Fairy Ring Lawn Care Tips


pH Adjustment for Soil in Lawns

pH IN SOIL:

The term pH is a number that tells you the alkalinity or acidity of the soil. Adjusting pH refers to changing either one of these by adding lime or sulphu


EFFECTS OF SOIL pH:

Soil pH of 7.0 is a "neutral" pH. This level or close to it is ideal for nutrients to be used by the turf grass. When the pH is too high or too low many of the nutrients such as phosphorus and iron are binded to the soil and unavailable for the root system to use properly. When this happens the grass does poorly. More often than not, the lawn will show no outward signs or symptoms but if you fertilize your lawn every 4-6 weeks it may not respond well to fertilization. Having a laboratory test the soil is the only reliable method of determining soil pH.

SOIL SAMPLING:

Collect core samples of your soil using a soil probe. The cores should be taken to a depth of 3 inches discarding any thatch attached to the core sample. 6-8 cores from various sites within the lawn will give you the best results. Place all cores in a sample bag for testing at the laboratory. The lab test will indicate soil pH and what is required to raise or lower your pH level.

pH ADJUSTMENT:

A soil pH of 7.0 is a "neutral" pH. A lower number indicates an acidic soil. By applying ground limestone you can raise the soil’s pH. A higher number than 7.0 indicates an alkaline soil. You can apply sulphur to lower the soil’s pH. The best way to apply these materials is by using a rotary spreader. Use a pellet form of lime or sulphur for best results. Before applying these materials ensure you have the soil tested by a reputable laboratory. Once again having the soil tested is the only reliable way of determining what needs to be used to adjust the soil’s pH.

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