yes, thousands of acres worth. They can tell exactly what you need and like someone else said, I imagine it's a lime issue. If that is the case, I would wait until fall or even winter to put it out. It's not going to help you much for this season.

 

[mstateglfr]

Based on all the lawn issue threads here over the last few years, I cant imagine having to deal with southern c4 grasses.

Give me a nice KYBlue/Tall Fescue/Fine Fescue mix. I plugged the yard 3 years ago and have only popped out a few dozen dandelions each spring since. Just mow. Keep it as minimal as possible.

 

[moturfdog]

Depends on where you call home.
Your KYblue/Tall Fescue/Fine fescue will look like total brown *** death anywhere in Mississippi on or before July 1st and not even think about recovering until late October.

 

[drofdirt]

moturfdog - think you probably meant on or after July 1, but the sweeping generality isn't totally correct anyway. A turf-type tall fescue will do very well under shady conditions in Mississippi with proper management, and will provide a green vegetative surface cover all year round. But it does require that you stay on top of the management. And in response to the original question, the soil testing lab at MSU Extension is an excellent source of information that will assist a home owner in the management of their lawn. This year has seen some very unusual weather conditions here in MS, and there is a lot of disease pressure in a lot of lawns because of the stress to the grass. So that is something else you may need to consider in trying to restore your lawn to an acceptable level of appearance.

 

[moturfdog]

Sorry for the sweeping generality, drofdirt, but in response to golfers sweeping generality of just mow and keep it minimal as possible I do not agree that a cool season grass would be suitable for a southern lawn. Do you not agree?
Regardless of the results of the soil test it would be easier and more environmentally sound to manage a warm season grass give the local???

 

[mstateglfr]

Sorry- I wasn't close to being clear enough- I live in Iowa, which is why I can get away with the grasses I mentioned and also why I mentioned I couldn't imagine dealing with the c4 southern grasses(if I lived in an area that required them).
I understand they aren't(for the most part) an option across MS and the surrounding East/West states.

My original post was basically meant to be- 'wow I am glad I don't have to deal with that based on where I live because it sounds like a hassle'.
Between the invasiveness, the thinning issues, the disease susceptibility, the insect infestation, the drought/dormant issues, etc- it seems that anyone with a well manicured lawn free of disease and insects is a true green thumb, especially if they don't apply chemicals. Speaking of- There have been more than a few threads on here about chems meant to help improve turf health killing lawns.


I had the pleasure of struggling big time in a turf class taught by Dr Goatley(shortly before he headed to VT). Wow that class was a mindblow- It was some upperlevel class that I was required to take, and it was all math/science based. A few buddies and I used to laugh at how unprepared and overwhelming it was since we were walking into something that everyone else had background knowledge of. But it was also an incredibly beneficial class- I learned about characteristics of all northern and southern grasses, how grasses work as plants, how to identify about 50 different turf weeds(using their latin names), and did a bunch of real world applied geometry and math.
Fantastic class- now that I am not in it and am years removed from going thru it.
That course gave me a serious appreciation for those who can manage turf on a large scale while minimizing chemicals. Incredible, really.

 

[moturfdog]

I assume you were a PGM student?
Are you still in the golf industry; the down turn in the past six to seven years has been tough?

 

[mstateglfr]

I was a PGMer

I am not in the industry anymore. I got out when I couldn't justify a college degree plus what amounts to another degree due to the classwork and testing from the PGA- all for a seasonal job where I am laid off each year. I do regret not pursuing a path that focused on youth development, but those positions are few and far between overall.

All my buddies that made it thru with me are still in the industry- I am the only one to bolt for office life. Most of them are in traditional course positions where they manage the shop, staff, and teach. A few are at GolfTec which is a nationwide company that does off-course tech based swing teaching.

The downturn in play since the '08 financial crash has hurt- a couple of them have essentially permanently reduced staff and one is at a course that did a major change to their turf management schedule and rotation. Playing conditions aren't as consistent/impressive as before, but they had to for budgeting.



You on the turf side, I assume?

 

[moturfdog]

Yep, budget down turns are the rule of the day; been on the superintendent end of it for 28 years and try to think of viable career options all the time.
FYI Dick's sporting goods just laid off over 400 pga professionals, they must think that golf is losing or that it is not profitable enough to have a knowledgeable sales force push it.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Darren Rovell took note.

http://deadspin.com/and-now-a-livley-interaction-between-darren-rovell-and-1609128107