Soil Testing Helps You Have a Beautiful, Healthy Lawn By Andrew Stratton At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

A bright vibrant lawn is a feature that is the pursuit of most homeowners. A healthy lawn improves your home's value as well as your property's appearance. Home improvement programming today frequently touches on the importance of a good lawn. A manicured yard can make your home look warm and inviting. The best way to achieve a beautiful lawn is through soil testing.

Soil across the world is made up of three primary components:

* Clay

* Silt

* Sand

The majority of compositions will contain a percentage of each. The ideal planting medium is called "loam." This formula contains 40 percent sand, 20 percent clay, and 40 percent silt. A mixture is desired because these soils are very problematic individually without supplemental additives. Clay is hard and packs tightly. Sand doesn't hold moisture.

Consumers can also opt for contaminated soil testing that checks for harmful chemicals. Some laboratories offer this type of procedure to examine for harmful substances as lead.

An imbalance requires consumers to use chemicals to improve their plants. The overuse of chemical pesticides or fertilizers has been an environmental concern for years. These chemicals may be washed off during a rain and may seep into a source of drinking water. When you improve the overall structure, your plants will improve.

Soil testing is similar a blood test. Doctors can diagnose diseases and deficiencies in your body with a blood test. A reputable testing laboratory will provide the same service for your ground. A beautiful lawn requires adequate drainage and nutrient levels.

These evaluations have many benefits for the homeowner. Most consumers can eliminate many costs once the overall balance is improved. Fertilizers and pesticides aren't regularly needed when your plants and lawns are healthy. A healthy plant will have natural defenses to help ward off insects and disease. Your body can't remain healthy without the proper nutrition. Your ground can't function without a good balance.

A test for your lawn must be performed according to standards. Most require samples from various areas on your lawn. Experts often recommend taking samples from a "zigzag" pattern in the main area of your yard. Consumers are asked to avoid trees that have been fertilized. They should also refrain from taking samples near fences or when the ground is in an abnormal state. Samples from drain-off areas or backfill areas will not produce adequate results.

Samples should be taken from 4-6 inches below the surface. You should note any pesticides or fertilizers you have used when you submit your sample. Experts caution against taking samples when the ground is wet. It is recommended to avoid areas where plants have recently died or changed color. A poorly handled sample may result in professional analysis that will harm your lawn.

It is not recommended that consumers use a "self test" kit. A reputable laboratory will analyze your sample and provide you with clear and understandable results. Self-test kits are tedious and it may seem impossible to translate the results. A professional can provide you with far greater insight into what is needed to function at an optimum.

A professional can offer more practical information on how to make improvements. The tips offered can save you much money in the long run. Some affordable steps include adding sand or organic matter to heavily clay. Organic matter can be any of a variety of components such as old sawdust, peat, hulls or sand. If your ground contains more sand you will add both organic matter and clay. These additives should be mixed in to a depth of 6 inches for the best result inches.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=327681&ca=Home+Management

Important Notice DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.