Does Soil pH matter? Applying Elemental sulfur vs sulfate

Рет қаралды 8,193

2 жыл бұрын

Hey everybody, in this video we are going to be going over some of the basics of soil pH as well as distinguishing the difference between elemental sulfur and the anion sulfate.
I am using a hanna instrument pH tester that also gives you different readings like temperature and you can even check electrical conductivity. This is not something that any buddy needs to rush out and buy, and there are good digital soil pH meters that Hanna makes. If you're looking for something a little more basic, please see the link below but know that they are very expensive.
amzn.to/396opkI
In order to truly get the most accurate reading, a soil test is going to be recommended. However, if you've had a soil test in the past and you know that you are battling a pH that is somewhat out of whack, this is a good way to track your progress without having to soil test often.
The main area that's a problem here at my house is my putting green. It is pretty standard that a greens mix material is going to be fairly high pH. It was a bit higher than I had expected, and definitely calls for an application of elemental sulfur. On the flipside, the lawn area was considerably less than expected and will not require any pH adjustments.
Given the fertilizer shortage of 2022, it may be a good idea to go ahead and make sure that your pH is in good shape so that you are not wasting any fertilizer and applying things that you don't need to.

Пікірлер: 63

@mwoody1958 2 жыл бұрын

Great content John. Glad to see your snow is finally gone. I know it’s still filling in but I’m amazed at how quickly you were able to establish the green.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

It’s jumped in the last two weeks but has been steady since March. 70’s are coming next week and will make for dramatic shift.

@TheLawnLover 2 жыл бұрын

Great video! I did find some granular ES and applied this spring and the results have been great in the last 2 months.

@mohney0064 2 жыл бұрын

I live in SW Washington, thought the fir trees would bring a low pH. Got the test and it was only 6.2. Very pleased since the common knowlege is to lime in the spring! Love the info!!

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@diyard3001 2 жыл бұрын

Good timing with this video. My pH on my putting green is pretty high and I was about to order some elemental sulfer. Thanks for the good content 👍

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

I think this hiyield powder is a good choice

@UrbanDadLife2024 2 жыл бұрын

Great video JP...I've been fighting this fight for a couple of years, mid 7's pH, 17 CEC Never thought about the powdered version of ES.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

The powdered version is nice for low cut turf and I suppose just general solubility. Not too hard to handle, I’m looking forward to trying it through the hose end and backpack

@UrbanDadLife2024 2 жыл бұрын

@@Lawncology I'm definitely gonna give it a try..thanks John..

@vuladamsUT 2 жыл бұрын

That's super interesting. I know of others that use elemental sulfur on their turf grass, but never have myself. My lawn is at 6.98, but I do want to get it to 6.8... and I use a ton of humic acid throughout the year, so maybe that helps... now I want to go pick up some sulfur! 🌱

@dennispage5333 2 жыл бұрын

I always liked the series, On the lawn with John. In this case its "On Johns lawn with John. Typical Thumbs up for useful information shared here.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks buddy. I have so much to do…

@brandonhyden9454 2 жыл бұрын

It took a couple years to raise my ph from a 5.3 to 7.0. Grass is loving it. Like the oh meter you use why simple.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

It’s simple and works well

@richardharwell 2 жыл бұрын

My lawns PH has been 5.43 . If you dig about 12 to 16 inches down the clay is a grey glacial silt , like concrete . My crawl space under the house will fill with water if there soil saturates during extra heavy constant rain. The grass grows and is green but can't walk on it till it drys and firms up . I'm putting about 100 Lb.s per. 1000 over the course of this season. I already put 60 Lb.s per. 1000 down so far.

@LawnNOrder 2 жыл бұрын

That gauge is pretty cool. I might need one, lol.

@lawnguy 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve been using the tiger Sulfur from IFA. It seems to be working very well

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

It works great

@lawnguy 2 жыл бұрын

@@Lawncology I am definitely interested on that Cali trimmer, if your buddy ends up selling it.

@koomo801 2 жыл бұрын

I’ve got a clay soil in central oklahoma and began with soil around 8.1-8.3. I’ve now been adding 25#/1000/yr (in three treatments) and finally seeing results. And no damage to the Bermuda. Currently 7.4. Hoping to drive it down to 6.0 this year.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

25lbs will probably get you to 6.5-6.7 this year

@bluegrassbuddha7154 2 жыл бұрын

Every green I ever dealt with for customers was calcareous sand parent material of this same high pH. It's why I put them all into spoon feeding. Nutrients to the leaf and every batch mixed with humic acid to hopefully complex the nutrients left over in the soil. It will be interesting what this study does over time.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

That’s what’s happening here. I’m curious to see if this helps the lateral growth a bit more. I’m honestly shocked at how far the green has come this year in less than ideal conditions. Bare spots are filling and the greenepop, RGS, greenecharge combo has thus far been dynamite.

@bluegrassbuddha7154 2 жыл бұрын

@@Lawncology I was always surprised how much my green grew under weeks of snow cover! When are you going to hit it with a bit of PGR? Might get that lateral encouragement. Also, I sent my putting green out to pasture. Too much research and work to keep up with it. If I want another one, I'll build back better :)

@monkeyslawncareandgardenin473 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, Southern Md. here! We normally are a low ph

@StewieGriffin505 Жыл бұрын

Would iron sulfate lower the pH more quickly? I need a quick fix without nitrogen. Ironite is readily available at any garden department. I am rehabilitating a small backyard in Albuquerque, NM. My pH has is about 7.5 in most areas of the lawn.

@PacificNorthwestLawns 2 жыл бұрын

I'm kinda amazed the green was that high. I wasn't expecting that. 😳

@wayneessar7489 2 жыл бұрын

Hanna has very good videos on using their meters.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

We use their meters daily at the plant.

@wayneessar7489 2 жыл бұрын

@@Lawncology My tap water is 8 so mine get regular use also.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

@@wayneessar7489 mines 7.8. I feel ya

@donaldricher8815 10 ай бұрын

@Lawncology what is the proper ph for a lawn in Northern Washington State.

@peterscanlon9727 2 жыл бұрын

The green is looking good! I have a CEC of 13 and Ph of 6.2. Would you make any adjustments? I guess I’m good with the ph but not sure about CEC?

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

CEC is directly related to soil particle size. Increases in OM will increase CEC

@johnfetter3252 2 жыл бұрын

Great video John. My Texas clay has a consistent pH of 7.8 to 8.4. I have had great success with ammonium sulfate fertilizer, and have used granular sulfur as well. What about spraying citric acid on the turf?

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

Citric is short lived but can buffer your feet in the time that you’re correcting the soil

@ColeSpolaric 2 жыл бұрын

I keep fighting the ph in my potted blueberry bushes. Had one near 7 last year, brought it down to 5.5, saw a response. This year it is back up to 6.2. The one I planted in peat moss was around 5.5 last year. Now it's around 7. I have no idea what's going on. I'm not sure how one winter can change the ph so drastically.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

Keep some sulfur on hand for sure

@shreyaroraa2234 2 жыл бұрын

I got tiger palletised sulphur, the powdered sulphur seems better idea. I also applied iron sulfate at 1/2lb rate. Will update you on results. Density so far is still not there(TX Bermuda lawn). Hopefully it will improve soon

@dannymartinez8522 Жыл бұрын

did the sulfate and Iron help your turf?

@kennyjohn3774 2 жыл бұрын

What model is that meter you are using? I read that the fellas at GCF use a similar meter? Can I use it on my customer's lawns on a regular rotation a couple of times a year? Thanks JP! Cheers!🍻

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

There’s a different one you can use that’s cheaper, it’s the Hanna soil meter specifically. Pull some soil and make sure it’s got moisture and it’s pretty darn accurate. The electrodes are fragile so you have to pull soil rather than set it in the ground

@Tenpennycustoms4958 2 жыл бұрын

I’m getting ready to aerate and apply gypsum and then some fert with high sulfur as well. My PH is around 7-8. Should I have any concerns with the gypsum and sulfur?

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

Do you need the gypsum? Is your calcium low?

@Tenpennycustoms4958 2 жыл бұрын

@@Lawncology I wanted the gypsum to amend my clay soil. Yes I have high calcium almost 3 times was recommended. My 21 -0-0 ammonium sulfate fertilizer I got for the sulfur content. And I want to also work on the clay with the gypsum.

@xr1supra85ba 2 жыл бұрын

Can someone explain to me, is ph and compaction not directly related? I’ve been fighting my back yard since I moved in (new construction with st Augustine grass in Florida). I have Massey handling the yard until I can manage to do it on my own. The soil is super compacted, I’ve had 3 aerations done already over 2 seasons and have the 4th scheduled for Thursday. Initially they tested my soil with the “magic liquid” test and it showed alkaline. They’ve don’t one sulphur app that was a standard app. This next aeration is supposed to be a heavy sulfur granular app. I bought a soil test kit from yard mastery, got it back. Ph is just within the bars as I’m but on the high side. Phosphorus is through the roof, calcium is high as well. Nitrogen and potassium are super low but they haven’t put much down since I’ve had issues it’s been almost nothing but potassium apps. It’s still super compacted even with the ph getting in range. Pulling plugs for the soil test I could only get the probe in like 2 inches. The soil analysis recommended using green start, micro green, and stress blend fert. Is any of that going to matter with the compaction I have? I was thinking of trying air-8 and rgs first. Either way can’t seem to get the compaction under control. Is ph and compaction related?

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

pH and compaction are not related. You can compact most any soil. Depending on where you are in Florida, you may have a lawn that has soil from a dig out retention pond. The calcium is always high and typically potassium would be low. I would start there.

@xr1supra85ba 2 жыл бұрын

@@Lawncology how do you lower calcium? Phosphorus can be brought down by ferting with nitrogen and potassium but as compacted as it is, I doubt any of it is getting where it needs to go. The compacted area the roots are not getting into the soil and the stolons are dying out. If machine aeration isn’t breaking it up, what other options do I have. It almost seems like I’m going to have to redo the entire back yard and have the land torn up just to have a fighting chance. Which sucks since I’ve only been here a year and change on a new construction home. Ps builders don’t know crap about lawns and the landscaping company just tossed sod down without caring what’s underneath.

@berniem5763 2 жыл бұрын

I love the Hanna meters but I have an Oakton pH at the moment. I’m just a bit confused on the dry measurement… shouldn’t you be adding RO water? Most every soil pH measurement instruction I’ve seen says to add something like 2 parts deionized water and 1 part soil to make a slurry/mud to measure. It looks like you’re measuring bone dry with a bulb type pocket meter? I don’t think that’s how they’re supposed to be used and may be giving you improper readings…

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

The soil is wet and reading pretty inline with the other tests I’ve done. The soil won’t read bone dry and the buffer solution I’ve got with the other meter gave me the same readings.

@berniem5763 2 жыл бұрын

The buffer solution is just for the calibration, doesn’t really matter in this context. It’s definitely good to confirm the calibration but I’m talking about the measurement method. The physical principles upon which that meter functions rely on adequate hydration. They’re meant for measuring liquid, not sand. I’m just saying that if you can, you should at least dump in a bit of distilled water (or DI water if you have a unit) to help with a proper measurement.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

@@berniem5763 I’m sorry, I should clarify: I pulled sand prior to this and tested with water solution. It’s why I ordered the sulfur to begin with. I used neutral water when I sampled a week ago and got the same reading. It was curiosity that led me to test the saturated sand and the meter read the same. So, while it may have a slight variance site to site depending on the moisture, it came within a 0.1 range of the test last week in solution.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

@@berniem5763 I really should have shown that.

@bradygaming5034 Жыл бұрын

🤦‍♂️ if my sulfur is really low and my ph is good at 6.05 how can i raise the sulfur without lowering ph

@Lawncology Жыл бұрын

Sulfate materials in your fertilizer. It will supply the needed sulfur without making big changes

@Riverguide33 2 жыл бұрын

👍

@GW._. 2 жыл бұрын

Don’t have easy access to send away tests here in uk so got a ph test kit off Amazon mixed dirt in water wait 30min dip paper in Match to chart came out at 5.5 ph not sure how accurate that is I have kbg in clay going to need a lot of lime.

@Lawncology 2 жыл бұрын

If that is indeed accurate, yes you will need a lot of lime