What is the Best pH Level for Grass?

What is the best pH level for grass? The answer to this question is surprisingly simple, and amazingly difficult, to actually comprehend. The reason for this is that there really is no single answer that will work for all types of grass out there. That being said, there are a few guidelines that you can use to ensure you have your soil properly prepared for your lawn.

• Know your grass. Since every type of grass has its own unique pH range, it is an extremely good idea to conduct a bit of research on your grass. Simply doing a little bit of research, and finding out what the requirements for your specific type of grass will go a long way to helping you grow the best possible lawn.
• Get the soil tested. While you are doing the research on your grass, take a little bit of time to get your soil tested at the local county extension office. While you can always purchase some home testing kits, taking the soil to county extension office will allow you to get professional quality results for very little money (if any) down.
• Make adjustments. When the test results come back, make the necessary adjustments to your soil so that it will fall within your desired range. After you have adjusted the soil, you will also want to test the soil again so that you can double check that it is within the preferred range. Keep making adjustments as necessary, and retesting till you are within the proper pH range.
• Check your drainage. Another factor that can have an adverse effect on the pH balance of your soil is how well it is draining. Checking the drainage, and ensuring that it is behaving properly, can help your soil retain much needed nutrients, and thereby helping to improve the pH balance of your soil.
• Periodically inspect. Periodically inspect the soil for any signs of potential problems. Some problems that can indicate the pH balance of your lawn is out of whack are things like excessive thatching, fairy rings, and other similar problems. If you find these issues cropping up in your lawn, make sure that you take care of it as quickly as possible.

Keep in mind that adjusting the pH balance of your soil is not a one-time only event. You will want to periodically retest your soil to ensure that it is still within the range you want it at. While you could test the soil every week, that is overly excessive. Rather you should be testing your soil once a month for maintenance purposes.