Balancing Your Lawn’s pH Levels

No matter how actively you care for your lawn, it all comes down to healthy soil at the end of the day. If your soil can’t provide a habitable, healthy environment for grass plants, then your lawn will ultimately suffer. General maintenance includes a properly timed lineup of watering, fertilization, weed control, proper mowing, and fall aeration. However, there are other tools that can give your lawn an added boost if needed – namely, lime and sulphur. 

Applications of lime or sulphur are typically needed when your soil is suffering from an unbalanced pH level.  If you have thin, discolored turf that does not grow very well, unbalanced pH may be at play.

What Should My Lawn’s pH Level Be?

A soil’s pH level is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity and plays a significant role in determining the overall health of your lawn. The ideal pH range is between 6.0 and 7.0 – anything higher or lower may result in unhealthy turf.  Your lawn is considered acidic when the pH of the soil falls below 6.0, at which point a lime treatment would be beneficial. When the pH level is above 7.0, however, the soil is considered alkaline and is best treated with sulphur.

What causes the pH of my lawn’s soil to become unbalanced? 

Your lawn’s pH is naturally determined by your geographic region. While some areas across have a strong tendency for acidic soils, other regions encounter soils that are too alkaline. Soils generally become acidic when they lack vital nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. This exists in lawns where there has been heavy rainfall and poor drainage. Conversely, areas with dry climates tend to have alkaline soil.

How can I balance my lawn’s pH Levels?

Fall is one of the most favorable times of year to consider balancing your lawn’s pH. Your local Weed Man professionals can educate you on the natural acidity or alkalinity of your lawn and apply a treatment of either lime or sulfur to correct any imbalances. Because soil types and their makeups can vary greatly, the amount of material needed will be dependent on your specific lawn. Over-application of either treatment can have damaging results, as the pH level may shift drastically in the other direction. Weed Man’s knowledgeable technicians will ensure that the correct amount of product is applied to your lawn at the right time of year.  

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