If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve heard the term “lawn pH” thrown around at some point or another. But what exactly is lawn pH, and why does it matter? In this blog post, we’ll explain the basics of lawn pH and how it affects your lawn’s health.

What You Need to Know About Lawn pH

What it actually is

Lawn pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline your soil is. On the scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, anything below 7 is considered acidic and anything above 7 is alkaline. Different plants prefer different levels of soil acidity—and grasses are no exception.

How it impacts your grass

Grasses thrive in slightly acidic soils with a pH between 6 and 7. If your soil’s pH falls out of this range, there can be serious consequences for the health of your lawn. In highly alkaline soils (pH higher than 8), grasses struggle to absorb minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—all essential nutrients for healthy growth. On the other hand, in highly acidic soils (pH lower than 5), grasses have difficulty absorbing iron and manganese, which can lead to yellowing or stunted growth.

How to test your lawn’s pH

Testing your soil’s acidity level is fairly simple—all you need is an inexpensive soil test kit from your local garden center or hardware store. Once you have the kit in hand, just follow the directions on the packaging. Once you get back a reading on your soil’s pH level, you can adjust accordingly using lime if it’s too acidic or sulfur if it’s too alkaline.

Heads up: You might have to send off your soil sample to a lab.

Leave the pH Problems to Shades of Green Lawn & Landscape.

We know everything your lawn in Lafayette, Indiana needs to be healthy year-round. Our services are rooted in science, so we know the ins and outs of how to care for your lawn. That’s why we have different lawn care plans for different budgets and yards. Simply call us today at 765-771-9998 to find out how we can make your grass the perfect Shade of Green.