Are you following every lawn care tip on the internet, and your grass still looks dry and patchy? The problem may be hidden in your soil. You can find the exact cause of all your lawn woes with a professional soil test.
Why is a soil test necessary? ExperiGreen is here to answer that question for you. We’ll guide you through the basics of a soil test and the benefits it can bring to your lawn.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Soil Test?
- What Is a Healthy Soil PH for My Lawn?
- Why Should I Perform a Soil Test on My Lawn?
- How to Soil Test Your Lawn
- What To Expect With a Soil Test Performed by ExperiGreen Lawn Care Professionals
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Soil Test?
A soil test measures your soil’s macro and micronutrients and pH levels. Your soil needs a specific balance of nutrients to maintain a proper pH level and promote strong and healthy grass growth.
Testing your soil can tell you if there are any nutrient deficiencies, and you can use that information to treat your soil and encourage more grass growth. Green grass requires the right growing conditions, and this includes high-quality soil.
What Is a Healthy Soil pH for My Lawn?
Testing for pH, or “potential hydrogen,” in your lawn soil will tell you its hydrogen concentration level. Knowing how much hydrogen is in your soil is important for plant and grass growth. When pH levels are low, your soil will be more acidic. When pH levels are high, your soil is more alkaline.
The pH scale ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline). For soil, you want the level to be near the center of the scale, closer to the acidic side. You want your soil to be slightly acidic, so a healthy soil pH for your lawn is between 4 and 6.5. A majority of soils measure around 6.5.
Why Should I Perform a Soil Test on My Lawn?
Lawn soil testing is the foundation of lawn care. Think of it as researching the current state of your soil. You need to know what you’re working with to build a care plan that works. A soil test will tell you what your lawn needs so you can give it what it needs for success.
You Can Identify if Your Lawn’s Soil Is Facing a Nutrient Deficiency
Grass needs a variety of certain nutrients to grow strong and full. These nutrients include phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, and other micronutrients. You can run a lawn soil analysis to determine what nutrients are lacking or in excess. With this information, you can tailor your fertilization treatments to add needed nutrients without increasing nutrients that are already there.
Running these tests ensures your lawn has the nutrients it needs to thrive without doing unnecessary fertilization treatments. This saves you money in the long run while being gentle on the environment.
Better Understanding of Your Soil’s pH Levels
A pH level determines the acidity of your soil. This acidity level impacts the amount of nutrients available in the soil as well as the amount of microbial activity. A balanced pH level helps your grass to grow and prevents the development of unwanted pests or fungi. If the pH of your soil is too high or too low, this can stunt grass growth and poor lawn health. Your grass won’t be able to absorb adequate nutrients, leading to a patchy yard of shriveled grass.
Unbalanced pH levels can be fixed with lime or sulfur treatments, and testing your soil helps you determine what treatment will help your yard thrive.
Soil Testing Can Prevent Future Lawn Problems
When your grass starts to yellow and gets infested with weeds, it can be tough to determine the root cause of the issue. A routine soil test for your lawn helps you find the cause of the problem and create a plan to fix it. Even if your lawn is currently thriving, regular tests can make sure everything underground looks good and your yard will continue to thrive.
Regular lawn check-ups can also identify problems before they become serious. Whether your soil develops a nutrient deficiency or the pH is out of balance, you can catch the issues early so your lawn doesn’t start to wilt away.
More Cost-Friendly Targeted Lawn Fertilization
If you start using fertilizers and pH treatments without a clear picture of what’s going on, you could be doing more harm than good. You may be investing your time and money on fertilizers when your lawn is already packed with all the nutrients it needs, or adding sulfur when it doesn’t need it.
A soil test gives you a clear picture of what your lawn needs so you can create a targeted care plan that maximizes growth. You get more for your money, and your grass will be happier for it.
How to Soil Test Your Lawn
For in-depth results without the wait, consider scheduling a test with a lawn care expert at ExperiGreen. Our local experts will visit your home and test your soil right then and there, so you can jump right into taking care of your grass.
What To Expect With a Soil Test Performed by ExperiGreen Lawn Care Professionals
When you work with ExperiGreen, you get long-lasting results that will leave your lawn lush and vibrant all year long. Our soil tests offer thorough results that break down all of the key nutrients and pH levels in your soil. We’ll then use that information to design a personalized lawn care plan that works best for your lawn’s needs.
An in-depth soil test creates a solid foundation to help your yard thrive, and our team will work with you every step of the way.
Soil Testing FAQs
What is the best way to test soil for grass?
To test your soil and get fast results, our team will collect samples from multiple areas of your lawn and send samples to a lab for analysis.
How often should I soil test my lawn?
A good rule of thumb is to run a soil test every three years. If you’re having trouble getting your lawn to thrive, you may want to test your soil more frequently. Many people run tests every year to save money on treatments, but it depends on personal preference and how closely you want to monitor your lawn.
At ExperiGreen, We’ll Get to the Root of the Problem
Your soil plays a crucial role in the overall health of your grass. Improper nutrients or improper pH levels can leave you with a brown and patchy yard. With proper soil testing, you can revive your lawn and make your outdoor space a fun place to hang out with friends and family.
Looking for professional lawn care soil testing in your area? Contact ExperiGreen today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts. Our team will get to the root of the issue and create a custom lawn care plan that meets your needs. Your lawn will thank you, and you’ll have the best yard in the neighborhood.
