Healthy soil is what our turf programs are built on.

Soil Testing

Have you wondered why your lawn just won't grow nice grass? It's a common question asked by many home owners. Well there really is an answer to why but it all starts with knowing what the current condition is of your lawn. For anything to grow it needs to have the proper nutrients. So therefore your soil needs to consist of all the micronutrients required by mother nature to grow beautiful grass. This all starts with taking a soil sample.

We begin by taking a soil test and having it evaluated by a professional team at a certified university lab. It typically takes about 2 weeks to get the results. The test will evaluate soil fertility, pH level, and/or problems due to excessive salts or fertilizer materials. We then take the test results and formulate a plan to get your soil back into the proper condition needed to grow a healthy lawn.

Lime for Lawns

One sign of a low soil pH is the presence of excess moss and weeds in your garden or lawn. Moss and weeds are acid loving plants and do best in acidic soil. Though not a guaranteed indicator, an excess of moss and weeds is a good sign that you should raise soil pH. Another sign that you need to raise soil pH is when fertilizer doesn’t seem to be doing its job. Acidic soil prevents fertilizer from functioning properly, so no matter how much fertilizer you apply, you will see little to no results.

Aside from tell-tale signs of a low pH, knowing what type of soil you have can also help you decide if liming is right for you. Often in coastal areas, soil is much more sandy. Sandy soils don’t hold their pH very well, and calcium leaches out much more easily, leaving soil acidic. Because calcium leaches out so easily, sandy soils typically require a higher frequency of lime applications throughout the year. Conversely, clay soils “hold” their pH longer, resisting change. So in the case of liming a clay soil, it takes a higher quantity of lime to neutralize the soil pH, but once the pH is neutralized, it stays that way longer, requiring less frequent lime applications. In addition to soil type, regional areas that see a lot of rain fall, particularly areas with acid rain, on average have more acidic soils, and should be corrected with regular lime applications.

Lastly, if you haven’t limed your lawn or garden in the past year, chances are you should. Over time, on its own, soil naturally becomes acidic because of rainfall and organic matter decomposing within the soil. This cycle is natural, but leaves soil acidic, and in need of a pH correction.

Get more information about how to test and managing soil pH.