SammyQ2,

I don't know how to do a test analysis, and I don't think David does either. I think tiemco is the only one left that occasionally does it here on GW. He isn't an emplyee of GW so he isn't getting paid. Performing an analysis is purely voluntary and rightfully so. It's a lot of calculation and work for him so he may not have the time. It is more than just reading the test, it's the ability to calculate the amounts of the amendments to apply.
Did you read the thread I pointed you to in your last thread? If not, read that thread very carefully. Otherwise you may have to contact Logan and have them read it and supply recommendations--I think they charge $30.
Because I don't know how to read tests for people, and the dearth of people here who can, I am no longer recommending testing here unless I also explain that they will need to pay $30. to get recommendations from Logan. Sorry.

Understood. Thank you.

There is another website that specializes in reading Logan Labs soil tests. Do a google search for 'soil test, tiemco, logan labs, morpheuspa, and andy.' The first several search results will indicate where to find a place to get it read for free.

There are other places you can get soil tests done by. Local universities are often more than willing. I used my local state agricultural station. I'm sure someone there will be willing to talk with me about the results.

Okay - I followed your advice and sent soil samples to the Logan Labs. Ok but you are asking your question on the wrong forum. The experts boycott this forum and hangout elsewhere. Look around and see if you can find the bestlawn.

Brutally honest, TW.

Lawn Hobby - yes you can get your soil tested by your local county agricultural extension service agent. For prices ranging from $10 to $30, they send the sample to the state approved university where they test for N, P, K, pH, organic matter, and some of the micronutrients. The standard Logan Labs test gives you the macros, all the micros, all the trace elements, and organic matter. At Logan Labs that costs $20. That same test at Texas A&M University costs $44 and they don't give you all the trace elements. Logan Labs can do it for that price because every sample gets the same tests. At the universities they have broken up the tests. One of the ramifications of this is that the universities may have to special order the chemicals needed to do a complete test which adds cost and time. Another factor might be that, since they only do these tests by special request, they may need to retrain themselves every time on how to perform the tests and interpret the results. If you sent your sample to Logan Labs on Monday, you are likely to have the results back by mid week but certainly by the end of the week. There are no middlemen. These are the reasons why Logan Labs has become the Mecca of the lawn hobbiest's soil tests.

dchall_san_antonio

So logan charges another 30 to read the results, so it's technically 50 dollars not 20 to do the test. Do you work for Logan?

That's getting expensive! I payed nowhere close to that! ;-)

btw, why do many experts, except for tiemco, rarely visit this board? Is there some reason they don't like it? Too many new people like me asking questions? My plan was to stay here as I learn more and to start to give back to the people here as soon as I'm in a position to be able to properly answer a given question.

"btw, why do many experts, except for tiemco, rarely visit this board?"

LOL

It might have something to do with people asking questions about whether you're a shill for Logan Labs, or an expectation that a top lab is going to read your test results and interpret them for you for free. Do you ask a carpenter to tell you how to build a house for free, and then build it yourself?

You can get the test for $20, and interpret it yourself. You can get the $20 test and give it to a free interpretation from the county co-op, and you'll get an interpretation that is worth every penny you spent on it. Or you can go to a forum where the members behave themselves and are thankful for free advice that is detailed - without getting the "you're a shill" comments.

I've know David (DCHALL) for years. He is one of the country's most-knowledgeable amateurs on organic techniques for lawn care. He gives his time generously and freely to all that are willing to listen. He had nothing to do with Logan Labs.

How do I know that? I spent $175 of my own money to send identical samples to 8 labs, without telling them it was a test of their skills and customer support. I called each one to see how well they handled customer questions about their methods. I measured their turnatound time. And then I began recommending Logan Labs three years ago. What did I get for my $175?? Thanks for the effort and money on other forums, and shill comments on this forum.

And so, while you might think it's cute to accuse folks of being a shill, the ones that do the detailed analysis for free figure that they'll just go elsewhere. Until this forum starts letting people know that things like accusing David of being a shill is not acceptable, that's the way it will be...

You know what's not nice? Telling people to send their samples to Logan labs claiming 'experts' here are familiar with Logan Lab format (and when they do) asking them to do a google search for a website that's specializing in reading Logan Lab reports.

BTW - I'm a newbie on this forum and trying to figure out what's going on here. I was asking for clarification - you are way too sensitive.

You know what I think? There are very few all around experts who are expert on every subject. So, let's just be thankful that we have some great men and women on here with specialist knowledge in certain areas.

I think it's time for everyone to take a breather and say "thank you" to the people who have answered your questions in the past. For me, that means thank you tiemco, and thank you, dchall. I appreciate all the time you've take to answer my questions.

I would have to completely agree with andy10917. People like tiemco, dchall, texas-weed, andy and others do give of their time unselfishly to attempt to help others with their lawn care issues. I do not use Logan Labs, because our golf course management company uses another highly respected soil testing service. However, many people on this forum have received excellent service and results from using Logan Labs; and then they get a free service from individuals on this forum who interpret the test results for them.

I don't always agree with the regular responders who participate on this forum, just as I know they do not always agree with comments that I post. But I appreciate and respect the fact that they take the time to give their best effort toward helping someone else.

And yes, I say "thank you" to those people who have given generously of their time and knowledge to help others on this forum.

This was my doing. I've tried to apologized to the parties involved and I've taken steps to prevent future offenses.
I apologize again.

"I'm a newbie on this forum and trying to figure out what's going on here."

Before jumping in with accusations, spend some time reading posts and familiarizing yourself with the contributors. You've got a lot to learn about etiquette.

Calling a respected contributor a shill is not going to endear you on any forum.

You know what? In the spirit of "Lawn Hobby"'s idea of "take a breather", and since I have no idea where Tiemco is (it IS vacation season after all), I'll do the analysis on this one this evening.

Andy--tiemco did it a couple days ago.

I stand corrected, it was yesterday.--"Trashed Lawn..."

You'll have to excuse me, I just got back form being at the emergency room all day with a family member.

grass1950: This was not your doing. You are not the one who made a disrespectful comment. What you say we just let it go and move forward? There's plenty more grass to cut this season, plenty more soil tests to be interpreted, plenty more fungus among us, and if I have my way....plenty more humor to be had.

damn! That's the second time in 2 days that grass1950 and I have posted at the same exact time. What are the odds?

Whoops! After reading the linked thread, it appears that Tiemco *DID* do a soil test interpretation (just not in this thread). It looks like SAMMYQ2 has an interpretation, but VITTORIO_2010 is seeming slighted.

I admit to being a bit lost here.

Can somebody point out what I'm missing here? Does VITTORIO_2010 have a soil test hanging out there unaddressed or something?

andy, I am not aware of a soil test interpretation request from vittorio_2010.

Napolitano?

I believe that was Vittorio's first post. And for the record, I have never suggested anyone get a test read by Logan Labs. Don't get everyone mixed up here. What I suggested was looking for the free site where people give of their spare time to interpret Logan Labs tests.

I'll try to give you a summary of why so many experts left here for different pastures. I realize I'm facing the ban-hammer, but what the heck.

Several years ago the local GW Kentucky bluegrass expert, (not allowed to even mention her screen name here anymore), was banned from GW for disagreeing with one of the iVillage moderators. The disagreement was on one of the food forums. That makes sense because these garden forums are subject to all kinds of slander with no moderator intervention. It was a simple disagreement, not a war of words, not even linguistic sparring. Without warning she was banned for life. The garden experts did not take this well. Not only did the experts take her side and abandon this forum, but many (MANY) of the homeowners with lawn problems found another forum. Unfortunately some of the more aggressive members of the new forum came back here and repeatedly announced that the lawn party had moved to the other forum. Not only did iVillage not like that, but the numerous sponsors of this forum really did not like it. iVillage responded by banning the use of the name of the banned member and banning the use of the name of the new forum. So if I tried to use her name in this message, the message would be rejected and erased. This response by iVillage drove still more members away. I have since learned that many of the gurus, who were here on other GW forums when I first joined in 2001, have been banned. I contacted some to find out why and was appalled at the reasons. So I was gone from here for a long time. Then for reasons I won't go into, another lawn forum started which happened to take on the screen name of the lady who was banned here. That was not a coincidence. She was asked first before the naming and, frankly was a little embarrassed by the naming. It just turned out that she happened to pick the coolest screen name around. So that new forum got started in Feb of 2009 and has grown beyond my wildest expectations. It has become the home and haven for thousands of lawn nuts who visit, literally, on a daily basis. And, now, the use of that forum name has been banned at GW. Now I can't fault GW for being concerned about the initial rash of overly enthusiastic members posting messages telling people to leave here and go elsewhere. That's rude and who wants that? In fact I believe it is forbidden by the terms and conditions in just about every forum. But people come to forums to get help. When the best help for reading Logan Labs soil tests happens to be on another forum, well, I guess we can't help you like you would like to be helped here. The fact is that if you want to have a mediocre lawn, you probably don't need a soil test. If you cannot grow grass under any circumstances, then you do need a soil test. And if you want the lawn of the month, or if you want a spectacular lawn for any reason, then you need a test that will tell you the micros.

Many MANY thanks to tiemco for sharing his time at this and the other forum. Still, tiemco has his favorite chemistry expertise and stops short of recommending corrections for micronutrients. We all bow to Andy for his expertise on the micronutrients. So Andy, if you come back here, tiemco did not cover the micros on Sammy's soil test.

dschall: not cool (no pun intended, since we're talking about cool-season grass most of the time).

But I believe I have found the other forum you speak of. It apparently goes by two names. I will in the future be sure to read information on that forum.

Sorry, typo. I meant "dchall".

Brutally honest, TW.

I am OK with that as that is the way I approach life, and the world can use more of. With that said I stand behind my statement as evident there is no answers to the OP, just lip service and tangent chit chat which I warned would happen. The experts have already chimed in and did not answer the OP question.

texas-weed: I believe the OP's request for soil analysis interpretation was answered yesterday by tiemco in the original thread.

I got my questions answered, and I thank you all so much!

I'm just a newly retired guy in sou. Illinois trying to get some grass to grow and I am grateful for any advise posted here.

Sam