How to Improve Lawn Soil
Learn how to improve lawn soil with soil amendments. They play different roles than fertilizers and, by understanding what they do, you can achieve the spectacular lawn you have always dreamed about!
Since 1881, the Jonathan Green name has represented genetically superior grass seed, innovation, determination, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. Now, six generations later, we remain committed to producing superior lawn and garden products.
Jonathan Green is a leading supplier of top-quality cool season grass seed, soil enhancers, fertilizer, and organic lawn and garden products to sod growers, consumers, and independent retailers, including garden centers and hardware stores, across the United States. Our genetically superior grass seed and soil food products will transform your lawn and help it to thrive.
Common Soil Amendments
Soil amendments are materials that are added to soil to improve its physical properties, such as water retention, permeability, water infiltration, drainage, aeration and structure. The goal is to provide a better environment for roots. These materials include:
- Lime – raises soil pH, reduces acidity
- Sulfur – lowers soil pH, increases acidity
- Gypsum – improves aeration of compacted soil, improving drainage
- Biochar – increases the fertility of acidic soils and protects against some soil-borne diseases
- Humic acid – transports water and nutrients from the soil to the plant, preventing them from leaching away
- Fulvic acid – improves the uptake of minerals and stimulates plant growth
- Compost – decomposed organic matter that improves aeration and moisture retention and enriches the soil
- Bone meal – adds phosphorus and calcium to the soil; can be harmful to pets
- Blood meal – increases acidity and adds nitrogen back to the soil very efficiently
Try Mag-I-Cal® Plus
Use a Soil pH Test Kit for Lawns to check the pH of your soil. You can buy one at your local hardware store or garden center or at JonathanGreen.com.
The pH level of the soil is vital to growing lush, green lawns. On a scale of 1 to 14, a pH of 1 is very acidic, a pH of 14 is very alkaline, and a pH reading of 7 is neutral. Lawns grow best in soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (between 6.2 and a 7.0 on the pH scale), and a balanced pH will increase microbial activity in the soil.
Jonathan Green Mag-I-Cal® Plus is a unique soil food that combines Mag-I-Cal® and Love Your Soil®. It rapidly adjusts soil pH, loosens hard soil, and activates microbes to create a biologically healthy soil.
If your soil’s pH is too low, treat it with Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Acidic & Hard Soil. Our innovative formula will quickly raise the soil pH and feed soil microbes with humates to help the lawn grow greener and healthier. It can be applied the same day as the grass seed is spread.
When soil pH is too high, Jonathan Green’s Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Alkaline & Hard Soil which contains sulfur and calcium sulfate dihydrate will lower the pH, improve root penetration, and promote growth. It can be applied the same day as the grass seed is spread.
Mentioned Products
Visit Jonathan Green online to learn more about how to improve lawn soil and grow a lawn that’s the envy of your neighborhood. Our products are sold only online and in your local independent hardware stores and garden centers.