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Each month, receive tips on the top jobs needed in your garden as well as a wealth of information on a range of gardening topics. From sowing seeds to picking fruit, each month get access to information on the care and maintenance of your flowerbeds, vegetable plot and lawn. As with your own gardening diary, the journal is split into separate sections, each covering a different area of garden care.

Wednesday 2 March 2016

Lawn Care: Questions & Answers

Q. I’ve been told that as grass grows it makes the soil more acid which slows growth and can lead to disease. Is this true and what can I do about it?


A. Yes, as grass grows it takes up nutrients from the soil, leading to a reduction in pH and the soil becomes more acid. Soil pH (‘per Hydrogen’) is an important chemical property, measured on a scale of 0 to 14. The ideal pH for most grass is 6.5 to 7. If you suspect acid soil (there are kits available to measure it or call an expert lawn care company) you can apply a product such as Bio-Lime which neutralizes the acid and ‘sweetens’ the soil, while healthy bacteria in the fertilizer will eat thatch and dead moss.

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