Fertilizing under Ponderosa pine

Question: What fertilizer should I use for the area under Ponderosa oines where the PH level drops and it's hard to grow grass?

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied August 28, 2024, 10:38 AM EDT
response: Good morning! Are you trying to grow grass under the pines or is your current grass dying under the pines? Have you taken a soil sample of the area to see the pH? growing grass under pines can be challenging because of their needle drop throughout the year and their roots can inhibit good grass growth.  Can you send me some more pictures of the area? A picture of the base of the tree with the area you are having troubles with would be the most helpful. Fertilizer may not be what the area needs in order to get thicker grass growth.  Thanks so much for reaching out!Rachel

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 28, 2024, 7:16 PM EDT
response: Thanks for responding so quickly! The problem area shown in the top photo puzzles me, as look how lush the grass is on the right side of the tree. In the bottom photo, hopefully you can see its relationship to the tree and it’s always been a problem area.I keep mentioning fertilizer because I have notes from the previous owner (28 years ago!) Regarding low pH along the tree and what fertilizer to use, but the references to fertilizer have faded with time and I can’t read them.Please tell me how to take a pH sample of the soil. I’m pretty good at raking Pine needles, so I don’t think that’s a large part of the problem.It’s also curious that each spring a different area around the tree needs to be reseeded. This spring is the two problem areas in the above photos, last spring it was a big circle to the left of the tree that this year came up beautifully!Thanks in advance for your response! I am enjoying this learning process.Sent from my iPhoneOn Aug 28, 2024, at 8:38 AM, Ask Extension wrote:﻿

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 28, 2024, 7:22 PM EDT
response: Here’s another area directly to the right of the tree that seems to be having some stress.Sent from my iPhone On Aug 28, 2024, at 5:13 PM, <personal data hidden> wrote:﻿Thanks for responding so quickly! The problem area shown in the top photo puzzles me, as look how lush the grass is on the right side of the tree. In the bottom photo, hopefully you can see its relationship to the tree and it’s always been a problem area.I keep mentioning fertilizer because I have notes from the previous owner (28 years ago!) Regarding low pH along the tree and what fertilizer to use, but the references to fertilizer have faded with time and I can’t read them.Please tell me how to take a pH sample of the soil. I’m pretty good at raking Pine needles, so I don’t think that’s a large part of the problem.It’s also curious that each spring a different area around the tree needs to be reseeded. This spring is the two problem areas in the above photos, last spring it was a big circle to the left of the tree that this year came up beautifully!Thanks in advance for your response! I am enjoying this learning process.Sent from my iPhoneOn Aug 28, 2024, at 8:38 AM, Ask Extension wrote:﻿

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 04, 2024, 12:26 PM EDT
response: Sorry for the delayed response! Was off for the long weekend.  That area that you are always having issues with I would take a soil sample of and bring it to the Spur Campus which is in Denver near the stock show complex.  Here is a great resource on how to take a soil sample.  Here is the form you need to fill out for the sample to be tested. The address to drop the sample off is on the top right corner of the form. You will need to provide them with a test code which can be found here (soil analysis price list) I would suggest the complete (S1) or the basic (S2) analysis. Both of these will check your pH and the basic macronutrients in your soil which can help which fertilizer is the best to apply for your soil! This should help determine the best fertilizer - have you fertilized at all this year?  Thanks so much!Rachel

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 05, 2024, 3:14 PM EDT
response: Thanks for responding. Two things: At $35 per sample, how many samples do I need to send? Would three from around the tree be enough? Pricier than I was hoping forAlso, when I click on the page that’s supposed to give me the transmittal form, it tells me “page not found”. Any suggestions?Sent from my iPhone On Sep 4, 2024, at 10:26 AM, Ask Extension wrote:﻿

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 05, 2024, 3:27 PM EDT
response: PS: I haven’t fertilized at all, I’ve just used Scott’s turf builder. Do you think I could get away with just one sample?Sent from my iPhone On Sep 5, 2024, at 1:09 PM, <personal data hidden> wrote:﻿Thanks for responding. Two things: At $35 per sample, how many samples do I need to send? Would three from around the tree be enough? Pricier than I was hoping forAlso, when I click on the page that’s supposed to give me the transmittal form, it tells me “page not found”. Any suggestions?Sent from my iPhoneOn Sep 4, 2024, at 10:26 AM, Ask Extension wrote:﻿

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied September 05, 2024, 9:10 PM EDT
response: I would send in one sample - you can collect soil from all three spots around the tree and mix them into a bag to drop off. The composition of the soil will be not be drastically different. Make sure to bring in at least one pound! They need that much soil in order to run the tests. You can just put it in a gallon zip lock bag. Try this link - it will bring you to a list of all the forms and you want to fill out the horticulture soil form.  Let me know if you have any questions and if you need help interpreting the results when you get them! Rachel <personal data hidden>

responder: The Question Asker Replied September 06, 2024, 6:40 PM EDT
response: Thanks, this answers all my questions! I might have to get back to when I get the results to find out what to do thank you so much for your patience with me.Sent from my iPhone On Sep 5, 2024, at 7:10 PM, Ask Extension wrote:﻿