Quote:
Originally Posted by Buffalo Jim
Is there a service provider who will regularly actually analyze your soil and identify the correct mix of chemicals it requires to keep it disease free and healthy [ including pest control ] ?
It appears that most service providers claim that they treat your lawn based on specific analysis however it has been my experience that in reality they are all about getting in and out asap
When I purchased the new build 1 year ago I was fortunate to have beautiful , thick healthy Zoysia Grass . However after 1 year of a so called " Full Maintenance Service Contract " from one of the largest service providers my lawn has become an eyesore .
I have a separate mowing service and the owner himself does the work . He is working very diligently to do his best however all signs of failure point back to the Lawn Service Company .
Sorry for the long Post and if anyone could help point me in the right direction I would be most appreciative .
Just please don`t point me back to Upstate NY !!
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Someone else has suggested the cooperative extension for a soil test. A great start.
If, I might suggest-If, you take a shovel and look below your sod, you will find an inch of topsoil that the sod was growing in. Below that is the sandy clay that is our true soil.
Take some of that soil? put it in a glass, add vinegar and you will see it fizz-that is lime stone. So we have sandy clay loaded with limestone. PH will be 7.5 to 8 very alkaline. You can grow grass on cement if you are willing to water everyday and apply a great deal of chemistry.
Or you can improve your soil. That is simple-add organic matter. It will hold more water, lower the PH and even out the amount of fertilizer you apply. First you need to see the problem and then to address it.
You also need to be patient.
We have added roughly 4000 lbs of manure into our 5,000 foot lawn. Drilling 8 inch holes every 4-5 inches and filling them with manure. A LOT OF WORK took us two years to complete.
TRY A SMALL PART OF YOUR LAWN-YOU WILL SEE IT WORKS. Then you can slowly do the rest.
OH and the high PH locks up IRON. There is plenty of iron in our soil but it is not available to the grass due to high PH. Ironite will give your a temporary solution. Just do not get it on your drive, or leave it on your drive as it will leave rust stains.