- Pale or Yellow Grass<\/a><\/li>
- Poor Grass Growth<\/a><\/li>
- Thinning Turf With Bare Patches<\/a><\/li>
- Ineffective Fertilization Attempts<\/a><\/li>
- Diseases and Weeds<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs About High Soil pH<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
![\"Soil](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> Pale or Yellow Grass<\/h2>
Discolored turf \u2014 especially whitish turf \u2014 is one of the major indicators of high pH soil. Alkaline soil turns important plant nutrients like phosphorus, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron into insoluble forms. In other words, they\u2019re in the soil but can\u2019t be used by grass or other plants.<\/p>
A lack of iron causes <\/strong>iron chlorosis<\/a> in plants, which causes yellowing and whitening of the leaves.<\/strong> In this case, the iron deficiency is due to your grass being unable to use the iron that\u2019s already in the ground.<\/p>
Do keep in mind that yellow grass<\/a> can also be a symptom of other lawn issues, including: <\/p>
- Low soil pH (acidic soil)<\/li>
- Excess thatch<\/a><\/li>
- Compacted soil<\/a><\/li>
- Nutrient deficiencies unrelated to soil pH imbalances<\/li> <\/ul>
It\u2019s best to conduct a soil test to rule out a high pH level before lowering the pH of your lawn.<\/strong><\/p>
See Related:<\/strong><\/p>
- How to Test the Soil pH of Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- 5 Signs of Acidic Soil in Your Lawn (Low pH)<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Poor Grass Growth<\/h2>
If your grass is growing very slowly, then your lawn\u2019s soil might have a high pH level. We mentioned that certain nutrients become unavailable to plants in alkaline soil, and one of them was phosphorus. Phosphorus is responsible for healthy plant growth, so a lack of it will stunt your turf\u2019s growth<\/strong>.<\/p>
While that might sound appealing to you \u2014 less mowing because your grass grows slower \u2014 that also means your lawn will recover from damage slower. Poor growth also means that your grass will eventually become weak and die off.<\/strong><\/p>
This leads to the next sign of high-pH soil: a thinning lawn with bare patches.<\/p>
Thinning Turf With Bare Patches<\/h2>
![\"Grass](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Lawn-in-bad-condition.jpg\")
Photo Credit: singjai<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock Free \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Unhealthy, nutrient-deficient grass eventually dies off, which leads to a thinning lawn, which turns into a patchy one. <\/p>
You\u2019ll have great difficulty fixing your patchy grass too, no matter if you\u2019re overseeding your lawn or laying down sod. A lack of nutrients means grass seedlings or newly-installed sod will have a harder time growing properly.<\/p>
See Related:<\/strong><\/p>
- How to Overseed a Lawn in 8 Simple Steps<\/a><\/li>
- How to Lay Sod: A Step-by-Step Guide<\/a><\/li>
- How to Plant and Grow Grass Seed in 9 Steps<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Ineffective Fertilization Attempts<\/h2>
So, you\u2019ve tried dethatching your lawn<\/a>, aerating it, and adding new grass, but nothing has worked. Not even fertilizer is helping. Well, that is likely because your soil has a pH imbalance.<\/p>
Adding granular fertilizer won\u2019t help you if you have alkaline soil<\/strong>, as the nutrients will just become insoluble in the soil. You could use a liquid fertilizer<\/a>, as grass can absorb nutrients through its leaves, but that would be more expensive and less environmentally friendly. Instead, use chelated fertilizer, which increases nutrient uptake in alkaline soils.<\/strong><\/p>
See Related: <\/strong>How to Aerate a Lawn<\/a><\/p>
Diseases and Weeds<\/h2>
![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Summer-Patch.jpg\")
Photo Credit: NC State Cooperative Extension<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> In general, weaker turf is more susceptible to being ravaged by disease, outcompeted by weeds, and destroyed by pests. So, if you see damage on your lawn or more unsightly weeds, your lawn might have a high soil pH.<\/p>
Some <\/strong>common lawn diseases<\/a> are more likely in alkaline soil, though. <\/strong>Here are some of them:<\/p>
- Summer patch<\/a><\/li>
- Spring dead spot<\/a><\/li>
- Take-all root rot<\/a><\/li>
- Red thread<\/a><\/li>
- Pink snow mold<\/a><\/li>
- Pythium blight<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
Certain weeds also thrive in alkaline soil. <\/strong>The lawn weeds that are common in soils with a pH level higher than 7.0 include:<\/p>
- Bermudagrass (often a desirable turfgrass, but can be a weed in non-Bermuda lawns)<\/li>
- Broadleaf plantain<\/li>
- Clover plants (Trifolium<\/em> spp.)<\/li>
- Yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta<\/em>)<\/li> <\/ul>
See Related:<\/strong> <\/p>
- Read Your Weeds: Identify Them to Learn About Your Lawn\u2019s Health<\/a><\/li>
- How to Get Rid of Clover and Not Kill Grass<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
FAQs About High Soil pH<\/h2>
How Do I Lower My Soil pH?<\/strong>You can lower your soil pH by adding soil amendments<\/a> like elemental sulfur, acidic compost (pine needles, citrus peels, and oak bark), or peat moss. However, changing your soil\u2019s pH level may take a while \u2014 on the scale of months or even years.<\/p> <\/div>
Why is My Soil Alkaline?<\/strong>Your soil could be alkaline due to several reasons:
What pH Level is Best For Grass?<\/strong>The best pH level for grass is slightly acidic to neutral, around 6.0 to 7.0.<\/strong> Anything higher than 7.0 is alkaline and anything lower is acidic.
Hire a Pro For a Green Lawn<\/h2>
While high soil pH can cause your lawn to become lackluster, there are many other reasons why your lawn can be unhealthy. But with good lawn care practices, you should be able to prevent these issues from happening.<\/p>
Not sure what to do about your pale, thin lawn? A lawn care pro can help you make it lush and green again. LawnStarter can connect you with a pro in your area who can mow your lawn, apply sulfur, and more. Hire a local lawn care pro<\/a> through LawnStarter today.<\/p>
\t\t\t\t\t\tSources:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t
<\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t- University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension<\/a> and Ask IFAS: Understanding and Applying Chelated Fertilizers Effectively Based on Soil pH<\/a> and Ask IFAS: Weeds as Indicators of Soil Conditions in Lawns and Landscapes<\/a><\/li>
- University of Massachusetts Amherst: Soil pH and Liming<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul> <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>
- How to Get Rid of Clover and Not Kill Grass<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- Yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta<\/em>)<\/li> <\/ul>
- Spring dead spot<\/a><\/li>
- How to Lay Sod: A Step-by-Step Guide<\/a><\/li>
- 5 Signs of Acidic Soil in Your Lawn (Low pH)<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- Compacted soil<\/a><\/li>
- Poor Grass Growth<\/a><\/li>