Gardening experts have shared a simple tip that can make a world of difference for your lawn and is particularly useful if your grass has been exposed to direct sunshine
After the summer season, lawns can often appear a bit worn out, particularly if they’ve been subjected to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.
Fortunately, there are several straightforward steps you can take to rejuvenate your grass and prepare it for the chillier months ahead. However, before you spring into action, there’s one crucial aspect you might be neglecting that could make all the difference.
Gardening gurus Leonardo and Domenico from Airtasker suggest going an extra mile by checking your soil’s pH levels, reports the Express. They stated: “Not many people realise this is such a key step, but we always recommend testing soil pH and making any adjustments to ensure it’s within the ideal range for grass growth. Grass requires nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to grow well.”
Elucidating the science behind this vital task, the experts said: “If the soil pH is too acidic or too alkaline, it can block these nutrients from being absorbed by the grass roots, resulting in poor growth and a patchy lawn. Note that the ideal range is typically somewhere between 6.0 and 7.5.
“If your soil pH is too low it’s a good idea to add lime or wood ash to raise it. If you run the tests and if it’s too high, add organic materials such as sulphur or aluminium sulphate.”
By tending to your soil at the end of summer, you’re setting yourself up for success when it comes to reseeding or laying new turf by late September or October, as early autumn provides perfect growing conditions.
Even if you’re not planning to reseed or lay new turf, this is still a great time to tackle ongoing lawn problems.
Aerate to reduce compaction, top dress to encourage healthier growth, or focus on weed control and pest management to keep your lawn in top shape heading into autumn.
How to test your lawn soil’s pH at home
Use household ingredients: Split a soil sample into two containers, dampen with water, and add either baking soda or vinegar to each. If the soil bubbles after adding baking soda, it’s acidic, and if it bubbles after adding vinegar, it’s alkaline.
Soil test kit: A variety of soil test kits are available that can test for pH, moisture, and other factors. Some kits can provide results in as little as a week.
Digital soil pH tester: A digital soil pH tester uses a pH electrode to measure soil acidity with high accuracy.
pH testing strips: pH testing strips are one of the oldest and most accurate methods for testing soil pH at home. However, this method requires mixing a soil sample with distilled water, which can be time-consuming.
