Unless you’re a professional grass grower like a golf course superintendent or a professional ball field manager, interpreting a soil test is very basic and you need not go into the great depths as a professional grass grower.
The information you need for your home lawn is the pH value. A soil pH value of 6.5 is considered the perfect pH for grass to grow. However, if your pH values at in the 6.1 to 6.9 range, fescue, and bluegrass that is grown here in Indiana will thrive well.
If your pH values drop into the 5 range, your soil will become too acidic to sustain healthy turfgrass growth. Likewise, if your values rise into the 7-range your soil is too alkaline and measures will need to be taken to bring your soil pH down.
As with everything in life it is best to address the issues when they are small. When soil pH starts to drop into the low 6-range or high 6-range, lighter applications of lime or gypsum will solve your pH issues quicker and easier.
A soil test can be taken easily at home and dropped off at your county extension agent. When your report comes back it will usually tell you exactly how much lime or gypsum needs to be added to your soil. If your county extension agency does not include this information, feel free to give us a call at (317)773-2900 with your results and we will be happy to recommend a course of action for you. You can also reach out to us via e-mail at mbrown@genesisfarms.com with your questions about your soil test report!
