Is your lawn struggling to grow? What about other shrubs, flowers, and garden plants? If you keep finding yourself in this predicament, your lawn's pH may be off. Keep reading below to learn more!

What is pH and why does it matter?

pH put simply, is the measure and amount of acidity or alkalinity that is present in the soil. This can affect the growth and nutrient uptake of the plants you’re growing. The optimal pH for many plants is based on their unique growing requirements, but most plants do fairly well between 5.0-7.0. which is considered the neutral range. Some plants, such as potatoes can do well in soil with a pH that is closer to 4.0, and others such as mint or asparagus can handle a pH range up to 8.0.

Most lawn grasses prefer a pH in the 6.5-7.0 range for optimal growth, health, and nutrient uptake, so if you’re noticing growth issues and have done everything else you can think of to amend the soil or deter pests, it may be a pH issue that needs to be addressed.

To learn more about soil pH, click here. 

Solving the pH problem:

There are many ways you can go about detecting the pH of your lawn and soil, but perhaps the simplest is a soil test. Another way you can gauge the pH of your lawn is by paying attention to the types of weeds or other plants that seem to be growing there very well. For example, if you’re spotting a lot of clovers, your lawn’s pH may be in the lower range around 5.5, whereas if you’re seeing a lot of dandelions or plantains, the pH may sit a bit higher, roughly around 7.5 which dandelions especially enjoy.

To combat the effects of too much or too little acidity or alkalinity, you can add additional soil amendments, such as sulfur and lime which can help regulate your lawn’s pH and bring it back to the ideal neutral spot between 5.0.-7.0. Lime helps to bring down the pH and restore an overly acidic soil, and sulfur helps to bump up the pH of soil that may be too alkaline.

Let TPS Landscaping take care of your lawn's needs!

In order to know where your lawn’s pH is, a soil test is often the first step to solving the problem. Here at TPS, when you sign up for our Turf Care Program, we can work with you to solve your lawn’s pH issues and help get you back to a happier, healthier lawn in no time. To learn more about our Turf Care Programs, click here!