Not all soil types are created equal, so how do you know you are applying the right nutrients to your lawn? If you don’t know the pH level, nitrogen analysis or nutrient deficiencies of your soil you could be wasting your time and money buying and applying the wrong products. Applying the wrong products or nutrient can significantly reduce the health of your turf and inhibit efficient nutrient uptake and potentially waste your money. In order to have a healthy lawn you must have healthy soil. Soil testing is necessary to find out what your soil needs. In Lawn & Landscapes' article, “Know before you grow,” Jeff Carroll, owner of Jefferson Sustainable Landscape Management states, “People will just pump fertilizer and pump fertilizer … and no one really does soil testing… typically, when doing soil testing, I find that the soil has way too much nitrogen as a result of over fertilizing.” The truth of the matter is, flying blind without a soil test can lead to failed plantings (especially with new seedlings) and a costly waste of fertilizer. Making a habit to soil test will benefit the health of your lawn(s) and your finances by reducing over-application, balancing pH levels for efficient nutrient uptake and save you money by only buying and applying the fertilizer/nutrients needed by your soil.

A balanced pH level is necessary for your turf to properly and efficiently take-up nutrients and successfully fight off weeds. When your soil pH level is unbalanced, you could be wasting up to 70% of the effectiveness of your lawn fertilizer or control products. A neutral pH level of 6.0-6.8 is recommended for optimal plant health. If your soil is alkaline (7.0 or higher) you should apply Sulfur, if your soil is acidic (6.0 or lower) you should apply Calcium, which is commonly found in Lime. The addition of an annual application of Sulfur or Calcium (Lime) will improve lawn health and it’s ability to take-up nutrients, which will protect the financial investment you make on fertilizer. Applying a soil amendment to your lawn like Lime will also encourage a stronger root system, return depleted nutrients back to the soil (ex: calcium and magnesium), assist with protecting it against environmental stresses and increase water-holding capacity and retention in drought. When you have successfully balanced the soil pH, the fertilizer you apply is utilized to its full potential and so is your financial investment. For optimum effectiveness, the recommended annual application of soil amendments to balance your pH is spring and/or fall, or anytime your turf could use a quick pick me up. It’s recommended to do a soil test prior to application in order to gage a better understanding of soil health.