Yard guides / Soil and feeding
Get a soil test before you buy anything
A low-cost test tells you what your lawn actually needs.
Most lawns get fed by guesswork. A soil test shows your soil's pH and nutrient levels, so you buy only what helps. Cooperative extension services in most states run low-cost tests.
Taking a sample
- Find your state's cooperative extension soil testing lab and get their bag or form
- Use a clean trowel or soil probe; take 10 to 15 small cores 3 to 4 inches deep from around the lawn
- Skip unusual spots such as where you spilled fertilizer or where the dog goes
- Mix the cores in a clean bucket, let it air-dry and fill the bag
- Test the front and back lawns separately if they're different
Reading the results
- pH: most lawn grasses like slightly acidic soil, roughly 6 to 7; the report says whether to add lime or sulfur and how much
- Phosphorus and potassium: add only if the report says they're low
- Follow the lab's recommendations; they're specific to your soil
How often
Every three years is plenty for most lawns, or when you're starting a new lawn or solving a problem.
General lawn care information. Grass, soil and climate vary; your cooperative extension office can give local advice. Reliable Service Crew isn't paid by any brand or lawn company.