Lawn Care Tips: 1. Testing the pH of your soil

Planting a new lawn requires some preparation and planning. One of the most important steps is testing the pH of the soil, which signifies a plant's ability to draw nutrients. pH is measured on a scale from 1 to 14, a number below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline, a measurement of 7.0 is.neutral. Once you get your results, you can determine which elements are missing from your soil and how much to add to achieve desired pH goal. The majority of grass types prefer neutral soil. If your soil is acidic, it might require the application of lime, if it's alkaline -it might require a conditioner containing sulfur. 
Do-it-yourself test kits are available from nurseries, however you can also contact your landscaper to do it for you.