pH Correction and Testing

pH Correction and Testing with ProLawnsAu

A healthy lawn starts from the soil up. One of the most overlooked steps in lawn care is checking your soil pH. Think of pH as the gatekeeper for nutrients. If it is off, your grass can struggle to absorb the good stuff no matter how much fertiliser you throw at it.

For most Aussie lawns, the sweet spot is a pH between 6 and 7. At this level the essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium are available for your lawn to use. Stray too far either side and your grass starts to miss out. Acidic soils with low pH lock up nutrients, while alkaline soils with high pH make it harder for roots to take in what they need.

How to test pH

The good news is that testing your soil pH is simple and does not need any special skills. Basic pH test kits are cheap, available at hardware stores, nurseries or online, and will last for years.

The usual process is:

  1. Collect a few soil samples from different spots in your lawn.
  2. Mix them together for a fair average.
  3. Add the pH dye or powder from your kit.
  4. Wait for the colour change and match it to the guide provided.

This quick test shows you where your soil sits and whether you need to adjust it.

Raising pH (acidic soil)

If your soil is too acidic below pH 6, adding agricultural lime or dolomite lime will push it back into the healthy range. Finely ground lime acts quicker, while coarser lime works more slowly but lasts longer. Lime can also improve clay soils by helping with structure and drainage.

Lowering pH (alkaline soil)

If your soil is too alkaline above pH 7.5, you can bring it down using products like sulphur or sulphate of ammonia. These gradually reduce the alkalinity and help balance things out. Always follow the application rates on the bag, as too much can do more harm than good.

ProLawnsAu tip

Think of soil pH correction as groundwork. Just like sharpening your mower blades before the season kicks off, getting your pH right sets your fertiliser and watering efforts up to succeed. Do it once and your lawn will thank you for seasons to come.