{"id":128945,"date":"2025-03-04T01:20:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T04:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=128945"},"modified":"2025-10-03T00:23:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T03:23:46","slug":"when-to-test-soil-ph-lawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/when-to-test-soil-ph-lawn\/","title":{"rendered":"When to Test the Soil pH of Your Lawn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The best time to test your lawn\u2019s soil pH is <strong>spring or early fall <\/strong><strong><em>before<\/em><\/strong><strong> you amend the soil<\/strong>. Let\u2019s discuss when to test the soil pH of your lawn and how often to do it.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-b55b58f2-f2ba-40ec-b1a6-45d7d92a8b89\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\">In this article, we\u2019ll cover:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/when-to-test-soil-ph-lawn\/#0-the-best-time-to-test-for-soil-ph\" style=\"\">The Best Time to Test for Soil pH<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/when-to-test-soil-ph-lawn\/#1-how-often-to-test-your-lawn%E2%80%99s-soil-ph\" style=\"\">How Often to Test Your Lawn\u2019s Soil pH<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/when-to-test-soil-ph-lawn\/#2-faqs-about-testing-the-soil-ph-of-your-lawn\" style=\"\">FAQ<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-the-best-time-to-test-for-soil-ph\">The Best Time to Test for Soil pH<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update.jpg\" alt=\"Soil pH Update\" class=\"wp-image-53920\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update-646x457.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update-768x543.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p><strong>The best time to test your lawn\u2019s soil\u2019s pH level is spring or early fall<\/strong> <strong><em>before<\/em><\/strong><strong> you\u2019ve added compost, fertilizer, or <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/types-soil-amendments\/\">soil amendments<\/a>. This way, you get a clear picture of what your soil is actually like \u2014 deficiencies and all. Then, you\u2019ll be able to buy the amendments you need and amend the soil before the growing season.<\/p>    <p>However, <strong>it\u2019s possible to soil test your lawn at any point in the year as long as your soil conditions are right.<\/strong> In this case, the soil should be dry and not frozen. Moist soil can give you inaccurate results.<\/p>    <p><strong>Does this mean I can\u2019t test in late fall or winter? <\/strong>You can still test during these times. In fact, experts from the Louisiana State University AgCenter recommend late fall or early winter soil testing for faster results and an idea of how your lawn did during the past growing season. You also can amend the soil well before the next growing season by testing during these times.<\/p>    <p><strong>Just make sure to thoroughly air dry your soil<\/strong> before shipping it off or using it in an at-home soil testing kit. If it\u2019s frozen, let it melt and then air dry.<\/p>    <p><strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Send in your soil sample early in the season so you have enough time for the results to come back before amending. Ask your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nifa.usda.gov\/land-grant-colleges-and-universities-partner-website-directory?state=All&amp;type=Extension\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">local Cooperative Extension<\/a> office for exact <strong>turnaround times<\/strong>, but these generally <strong>vary from three days to six weeks<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p><strong>See Related:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/ph-soil-test-lawn-grass\/\">How to Test the Soil pH of Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/how-to-change-soil-ph\/\">How to Change Your Soil pH<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-how-often-to-test-your-lawn%E2%80%99s-soil-ph\">How Often to Test Your Lawn\u2019s Soil pH<\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/soil-ph-test.jpeg\" alt=\"Soil pH meter and soil fertility meter for cultivation.\" class=\"wp-image-128948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/soil-ph-test.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/soil-ph-test-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/soil-ph-test-656x437.jpeg 656w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/soil-ph-test-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/soil-ph-test-768x512.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Testing soil. Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/soil-ph-meter-and-soil-fertility-meter-for-cultivation\/497723495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">994yellow<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock Free \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/jo\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p><strong>You should test your lawn\u2019s soil pH every three to five years <\/strong>if you have a healthy lawn. Checking every few years lets you know if there are any soil issues brewing.<\/p>    <p>It\u2019s a different story if you amended your soil with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/why-how-to-lime-lawn\/\">agricultural lime<\/a> or elemental sulfur. <strong>Test your soil yearly if you\u2019ve amended your lawn<\/strong> to track the pH changes, as they tend to take effect very slowly. For example, it could take a year or more to see the results of a lime application. This way, you\u2019ll know if you need more amendments or if you\u2019ve added too much.<\/p>    <p><strong>Always consider a soil test if your lawn is struggling. <\/strong>You can test your soil any time as long as it\u2019s not frozen, so you don\u2019t have to wait until spring or fall to test. Soil pH issues and nutrient deficiencies in the soil can cause a slew of turf issues, including poor growth and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/yellow-grass-causes-treatment\/\">yellow grass<\/a>. You can read more about these issues in these articles:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/signs-alkaline-soil-in-lawn\/\">Signs of Alkaline Soil in Your Lawn (High pH)<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/signs-acidic-soil-in-lawn\/\">Signs of Acidic Soil in Your Lawn (Low pH)<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-faqs-about-testing-the-soil-ph-of-your-lawn\">FAQs About Testing the Soil pH of Your Lawn<\/h2>    <div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740806315395\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Why Should You Test Soil pH?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Here are some reasons <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/why-test-soil-ph-lawn\/\">why you should test your lawn\u2019s soil pH<\/a>:<br\/><br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> Check if your lawn\u2019s pH levels are balanced<br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> Rule out soil pH issues causing poor lawn growth<br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> Track soil pH and nutrient changes<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740806324247\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How Do I Test My Soil\u2019s pH?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Thef exact process will depend on whether you\u2019re sending your soil samples to a professional lab or using an at-home soil testing kit. However, you will need to get clean soil samples for either method. You can read a more detailed guide in our article: <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/ph-soil-test-lawn-grass\/\">How to Test the Soil pH of Your Lawn<\/a>.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1740806330063\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is a Good pH Level for Lawns?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\"><strong>A good pH level for lawns is slightly acidic to neutral,<\/strong> <strong>between<\/strong> <strong>6.0 to 7.0<\/strong>. Some grasses can handle more acidic soil (a 5.0 pH at the lowest) than others, such as:<br\/><br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/grass-guides\/bahiagrass-lawn-maintenance-guide\/\">Bahiagrass<\/a><br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/centipedegrass-lawn-maintenance-guide\/\">Centipedegrass<\/a><br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/perennial-ryegrass\/\">Perennial ryegrass<\/a> (can also handle more alkaline soils)<br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/grass-guides\/tall-fescue-lawn-maintenance-guide\/\">Tall fescue<\/a><br\/><strong>\u2022<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/how-to-grow-creeping-bentgrass\/\">Bentgrasses<\/a><\/p> <\/div> <\/div>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-hire-a-lawn-care-professional-for-a-lush-lawn\">Hire a Lawn Care Professional for a Lush Lawn<\/h2>    <p>A soil pH imbalance is only one cause for an unhealthy, lackluster lawn. If you\u2019d like to make your lawn vibrant again, you might want to hire an extra set of hands to help. LawnStarter can connect you with a local lawn care pro who can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/lawn-care\">mow your lawn<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/landscaping\/leaf-removal\">remove leaves<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/landscaping\/lawn-treatment\">apply lawn treatments<\/a>. Hire a pro near you for a lush lawn today.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-9c82dda2-408f-4df5-a711-fec6e29fca84\" data-mobilecollapse=\"false\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"true\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-9c82dda2-408f-4df5-a711-fec6e29fca84\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-9c82dda2-408f-4df5-a711-fec6e29fca84\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Source:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-9c82dda2-408f-4df5-a711-fec6e29fca84\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lsuagcenter.com\/topics\/lawn_garden\/home_gardening\/lawn\/soil_fertility\/soil-test-in-fall-or-winter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Louisiana State University AgCenter: Soil Test in Fall or Winter<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>   <p>Main Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/ph-test-strip-and-soil-study-in-laboratory-closeup\/497483771?asset_id=497483771\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">H_Ko<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock Free \/ <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/jo\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you have a healthy lawn, test your soil every three to five years during spring or early fall. If your lawn is struggling, test any time of year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":157,"featured_media":128946,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[9],"class_list":["post-128945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lawn-care-2","tag-lawn-care"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/soil-ph-test-2.jpeg?wsr","author_info":{"display_name":"Janine Caayao","author_link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/author\/janine-caayao\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>When to Test the Soil pH of Your Lawn<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have a healthy lawn, test your soil every three to five years during spring or early fall. 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Now, she\u2019s interested in urban gardening with her family. 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