The health and wellness of your lawn begins with the soil. So, if your goal is to maintain healthy plants, the place to start is with a soil test. This is a great way to measure your soil’s health and fertility. But what does the test show and how often should you do it? Our team at Portage Turf Specialists LLC wants to help you answer those questions and take advantage of our free soil test with our 5-Step Program.
Why Get a Soil Test?
Getting a soil test helps take the guesswork out of any nutrient issues your lawn may have. Most soil nutrients are already present in the soil as long as the pH level is between 6 and 6.5. However, if the pH level is too high, your soil will have less nutrients. If it’s too low, this can cause toxicity which will adversely affect your plants. Therefore, if you get your soil tested, you’ll know what fertilizers may be necessary for creating a healthy soil environment.
What Does a Soil Test Show?
A soil test primarily looks at the pH level of your soil so that you can pinpoint nutrient deficiencies. With this knowledge, you’re able to determine the current fertility and health of your soil. Common plants, such as grasses, flowers, and vegetables, thrive in slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. However, if you’re looking to plant something like azaleas, gardenias, or blueberries, you’ll need your soil to have a higher acidity for these plants to perform at their best. Therefore, having your soil tested will make it easier to determine which plants will do well on your property.
How Often Should You Test?
Soil samples can be taken at any time of the year, and most choose to do it annually to keep an eye on the soil’s performance capacity. If you’ve never had your soil tested, it’s a great place to start as you plan your spring gardening.
At Portage Turf, we offer a complimentary soil test when you schedule a Premium 5-Step Fertilization. Contact us today at (330) 296-8873 to get started. We provide naturally better lawn care to the communities of Kent, Aurora, and more. We proudly offer a certified organic lawn care program to make your lawn a little more “green”.
