Soil Testing and Beyond: A Complete Fall Lawn Improvement Plan for Long Island

Cornell Soil Testing for LI

Suffolk County CCE lab does basic pH/salt tests. Nutrient analysis (P, K, Ca, OM, salts) done at Ithaca. Order both: Soil Nutrient Test + pH/Salt Test. Follow directions meticulously. Form & instructions.

While You Wait: 6 Action Items

1. Start a compost pile. Enclosed, accessible in winter. Leaves, clippings, veg scraps, coffee grounds. Gold by spring.
2. Remove/control weeds. Dig dandelions, creeping charlie, wild violets. Annual crabgrass: prevent seed set. Clover is not a weed (unless it's black medic).
3. Buy mycorrhizae. Espoma Mycorrhizae for Lawns at Hicks Nursery (Jericho Tpke). Apply with first irrigation of new seed. Builds fungal-root networks for nutrient/water uptake.
4. Amend soil now. Moss = drainage issue. Till in organic matter (humus, aged manure—Home Depot truckload). No sand—creates hardpan. Earthworms will improve texture over months.
5. Shop for grass seed. Match to sun/traffic. Tall fescue for drought/traffic; fine fescue/supina bluegrass for shade; perennial rye for speed. Seedland.com has modern blends.
6. Invite birds. Birdbath, berry shrubs, feeders. Birds eat weed seeds (winter) and insects/grubs (summer) by the quart.

Traffic & Sun Assessment

Define use: BBQs? Dogs? Kids? Full sun? Deep shade? Tree roots? This dictates grass choice more than anything.