Improving Lawn Soil pH

Improving Lawn Soil pH
Soil pH is paramount to optimizing turf success. Some say its the engine that drives the car. Soil pH out of range (acidic or alkaline) can negatively impact nutrient uptake, either preventing your turn from fully utilizing nutrients or utilizing so fast that plant systems collapse, resulting in diminished turf health or even turf death. Maintaining proper soil pH will also optimize your investment in fertilization product costs.
Before you apply any pH apps, you need to run a simple soil test to ascertain your soil pH. If out of range there are generally two preferred methods to either adjust pH up or down. Review this video and learn how to test soil pH: • How to Test Your Lawn ... and or find links to testing and pH apps farther below.
I had great success with the Jonathan Green products featured in this video, multiple links are provided below.
Below are links to products or materials referenced. There are many comparable products to the ones I'm currently using. Please make your own decision and ONLY apply in accordance with the manufactures instructions and local regulations. You are responsible for what you apply.
Please note some of the links provided below may be affiliate based. I earn from qualifying purchases.​ As an Amazon Associate I may also earn from qualifying purchases.
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Yard Mastery Soil Testing Kit:
shrsl.com/2v1fy
MAG-I-CAL PLUS Soil Food for Lawns in Acidic & Hard Soil:
Yard Mastery shrsl.com/2vjej
Amazon amzn.to/3uQ5D9H
MAG-I-CAL PLUS Soil Food for Lawns in Alkaline & Hard Soil
Yard Mastery shrsl.com/2vjeo
Amazon amzn.to/3EkQDUu
How to Measure Your Lawn:
• How to Measure your Lawn
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Contact: [e-mail]

[@HomeownerHacks]

Hey are you sure the black bag is also adding magnesium? I already have very high mag but low ph. What color should I use? Thanks in advance for the reply!

[@LawnJourneys]

John: I may have miss spoke on the magnesium content! Looks like there is none. Below is link to the product label, look at the contents on page #2. www.jonathangreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Mag-I-Cal-Plus-for-Lawns-in-Acidic-Hard-Soil.pdf Sorry about the goof up and thanks for catching.

[@HomeownerHacks]

@@LawnJourneys ok awesome just wanted to be sure i got the right one. You the man!

[@rubenharris9241]

I have used the JG product for acidic soil a few times. Works well and is convenient to your point Russ. Given how important PH is to lawn health, it is important to stress this….especially for enthusiasts who are putting down a variety of products that are aimed at creating a healthy and good looking lawn.

[@LawnJourneys]

Ruben: Great to know. I’m excited about continuing my pH push this season. Thanks!

[@allensadicario5196]

That is great stuff I use it 3 times a year always good seeing you on the lawn brother

[@LawnJourneys]

Thanks Allen. I was excited to see the change/results. Hoping the move up continues with positive results. The cost was actually less and easier to apply. 😀

[@lxiong1077]

I’m high on PH and am trying the purple bag to lower it down. Just put a bag down I maybe do similar schedule to yours. Thanks for the tip. You jumped .3 on 3 applications is a success.

[@LawnJourneys]

Connor: Yes three magnitude increase was significant. I’m still low but moving closer to that optimal range. I want to maximize fert benefits in the turf $

[@andyslawncareandoutdooradv]

Great info Russ! Your ph is headed in the right direction for sure.

[@LawnJourneys]

I think so too!

[@Striperman]

Great job on explanation and showing results. It is moving in the right direction. Lawn looks great already too.

[@LawnJourneys]

Thanks Keith, I’m more excited about the pH bump than you know. 😀

[@TheLawnSensei]

Good video… have some left from last year. Recorded a video yesterday, hope I can get out for end next week. I had success as well with it!

[@LawnJourneys]

Good to k ie it worked for you too! I’ll be hitting it every other month this season. Look forward to seeing your vid. I’m doing fewer this season but trying to share more on the info side.

[@maskew43]

Thx for the great info. I will purchase this product. I to was very low on my ph and magnesium.

[@LawnJourneys]

Glad it was helpful sounds like we have the same issue. I was happy with the soil test/result and considering the price and ease of application I consider it a good choice. I'm doing at least three more apps this season. Thanks for watching.

[@brianluby8143]

Nice start to the season Russ

[@LawnJourneys]

Thanks Brian. Hope yours is enjoyable too.

[@brianluby8143]

@@LawnJourneys it has been nice mowing again

[@LawnJourneys]

@@brianluby8143 Agree. I'm cutting tomorrow and looking forward to it. I have a hankering to upgrade to a Timemaster, will see.

[@brianluby8143]

I have a good sized property so I've got a cub cadet riding mower

[@LawnJourneys]

@@brianluby8143 Nice! I'm on a corner but bigger riding would be overkill. Have fun out there.

[@jaymetheaccountant]

Good content Russ! I used a fast acting sulfur last year and moved mine from 7.2 to 6.5 hoping to see better nutrient uptake 👍

[@LawnJourneys]

Wow. Even better 😀. Was that all result of a single app?

[@jaymetheaccountant]

@@LawnJourneys yes sir did it in April can’t say enough good things about Earth. Science brands

[@commanderlawn2886]

@@jaymetheaccountant Great. Glad it worked. I’ll see what they offer for going the other way, curious.

[@jaymetheaccountant]

@@commanderlawn2886 they have a fast acting lime too! Highly recommend

[@commanderlawn2886]

@@jaymetheaccountant Thanks. I’ll take a look, would like to compare to JG for contents and price. Thanks for sharing.

[@maggarlion]

Wonderful video . I live in NY and my lawn is generally in the 6.5 t0 7.0 rsnge. However this spring to summer I saw some patches start developing in my lawn so I did a reseeding just of the patches. After 2 months or so most of the patches were repaired. However there was one patch about about 20 x 10 ft that just wouldnt budge I am somewhat patient so I reseeded again and it still wouldnt budge so I did a ph test. OMG it was 8.3 I was shocked so I waiting 2 days later and did another test . It was the same . I ordered a bag of JG Magical Plus for Alkaline and used a hand spreader to spread it just on the patch. Within a month the patch was gone and the PH dropped to 7.0. Unbelievable but true. I am trying to figure out what could have caused that area of my lawn to have such a high PH.. I am yet to come up with the answer.

[@LawnJourneys]

Appreciate your reaching out and letting me know you liked the video. I enjoy making them and chatting with like minded folks. Not sure why you would have on particular area that had a significantly higher pH. But... I've heard that this can happen if you've added a lot of organics such as compost. Did you do any soil amendments or was this area a garden at some time in the past which could have received a lot of compost in past years? In any case I was very pleased with the JG product I used to raise pH (in my case). Significant improvement, easy to apply (5k ft2 bags) and cost effective compared to what I would have spend for traditional products. I've done two apps so far this season and will be doing the last one in September. Again, thanks for reaching out, hope your lawn season has been great.

[@maggarlion]

@@LawnJourneys Hmm perhaps that was the cause. I did add alot of compost in that area as part of the reseeding

[@brodygoalie]

Jonathan green products are very good!!!

[@LawnJourneys]

Yes! I was really pleased to see how much my pH moved, considering the three apps I made. Better than hauling tons of lime home. I’m doing my second app of this season sometime in June. Appreciate your commenting. 😄

[@brodygoalie]

@@LawnJourneys question. I used Jonathan green fertilizer for seeding and sod 4 /5 weeks ago. I would like to fertilize now . My lawn is not as lush as it could be. With that said I do intend to use summer survival in about 5/ /6 weeks. But I want to apply fertilizer now June 4th. So it's a toss up between green up fertilizer which is 29 for nitrogen or should I apply fertilizer for seeding and sod again. Thanks fur for your guidance. I live in Massachusetts and I do have a sprinkler system so no issues watering in the fertilizer.

[@LawnJourneys]

@@brodygoalie Lesco 18-24-12 starter may not be a bad idea for a second round. Push some growth and still support roots with P and K. If you then move onto something like YM Summer Stress, you’ll have the Iron working for you. I’d lean on supporting the new seedlings for one more round. Just my opinion, I’m sure others will say differently 😉

[@brodygoalie]

@@LawnJourneys what does the YM stand for?? Thanks

[@LawnJourneys]

@@brodygoalie Yard Mastery online selling Sunniland blends of fert.

[@thurstonr9929]

Hey Russ, Unrelated to this video. I learned not to seed again in the Spring if it means forsaking pre-emergent. Live and learn …poa every where. But I’m afraid to blanket spray poa with Tenacity for fear of harming the rest of my grass. Any experience with this? I also learned a hard lesson with using urea based fert when seeding- too much forced growth. The soil does not absorb the nitrogen which explains some of the lime green I’m seeing. Learned a lot about this from Turf Mechanic’s channel. Well… the thing about making mistakes is not to repeat them !

[@LawnJourneys]

Thurston. Tenacity will stop POA from germinating. If its already up I don't think its going to kill it. Best option is to dig it out or weight for hot weather to whack it and consider tenacity for next season. I have some in my back yard and although annoying I have yet to try to eradicate it. Also, agree that spring seeding is not ideal, ok if you have a small area that you can keep on top of with water etc. Otherwise wait for fall weather. Didn't readily know about urea and lime green results to thanks! I also follow the Turf Mechanic.

[@TheSoloAsylum]

I water with well water, sulfur water, I always wondered if I am constantly lowering my PH?

[@LawnJourneys]

I would imagine its possible but I'm not qualified to answer that one. I would reach out to your local soil conservation district or local university. They should have someone who can help. If you find a resource through them, please comment agan, as I'd love to pin the thread for others. Thanks.

[@donnarizzo3510]

Hi there, please how long after I apply my 2nd treatment of Mag I Cal Plus this fall shall I do a soil test? I was 7.16 in May 2022 and was 6.75 in Apr 2021

[@LawnJourneys]

I only test in the spring, did 3 more apps myself this season. With that said, I’d wait 30-45 days before you test, my opinion. Thanks for sharing.

[@donnarizzo3510]

@@LawnJourneys tu

[@jimmyturner4015]

So my ph in a certain spot of two is sky high and new grass seed wont grow so what can i do jimmy

[@LawnJourneys]

Jimmy: It can’t be all pH. But use the sulfur based option to raise pH. Does the seed germinate? I’ve had good luck using Scott’s Lawn Soil as a base, peat moss on top is a must and water lightly three times daily. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZ6tXqOuiZh2h6M

[@grassthief1280]

Should of watched SCAM ALERT with Matt Martin on limes & Magical was 1 of them/basically the most expensive lime & the cheapest lime was no different 😢

[@LawnJourneys]

I did watch it. With that said, I got the same result using Magi-cal, spent as much as if I brought home a few hundred pounds of lime and spread it all (price is close either option, two bags of magical for 10K ft2 or multiple bags of lime, plus lugging it home and spreading it all). I think I mentioned this in my video this year. I'll be running another soil test in the spring and if my pH moved up again I may stick with this product.

[@maskew43]

Thx for the great info. I will purchase this product. I to was very low on my ph and magnesium.

[@LawnJourneys]

You're welcome