What is Neutral Soil?

Is your soil alkaline, acidic or neutral? In this case, let’s dig deeper into what it means for your soil to be neutral. 

Let’s start at the beginning, what is pH? pH is a gauge of the hydrogen concentration in a substance. pH is measured on a scale of 1-14 with 7 as the neutral mark. pHs of 1-6 are acidic, while pHs of 8-10 are alkaline. The pH of acidic soil is raised by adding lime and the pH of alkaline soil is lowered by adding sulfur. 

For plants, it is important to know whether your soil is alkaline, acidic or neutral to know if the soil is healthy enough to grow certain plants. While most require neutral soil, there are certain shrubs and flowers that perform better when the soil is more alkaline or acidic. If the soil’s pH doesn’t fall into an acceptable range, no amount of fertilizer will improve plant health until the pH is balanced. Most plants prefer a more neutral soil with a pH level of 6-7!

If you are curious about what your soil’s pH there are several DIY testing kits available at home & garden stores. You could also have a soil sample sent off to a lab for the most precise reading. We also offer free soil testing and yearly pH testing here at Turf Boss!

Give us a call at (864) 777-8873 with any questions!

By: Hannah Raines
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