As a Massachusetts irrigation company, we are often focused on topics of how to conserve water through means of water pressure, sprinkler heads, and smart controllers. However, an area that can often be overlooked is the pH of your lawn’s soil. Understanding and being aware of your soil’s pH can often lead to better results with your grass, healthier plantings, and long-term landscape success. If having the lushest and greenest lawn is in the neighborhood is in your plans, this is why knowing your soil's pH should be in your lawn care strategy.
Let’s start from the beginning: What is a soil’s pH? A soil’s pH is how acidic or alkaline your soil is based on a scale of 0-14, with 0 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline. The sweet spot for optimal absorption of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and other minerals for most grass and plantings is 6.0 - 7.0.
Now, let’s move the next question: Why does this all matter? If your pH is too high or too low, plants may not absorb water properly — even if everything is working perfectly from an irrigation standpoint. This can also lead to secondary problems such as root rot or drought stress due to water sitting too long or evaporating too fast.
By ensuring your soil’s pH is not too high or too low, this eventually leads to, you guessed it, more water conservation! This is because when your soil can effectively retain moisture, you will have less water runoff, need to water less, and overall have more efficient use of your irrigation system. While many homeowners’ first reaction when they see their lawn or plants struggling is to increase the amount of water they are giving, you may be doing more harm than good.
If you find yourself struggling with the success of your lawn or plants year in and year out, it may be worth conducting a test of your soil’s pH. There are ways you can conduct these tests at home, but like anything else, we always recommend contacting a professional for a consultation. Once results are received, there are many remedies that can be applied, such as adding different types of compost or fertilizers to your soil. Again, consulting a lawn-care professional will be the best way to approach the next steps when learning how to fix your soil’s pH.
At Lucas Irrigation, we aim to not only help our clients water their lawns but also water smarter. By combining effective soil management and precision irrigation, you will be putting your best foot forward towards an efficient, healthy landscape. If this is a problem that your property is struggling with, reach out, and we would be happy to connect you with one of our landscaping partners.