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Lawn pH

Understanding Lawn pH

Soil pH – acidity or alkalinity is determined by pH levels or pH measurements that give you an understanding of what type of soil is in your lawn. The knowledge regarding pH levels is typically rendered among teenagers during high school, and a deeper grasp on this topic is received majorly by science students. But the understanding of pH levels is not limited to just education; it has a role in daily life, especially vital for plant and lawn health. 

You can amend your soil accordingly after determining your lawn’s soil pH to make it suitable for plant growth. In this article, Edenapp discusses about what is lawn pH, what test to perform to determine your lawn pH level, when to perform the tests, what is the ideal pH for your lawn, what should you apply to test your lawn’s pH level and how to read a lawn pH level chart.

What is Lawn pH?

The lawn pH is determined through the region where the lawn resides. You may come across lawns with acidic soils while encountering soils that are too alkaline. According to the pH levels of soil, if the pH scale ranges from 1.0 up to 14.0 with 7.0, then the soil is neutral. If the pH level is higher than 7.0, it is alkaline. At the same time, if the soil pH is lower than 7.0, it is acidic. In the case of acidic soil, implementing the lime treatment can be beneficial. Bear in mind that anything higher or lower than the ideal pH range (6.0 – 7.0) might render an unhealthy lawn. 

What test should I perform to determine the Lawn pH level?

To determine the lawn pH level, you can use two methods – testing soil pH without a kit and testing soil pH with a kit. 

Testing soil pH without a kit – If you wish to work with DIY methods for testing the soil of your lawn, first take some soil samples. Instead of taking soil just from a spot, consider mixing the soils from different areas of your lawn and use the blended soil for testing. This is done so that you test the soil pH level not just for a spot but for your entire landscape. 

To test for alkalinity, add 1/2 cup of water to the blended soil sample and mix it well. Now, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to this mixture. If you observe bubbling or fizzing action in the soil, then it has an alkaline pH. This reaction occurs due to the acidic substance (vinegar) that comes in contact with an alkaline substance (soil). It is worth noting that soil is always a bit acidic in nature, so any reaction, even a mild one, will indicate alkaline soil. This can be neutralized by adding an amendment so that you get a pH range best suited for your plants. 

Lawn pH

To test for acidity, take another blend of soil samples and add 1/2 cup of water. After making the mixture, add 1/2 cup of baking soda. You will observe bubbles or fizzes in the mixture. The level of acidity can be determined by looking at the vigor of the action. Remember that the mixture will show a tad bit of reaction since soils are slightly acidic in nature, but the level of reaction can indicate how acidic your soil is. 

In these situations, you can either amend the soil or select plants that are ideal for acidic or alkaline soils.

Testing soil pH with a kit – If you have a soil test kit, then you can easily work through the labeled instructions listed on your soil test kit. You may as well send a dry soil sample (a blend of 3 to 5 samples from different parts of your lawn) to your local County Extension Service, where you can test your soil for a fee. 

When to perform lawn pH level testing?

Now that it is discussed how to perform a lawn pH testing, Edenapp suggests that soil pH level should be tested if you feel that there is a lack of nutrients in your soil, unmanageable weeds coming up, irregular plant growth is taking place, which is resulting in poor quality or low crop yield. The best time for testing the soil can be any time of the year. However, it should be the same time each year to determine more accurate trends of your soil fertility. Late summer or early fall is the best time to conduct a lawn pH test so that you get the time to amend your soil before planting. 

The time of the year, the growing season, and the type of lawn (warm-season lawn and cool-season lawn) affect the timing for conducting a lawn pH test in determining soil fertility. As mentioned earlier, you can perform a DIY lawn pH on your own and at the convenience of your home. Nevertheless, Edenapp recommends taking assistance from a professional to perform the soil pH test in order to acquire an accurate result or send the soil samples to a lab or the local County Extension Service and get the test done for a fee. 

What is an ideal pH level on a Lawn?

According to the experts of Edenapp, the ideal pH level of your soil or lawn should be between 6.0 and 7.0. However, the experts also mention that the optimal soil pH for most plants can also range from 6.5 to 7.5 since the plant nutrients are readily available at this near-neutral soil pH range.

Lawn pH

What should I apply on testing the Lawn pH level?

Apply lime to neutralize acidic soil, and the quantity should depend on the level of pH you need to reach or change. For a healthy lawn pH level, it is also recommended to apply lime every year; however, it should be kept in mind that turf like centipedes thrive in acidic soil and shouldn’t be fertilized unnecessarily. 

Meanwhile, if you have highly alkaline soil, consider fertilizing the soil using organic matter, sulfur, or other fertilizers. 

A few guidelines that you can follow are given below.

  • Sphagnum peat can be used to lower the pH of garden soil or soil on your lawn. 
  • You can also use granular sulfur as the least expensive alternative.
  • For each application that must be made at least every three months, you shouldn’t apply more than 2 pounds of sulfur per 100 square feet. 

It is critical to understand that modifying the pH level of the soil is not a one-time process. Amending the soil may require multiple applications for the roots to acquire the nutrients. 

How to read a lawn pH level chart?

A soil pH level chart typically represents the pH scale for soils. According to the lawn pH level chart, while 0 to 5.5 represents high levels of soil acidity, 6 to 7.5 is considered the neutral range, which is also referred to as the optimal soil pH for the growth of healthy plants. At the same time, 8 to 9 is alkaline, and above nine all the way to 14 suggests highly alkaline soil. The acidic level 1 and 2 represents the acidic level of battery acid and lemon juice. On the other hand, the alkalinity level of 12, 13, and 14 represents the alkaline level found in ammonia, bleach, and lye. Remember that you can amend your soil to reach a neutral level for better plant growth or select plants that enjoy highly alkaline or acidic soil pH. 

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