You will often have been told that the optimum pH for turfgrass is 5.5 to 6.5 and there’s a good reason for this. Slightly acidic root zones favour the development of fungal hyphae in the presence of the correct food sources. Fungi are important for thatch degradation, disease suppression and perennial grass growth.
Is your garden soil too acidic?
Most garden plants prefer a happy medium and enjoy soil with a pH that’s slightly acidic to neutral. If your soil is too acidic (or too alkaline), you may run into problems, however. Why Does the pH Matter?
Are green beans acidic or alkaline?
Green Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for Green Beans is 5.5 to 7.0 (somewhat acidic to neutral).
What is soil acidity?
By definition, acidity is the characteristic of soils that have a pH level of less than 7 (a reading of 7 being "neutral"). The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, so 7 falls in the middle of the scale. Readings over 7 indicate alkalinity. What Causes the Ground to Become Acidic
Why is sand applied to putting greens?
Why Is Sand Applied To Putting Greens? March 17, 2017 By USGA Green Section Light and frequent sand topdressing creates smooth, firm putting surfaces. For most, there are three primary characteristics that constitute a quality putting surface: (1) a smooth surface, (2) a firm surface and (3) healthy turf.
What are the benefits of acidic soil?
Acid soils have a major effect on plant productivity once the soil pHCa falls below 5:pH 6.5 — close to neutral — Optimum for many acid-sensitive plants. ... pH 5.5 — slightly acid — Optimal balance of major nutrients and trace elements available for plant uptake.More items...•
Do leafy greens like acidic soil?
Leafy. Many of the most recognizable vegetables in the garden and supermarket are leafy greens, named for their edible, green leaves. While most leafy greens prefer neutral soil, Ceylon spinach (Basella alba, USDA hardiness zone 10 through 11) tolerates only soil that is slightly acidic.
What does acidic soil do to grass?
When soil becomes too acidic, lawn grasses struggle and plants that flourish in acidic soil take their place. For example, the presence of lawn moss signals your soil pH has become too low for strong, healthy grass growth. Other warning signs include increases in common lawn weeds, diseases and insect pests.
How do I lower the pH in my golf greens?
Sulfur has been shown to effectively reduce soil pH on noncalcareous soils (Bell et al., 2001). In that study, the pH of sand under creeping bentgrass was reduced from 7.1 to 6.5 when sulfur was applied at 1.5 pounds per 1,000 square feet monthly between July and November.
Should garden soil be acidic or alkaline?
A pH of 6.5 is just about right for most home gardens, since most plants thrive in the 6.0 to 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral) range. Some plants (blueberries, azaleas) prefer more acidic soil, while a few (ferns, asparagus) do best in soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline.
Which plants thrive in acidic soil?
Plants that like Acidic SoilsAzaleas. Azaleas are a gorgeous flowering bush great for adding a splash of color to your landscaping. ... Rhododendrons. ... Camellias. ... 4. Japanese Pieris. ... Hydrangeas. ... Daffodils. ... Heathers. ... Nasturtium.More items...
Does grass prefer acidic or alkaline soil?
Most grass for lawns thrives in a soil pH between 6.5 and 7, with some types doing well in lower levels. So you can care for grass best with a neutral to very slightly acidic pH.
What is the difference between acidic and alkaline soil?
Anything below pH 7 is acidic (or ericaceous), and the lower the pH number, the more acidic the soil is. Alkaline soils are those with a pH above pH 7. Similarly, the higher the pH number, the more alkaline the soil is.
What happens when soil is too alkaline?
What Happens If Soil Is Too Alkaline? High pH levels typically hinder plant growth, especially with plants that do best in acidic soil like blueberries, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Soil alkalinity indicates a higher calcium carbonate content that produces chalky, highly porous soil.
Does lime raise or lower pH?
Adding lime (Figure 1) increases soil pH (reduces acidity), adds calcium (Ca) and/or magnesium (Mg), and reduces the solubility of Al and Mn in the soil.
Can soil be too alkaline for grass?
If your soil is too alkaline (pH above 7.2), you will need to lower the pH. When soil is too alkaline and compacted, air, water, and nutrients cannot get down to the roots, and the grass will not grow properly. In soils with pH readings of 7.0 to 9.5, weeds thrive and the grass becomes light green and spindly.
What pH does Kentucky bluegrass like?
between 6.5 and 7.2Kentucky bluegrass, the most widely used cool-season turfgrass in Pennsylvania, grows best when soil pH is between 6.5 and 7.2. Fine fescues, bentgrasses, turf-type perennial ryegrasses, and turf-type tall fescues are somewhat more tolerant of slightly acid soils (6.0 to 6.5) than Kentucky bluegrass. Figure.
Does lettuce like acidic soil?
Lettuce likes well-drained soil that stays moist but never waterlogged. This plant's soil should have a pH range of 6.0 to 6.5.
Does spinach like acidic soil?
Spinach will do best in soil with pH between 6.5 and 8. For Swiss chard, soil pH can be somewhat more acidic than soil for spinach, as low as pH 6.
What plants do not like acidic soil?
10 Plants for Gardens with Alkaline SoilDeutzia 'Yuki Cherry Blossom' Now compare the solution colors to the chart in your kit. ... Caryopteris. Better known as bluebeard, Caryopteris x clandonensis is a woody perennial with aromatic, gray-green leaves. ... Clematis. ... Forsythia. ... Barberry. ... Crocus. ... Photinia. ... Lilac.More items...
Does kale grow in acidic soil?
Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. Add lime to the bed 3 weeks prior to sowing. Kale likes well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter.
Why is my yard acidic?
As organic matter breaks down (whether in your yard or in the forest), the ground in or under which this decomposition is taking place naturally tends to acidify. But other factors that can cause the soil to become acidic include: The leaching out of elements such as calcium and magnesium when it rains.
What does it mean when soil is acidic?
Acidic soils are commonly referred to as being "sour.". By definition, acidity is the characteristic of soils that have a pH level of less than 7 (a reading of 7 being "neutral"). The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, so 7 falls in the middle of the scale. Readings over 7 indicate alkalinity .
What plants thrive in acidic soil?
Certain plants from all of the major plant groupings (annuals, bulbs, perennials, shrubs, trees, vegetables, etc.) thrive in acidic soil (as opposed to alkaline or "sweet" soil), including: Azaleas and rhododendrons ( Rhododendron spp .) Hydrangea bushes ( Hydrangea spp .)
How to raise pH in flower beds?
Soil pH can usually be raised by applying garden lime . Farmers have been sweetening acidic soils for years with lime. It is that white powder that you often see spread out over a patch of agricultural land. If your flower bed is in desperate need of having its pH raised, do not expect garden lime to provide help right away.
When to use lime for soil test?
You could start to see results over the course of the next growing season.
Does mulch affect soil pH?
There is some disagreement now over whether or not the type of mulch that you choose to use in your landscape affects soil pH, even though, for years, gardeners have assumed that applying a mulch of pine needles or oak leaves will acidify the ground under it more so than many other kinds of mulch.
Can lime help with pH?
If your flower bed is in desperate need of having its pH raised, do not expect garden lime to provide help right away. That is why you should check your soil pH regularly, so that you are not suddenly surprised, after years of neglect, to learn that your soil is either way too sweet or way too sour.
Understanding Soil Health
Soil health, also known as soil quality, is defined by the Natural Resources Conservation Service Soils as, “The continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” This definition speaks to the importance of managing soils so they are sustainable for future generations.
Determining Soil Health
There are 17 elements considered to be essential for plant growth; nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the most important. They are known as primary, or macronutrients, because plants take them from the soil in the largest amounts.
What is Acidic Soil?
Soil acidity is measured on a scale of 1 to 14, which is the same scale used to measure other types of acid. Everything that ranks below a 7 is understood to be acidic and things that are above is considered to be alkaline. Typically, most garden plants thrive at a pH between 6 and 7.5.
What Causes Acidic Soil?
The Spruce also notes that there are three things that cause acidic soil:
Understanding Plant Hardiness Zones
According to the United States Departments of Agriculture, the “USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.” Click here to view the map.
Why do you aerate greens?
Aeration comes in when soils are heavily compacted or the turf is thick with thatch. The greens get punched and sanded, and the sand is worked into each aeration hole to improve air and water flow, giving the roots a better chance to drink and breathe. There is, of course, plenty more to the science of sanding.
Why is sanding greens important?
The green might get spongy, or develop brown spots, or become vulnerable to scalping during mowing. Sanding helps protect against all that. That’s not all, Kidd says. Sanding also improves drainage and helps level out the green, creating smooth, consistent putting surfaces, and firm, fast conditions year round.
What is golf sand made of?
Golf course sands are different. They are made of round particles “resembling a bucket of balls with large pore spaces between each ball ,” Kidd says. They promote good drainage, and healthy air and water circulation.
Do superintendents sand putting surfaces?
Superintendents don’t sand putting surfaces simply to annoy you. They do it for the long-term health of the greens. That’s the gist. But since you’ve been inconvenienced, you deserve to know precisely why.
Is sanding a science?
As you can probably see, there’s a science to sanding, and on golf courses today, Kidd says, that science is “very precise.”. When you sand and how much sand you use is critically important. Sand too heavily at the wrong time of year, and you risk a range of problems. It’s best to do the work in good weather, Kidd says.
Do you need to aerate your turf?
If the soil is heavy, you might need to aerate to keep your turf healthy. The staff at a respected lawn care store should be able to help you make smart choices. You might not wind up with a patch of grass as pure as a putting green, but you’ll have a pretty sweet place to chip and pitch.
Do you need to sand your lawn?
Depending on how you use your own yard, you might never want or need to sand it. But if you do, be sure to use the right sand, in the right amounts, at the right time.
Which soil has more hydrogen ions?
This imbalance gives the ion an electrical charge which can be negative or positive in polarity. Acidic soil contains more hydrogen ions (H +) than neutral or alkaline soil. Positively charged ions like H+ are referred to as Cations (positively charged ions), whilst negatively charge ones are called Anions.
What does a greens soil analysis report show?
A routine greens soil analysis report will usually measure the soil pH and in some cases might even point out some of the basic physical characteristics of the soil such as sand content.
What is CEC in soil?
CEC is measured in meq/100gm, which means milli-equivalents per 100 grams of soil. The relative number of positive charges for any nutrient ion will dictate how strongly it is held on the soil colloid and consequently, how easy or difficult it is to dislodge.
How does iron help plants?
Iron is taken into the plant in Fe2+ and Fe3+ forms. Iron is used in protein functions, as a catalyst and for respiration and photosynthesis. It is also used in plant defence because it binds tightly to proteins rendering them inaccessible to pathogens. Iron deficiencies result in chlorosis of young leaves. High levels of Iron can build up in rootzones and have fungicidal effects, which create root breaks and compaction; reducing the ability to grow perennial grasses and degrade thatch. Excessive soil Iron may lock up P, K, Mn and Cu. If your Iron reading is high, it’s time to make a change to a more natural greenkeeping program that focusses on soil health and micro-life promotion.
What is the purpose of CEC in soil?
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) measures the number of negatively charged sites there are in the soil for positive cations to bind to. This helps to hold nutrition in the soil and prevents nutrients from leaching out through the drains. These positive Cations include Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na), and of course Hydrogen (H). A higher CEC means more nutrients that can be held within the root zone without the risk of leaching out through the drains.
What does H stand for in greens?
image credit: www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk. The “H” in pH stands for Hydrogen, so the pH section of your greens soil analysis is all about Hydrogen; in fact a measure of the number of exchangeable Hydrogen ions in the soil. An atom of any element has an equal number of protons and electrons.
Why is copper important to plants?
Copper plays a part in enzymatic processes and is important in use of Nitrogen within the plant. Copper assists in root growth and plant defence mechanisms; physical and chemical. Copper is fairly immobile in soil and activation is dependent upon microbial activity in soil organic matter.
What type of soil is best for golf?
The more consistent soil, whether it is sand or clay, the better. Having multiple soil compositions throughout any landscape will test the best of any agronomic professional. Having one or two soil types on a golf course that are consistent from the first to the 18th hole is the goal.
How much soil is needed for a golf course?
Golf courses typically have 25-30 acres of tee, fairway and green grasses and another 40-60 acres of rough and native grasses.
What are the three main soil types?
There are many soil types, but for growing purposes there are three main soil compositions: sand, silt and clay. Soil content affects soil behavior, including the retention capacity for nutrients and water. Clay soils are heavier and tend to stay wet. Sandy soils are lighter and dry out quicker.
What is the vegetation of a golf course?
Each and every golf course that exists is this world has some form of vegetation. Vegetation comes in many different forms: turfgrasses, trees, agricultural crops, etc. One element all vegetation requires for establishment is soil.
Why do you need to communicate with a golf lab?
Communicating with the lab can often help the lab to better tailor tests and reports to address golf course needs or concerns. Lab test reports typically include an explanation of tests results and recommendations for action. Therefore, samples should be sent to laboratories that specialize in the demands associated with growing ...
What type of soil does Wanakah have?
The soil at Wanakah is heavy clay, typical western New York soil. It is not the ideal growing medium but the golf course superintendent, Gale Hultquist, who has managed the grounds at Wanakah for over 30 years, knows the soil and knows how it needs to be managed.
Is golf course a treeless course?
Some golf courses are treeless, but most have several different coniferous and deciduous tree species. Anyone who cares for such a diverse landscape knows how much the soil effects the day-to-day maintenance and health of the plant. The more consistent soil, whether it is sand or clay, the better.
Carrots
Carrot ( Daucus carota) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for carrots is 5.5 to 7.0 (somewhat acidic to neutral).
Cucumbers
Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for Cucumbers is 5.5 to 7.0 (somewhat acidic to neutral).
Eggplant
Eggplant ( Solanum melongena) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for eggplants is 5.5 to 6.5 (somewhat acidic to slightly acidic).
Green Beans
Green Bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for Green Beans is 5.5 to 7.0 (somewhat acidic to neutral).
Parsnips
Parsnip ( Pastinaca sativa) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for Parsnips is 5.5 to 7.0 (somewhat acidic to neutral).
Peppers
Pepper ( Capsicum) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for peppers is 5.5 to 7.0 (somewhat acidic to neutral).
Potatoes
Potato ( Solanum tuberosum) can tolerate acidic soil. In fact, the ideal soil pH range for Potatoes is 5.0 to 6.5 (somewhat acidic to slightly acidic).
What do soil microbes eat?
Soil microbes eat carbohydrates and proteins which are organic compounds, but we typically supply soil nutrients via inorganic fertilisers which are based on mineral salts. Sulphates of Ammonia and Iron are common components of these inorganic fertilisers. These minerals have salt indexes of 70 and 72 respectively. The salt index is a measure of how much mineral salt is in the product, so for for every 100kg of fertiliser we apply, about 70kg is mineral salts. An excess of salt is not good for any living cellular organism and the plants and soil microbes suffer from osmotic shock.
What are the fungi that live in the roots of grass?
In another article I focus on a very important group of fungi that live in and around the roots of our fine grasses. These fungi are called mycorrhizae, from the Latin via Greek for fungus (myco) and root (rhiza). Mycorrhizal fungi associate with the root systems of our perennial grasses and together they form a symbiotic relationship where the Mycorrhizal fungi extend their hyphae into the soil, produce enzymes that make phosphate and other nutrients available to the plant and then transfer these nutrients, trace elements and water back to the plant in a form it can readily use to supply the raw ingredients for growth. We can think of these fungi as something akin to a root extension as they extend the effective root area of the plant many times over, allowing it to access resources from a far greater volume of soil than it otherwise would be able to.
What happens when meadow grass goes yellow?
Annual meadow grass on greens is famous for two things; the prolific production of seed-heads and that lovely vomit like colour it goes right afterwards, usually when there’s a big tournament about to start! When it goes yellow like this in summer it is actually dying, it has seeded and its work here is done. The only way to try to recover this situation on the now inert soil is to add nitrogen, as the plants have lost all ability to support themselves. This needs to be watered in of course, reducing air space in the soil. Continually more fertiliser and water is required to keep it alive in summer as it has no mycorrhizal pals to help with that. Thatch builds up, Autumn comes and brings with it the rains. Too much moisture is held up at the surface by thatch, disease takes hold as the fungal pathogens like fusarium, have no competing fungi or predatory microbes to keep them in check, we spray fungicide and kill any beneficial fungi that were trying to come back along with the pathogens…da da, da da, da da and on it goes, back for another spin on the Circle of Decline, which is a long term problem on many greens.
What happens to thatch in grassland?
In a natural grassland system, the soil fungi will eat all of the thatch the lovely perennial grasses can produce. In the inert, chemical infested soil now that the fungi are dead, that thatch starts to build up, and it can build up remarkably fast. This excessive build up of thatch holds more water at the surface, and the once thriving, self managing eco-system goes into a tail spin I’ve called the Circle of Decline. The natural breakdown of thatch is a key process in the life cycle of a healthy grassland eco-system. As it degrades (all done by microbes) it produces humus, essential for moisture and nutrient retention, humic and fulvic acids, essential plant foods and maintainers of the ideal, slightly acidic pH (5.5-6.5) which is what fungi need to survive.
What do fungi eat?
In simple terms bacteria eat the proteins, sugars and carbohydrates that leak from the roots of the plants. Some Fungi mop up any juice exuded by the roots that they can, but most live on the more woody cellulose and lignin found in thatch. I described it as a jungle down there and in true jungle style, these bacteria and fungi become food themselves for predatory microbes including nematodes and protozoa. These predators excrete ammonium, which is then converted to nitrate by bacteria in the presence of oxygen. Nitrate can be used directly by the plants and so this amazing cycle of growth and decay continues, producing everything needed by the plants in terms of soil nutrients.
Is fescue grass a natural grass?
It’s the de-facto natural, perennial grass that will colonise these areas with no help from us. We know from primary school science that both the seaside sand and the chalk soils of the downs are made of calcium rich seashells and that as a result they must be alkaline. BUT, fescue likes slightly acidic soil, so how does that work?
For Starters
Physical Analysis
The Main Feature
Nutrients
Primary Nutrients
Secondary Nutrients
Trace Elements
- Boron
Boron plays an important role in the development and growth of new plant cells. Boron has a role in chemical and physical plant defence; cell wall lignification and increased toxicity of phenols and stimulation of the hypersensitive response. Boron is required in very small quantities, but can b… - Zinc
Zinc assists chlorophyll production and carbon fixation. Plants use Zinc as part of the defence mechanisms and is a catalyst for enzyme production. It has reduced availability in alkaline soils and soils with high available P, Mg, Cu, Bo and Fe. Zinc is found in seaweed and in zeolite miner…
The Value of A Greens Soil Analysis
Soil Analysis Services
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