Playing scientist on the lawn - All For Gardening

Sunday Gardener: Playing scientist on the lawn with a pH soil test

TIME FOR SUNDAY. GARDNER HERE WITH KERRY. GOOD MORNING. FARMS. AND IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR. PEOPLE’S LAWNS MIGHT BE LOOKING A LITTLE ROUGH. YEP. SO NOW’S THE TIME. YOU CAN FERTILIZE OR YOU CAN SEED AND FERTILIZE. AND BECAUSE THE SOIL IS NICE AND WARM, IT’S REALLY GOING TO TAKE. MAYBE THE RAIN WILL COME WHEN IT’S SUPPOSED TO. IF NOT, WE CAN USE A SPRINKLER AND GET ALL THE SEED. AND ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS PEOPLE CAN DO IS PLAY SCIENTISTS, BECAUSE THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEIR LAWN EVEN NEEDS. YEAH, BECAUSE THE PH OF THE PH IS RIGHT IN YOUR LAWN. ALL THESE OTHER PRODUCTS WORK BETTER. THE SEEDS ARE GOING TO COME OUT BETTER, THE FERTILIZER IS GOING TO WORK BETTER. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PLANTS. SO THAT’S THAT’S THE KEY TO GETTING THAT STRAIGHT OKAY. SO WE’RE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE THE SEEDING PROCESS. BUT TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS YOU HAVE. WELL WITH THE GRASS SEED YOU USUALLY WANT A MIXTURE OF GRASS SEED. YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE JUST FOR YOUR AREA. SO WE HAVE A MID-ATLANTIC THING. I KNOW IN PARTS OF MY LAWN I HAVE A LOT OF DEEP SHADE, SO I MAY USE A DEEP SHADE, GRASS OR HEAVY TRAFFIC. NOW IS THE TIME OF YEAR THAT YOU CAN USE A FERTILIZER THAT HAS PHOSPHORUS. WHEN YOU’RE WHEN YOU’RE SEEDING, ONLY WHEN YOU’RE SEEDING PHOSPHORUS SEEDING, RIGHT? OTHER THAN THAT, THE STATE DOESN’T WANT US USING THAT. WE DON’T WANT TO HARM THE BAY. SO ONCE WE GET FERTILIZER DOWN AND SEED DOWN, MAYBE WE’VE ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF THE PH. THEY’RE GOING TO PUT SOME STRAW DOWN. THAT’S JUST GOING TO KEEP EVERYTHING FROM MOVING AROUND. IT’S GOING TO KEEP THE SEED FROM DRYING OUT. BUT IT’S ALSO GOING TO KIND OF STABILIZE EVERYTHING UNTIL IT REALLY GETS GOING. IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO DO SEEDING, THERE ARE OTHER ORGANIC OPTIONS AND SOIL AMENDMENTS YOU CAN ADD THAT CAN REALLY HELP. YOU CAN STILL USE A SYNTHETIC FERTILIZER IN THE FALL. YOU CAN EVEN USE A LIQUID IN CASE YOU DID NOT WANT TO GO WITH A GRANULAR SPREADER. LET’S GET TO WORK. SHOW US WHAT SOMEONE MIGHT DO IF THEY’RE TRYING TO SEED. WELL, THE FIRST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THE SEED HAS SOMEWHERE TO LAND. SO RAKE SOME OF THIS STUFF UP. KIND OF THE DEAD GRASS. YEAH. AND THEN YOU CAN ADD SOME COMPOST IF YOU WANT TO. THIS HAPPENS TO BE LEAF GROW, WHICH IS A MARYLAND COMPOST. OOPS. I’M KIND OF MESSING THINGS UP THERE A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU GET KIND OF THE FOOD FOR THE NEW SEED. IT’S GOING TO BE FOOD, BUT IT’S ALSO A PLACE FOR THE LAND. AND THEN IF YOU WOULD SPRINKLE THE SEED AROUND A LITTLE BIT, JUST LIKE PRETEND YOU’RE FEEDING CHICKENS. OH, ACTUALLY, THAT’S PRETTY GOOD. I’VE NEVER FAT CHICKENS. OKAY, WELL, THAT’S PRETTY DARN GOOD. SO AFTER THAT YOU CAN WATER IT. BUT THEN JUST PUT A LITTLE BIT OF STRAW JUST ENOUGH TO COVER IT, PREVENTING THE BIRDS FROM EATING. YEAH. NOW YOU DON’T. YOU WANT TO MAKE IT LIGHTER THAN THAT BECAUSE YOU WANT THE SUN TO GET THROUGH AND EVERYTHING, AND THAT’S REALLY ABOUT IT. AND THEN JUST MAKE SURE IT STAYS WATERED FOR IT TO COME UP, AND THEN SPRING WILL FERTILIZE IT AGAIN AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A NICE LAWN. OH, I LOVE THAT BECAUSE YEAH, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT. AND MINE NEEDS SOME WORK. SO NOW I KNOW WH

Sunday Gardener: Playing scientist on the lawn with a pH soil test

Updated: 6:10 PM EDT Sep 14, 2025

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It’s the time of year to give the lawn some extra attention and Valley View Farms has the tools and fertilizers keep your garden as healthy as possible.