Kansans can learn how to collect soil samples by contacting their county Extension office. That office also can forward samples to the soils testing lab at K-State's Manhattan campus. Keeley also recommends that homeowners pay close attention to the calibration of their fertilizer spreader. Even if people exactly follow the fertilizer label directions for their grass species, the spreader will determine how much gets applied in any particular spot. Most people read how to calibrate a lawn spreader and decide just to hope the manufacturer's or salesperson's adjustments are close enough.
Some people walk quickly.
Others sort of saunter along. And walking speed alone can change a spreader's application rate by up to 100 percent. If you can speak to the person who actually calibrated the spreader, ask if it was done within the last year. Measure the area of your lawn. Weigh out the amount of fertilizer your lawn area needs.