Skip to content
  • Residential
    • Design & Construction
    • Maintenance
    • Irrigation
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • Tree Care & Plant Health
    • Christmas Decor
    • Outdoor Sanitation
    • Christmas Lights Guide
  • Commercial
    • Construction
    • Maintenance
    • Irrigation
    • Snow & Ice Removal
    • Tree Care & Plant Health
    • Christmas Decor
    • Trails
    • Outdoor Sanitation
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Search
  • Pay My Bill
  • (719) 638-1000
Menu
  • Timberline Landscaping
  • Residential Landscaping
    • Design & Construction
    • Residential Maintenance
    • Residential Irrigation
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • Tree Care & Plant Health
    • Residential Christmas Decor
    • Outdoor Sanitation
    • Christmas Lights Guide
  • Commercial Landscaping
    • Commercial Construction
    • Commercial Maintenance
    • Commercial Irrigation
    • Snow & Ice Removal
    • Tree Care & Plant Health
    • Commercial Christmas Decor
    • Trails
    • Outdoor Sanitation
  • Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Search
  • Pay My Bill
  • 719.638.1000
  • Linked In
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

Why Soil pH Matters

  • August 21, 2015
  • Lawn Care & Gardening

There’s a little known fact about what Goldilocks did before sitting down to each Little Bear’s porridge. It’s true – she took a stroll through their gardens, and tested the soil pH. Papa Bear’s soil was too alkaline – 9.2! Mama Bear’s was far too acidic – 3.5. Baby Bear’s garden, though? Just right. A perfectly neutral 7.1.

Silly stories aside, if you want to have a garden to work in or if you wish to decorate with plants, shrubs, or trees, you’ll want to have a healthy yard. That starts with good soil. If you’re looking to install new plantings or sod during a drought, you’ll have to have your soil tested before you can get a permit to water outside the restrictions.. When you are amending your soil you must also keep in mind the type of plants you want to grow. Certain plants prefer more acidic soil, like blueberries and azaleas.

why soil pH matters

How to test the pH level in your soil yourself

To test your soil’s pH levels you’ll need a simple pH test probe. Visit your hardware store or home décor store, or order one online. They can be had for as little as $45.

  1. Dig a small hole in your yard: make sure the hole is 5-10 centimeters deep.
  2. Use your hands or a small tool to break up the soil. Remove any twigs or rocks.
  3. Fill the hole with distilled water. Don’t use tap water (it’s usually too alkaline) and don’t use rainwater because it’s acidic.
  4. Insert the pH test probe into the mud at the bottom of your hole. Test the probe first to ensure that the batteries are charged and it’s functioning.
  5. Leave the pH tester in the mud for 1-2 minutes then take a reading. Consult the chart below to find the pH level of your soil. A reading near 7 is neutral.
  6. Repeat these steps in several different areas where you plan to place a garden or fauna.

If you’re the MacGyver type and would rather employ a more natural method, you can test pH levels using red cabbage and boiling water.

ph ranges sheet

Professional Soil Testing

If you’d rather have a professional test your soil, Timberline offers basic soil testing. However, if you would like a more comprehensive test, the Colorado State University Soil Lab offers 2 different test with 4 different additions to choose from. CSU offers a routine garden and landscape soil test that evaluates the soil fertility status for growing lawns, gardens and topsoil as well as a manure, compost and potting soil analysis. If you’re interested in taking the test one step further, they can test the texture of your soil, as well as the percentage of sodium, chromium, molybdenum, cadmium, and lead, and the carbon/nitrogen ratio.

You may be asking yourself now: how do these affect my lawn?

Texture Matters

First, knowing the texture of your soil can help you manage water. Having a high clay percentage means you should water more often, but with less water. Sandy soils need more water, more often. The hydrometer (texture) addition to the soil test can help you decide how to water more efficiently.

Sodium Levels

The sodium test evaluates the SAR, which is the ratio of sodium to calcium, potassium and magnesium in your soil. A high concentration of sodium can prevent water from penetrating your soil and prevent aeration around the roots. It is also very detrimental to plant growth.

Chromium, Molybdenum, Cadmium & Lead

Heavy metals are often found in industrial waste areas. Soil in Denver and other municipal areas have been affected by smelters and gas refineries, so soil tests are valuable for gardeners. Especially if you are planning to grow edibles, knowing the metal content can prevent your vegetables from being contaminated with dangerous chemicals. Heavy metals can cause nutrient deficiencies as well.

Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio

If you’re noticing that your turf is yellowing or very splotchy, you might have an abundance of carbon. Nitrogen deficient plants turn yellow and they may not flower or bear fruit. Especially if you use manure to fertilize your lawn, a carbon/nitrogen evaluation can help you determine what balance is needed.

How to change your soil pH level

Consult with a specialist before doing anything to your soil. The most common way to increase the pH of acidic soil is the use of agricultural lime, which you can purchase at farm stores, most hardware stores, and outdoor or gardening centers. You may also be able to use burnt lime, oyster shells, or firewood ash. Another vital addition to your soil is organic material. You can have a sandy soil that has a great PH but if you don’t add organic material your plant material will not thrive.

For soil high in alkaline you can apply aluminum sulphate or more simply you can build a compost and use the excess. You can also use manure or plant feed.

Keep in mind, you will have to continue to amend your soil. Since pH is naturally occurring in the area you test, the changes will not be a one-time fix. Here at Timberline, we will typically bring in good soil when planting or installing sod. That is the only way to prevent frequent amendments.

If you would like us to test your soil for you, we are happy to do so and we can also provide soil amendments if you wish. Contact our experts today and we can get started!

  • 38Share on Facebook
  • 9Share on Twitter
  • 7Share on LinkedIn
  • 56Share on Pinterest
Recent Posts
  • How to Better Utilize Your Patio this Year
  • Outdoor Lighting To Enjoy Year-Round
  • Colorado Springs Christmas Lights Guide 2020
  • How to Incorporate Holiday Lighting into Your Landscaping
  • 5 Tips for Fall Tree Care

What can we help you find today?

Categories
  • Colorado Springs
  • Commercial Landscaping
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Landscape Management
  • Lawn Care & Gardening
  • Outdoor Living
  • Plant Guides
  • Project Ideas
  • Purchasing Tips
  • Recent Projects
  • Spring/Summer Tips
  • The Incline
  • Trail Building
  • Tree Care
  • Uncategorized
  • Water Features
  • Water Management & Irrigation
  • Winter/Fall Tips

Sign up for our free educational newsletter!

Contact us

8110 Opportunity View,
Colorado Springs, CO

(719) 638-1000

Timberline Landscaping is part of the TimberlineOne family of companies, cultivating better place to work, live and play.

8110 Opportunity View,
Colorado Springs, CO
719.638.1000

Timberline Landscaping is part of the TimberlineONE family of companies, cultivating better place to work, live and play.
Linkedin-in
Twitter
Facebook-f
Pinterest-p
Instagram
Arrow-up
Linkedin-in
Twitter
Facebook-f
Pinterest-p
Instagram
Youtube
A TimberlineOne Company

Privacy Policy | HTML Sitemap | XML Sitemap

© 2021 Timberline Landscaping