Is A Soil Amendment Necessary For Your Los Angeles Yard?

If your Los Angeles yard is in dire straits, looking brown and dying, you may need a soil amendment. So, what is a soil amendment? It’s an addition to the dirt in your yard that gives it the nutrients and pH balance it needs to successfully grow grass. While you can try do-it-yourself lawn care in Los Angeles, it’s almost always a better idea to call in lawn care experts like Aerations Plus.

Soil Amendments Typically Used In Los Angeles

There are many types of soil amendments used around the country. But in the Los Angeles area, we typically focus on five:

• Ammonium sulfate to lower the pH of your soil if it’s too high – the optimal range is 6.0 to 7.0.
• Compost for better drainage and nutrients to help grass grow.
• Gypsum to de-compact the soil and prevent water run-off.
• Lime to increase the pH of your soil if it’s too low.
• Sulfur to balance your soil’s pH and increase the absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

These soil amendments in Los Angeles are used to revitalize your soil and, in turn, your lawn. However, it’s not as simple as grabbing a bag or bottle of a soil amendment and spreading it over your yard. You need to know your soil’s pH, texture, and composition and if any diseases are contributing to your lawn’s ill health. If you try to DIY your lawn solution, you could wind up making it worse. You’re better off, both in terms of time and money, calling in lawn care professionals like Aerations Plus. 

Why Soil Amendments Are A Must For A Beautiful Yard

Soil amendments are a must for a lovely lawn because they balance your soil’s pH and make it easier for the grass to take in nutrients from the dirt. Soil amendments can also help with water retention and drainage. They can be composed of natural ingredients such as manure or compost or chemicals to balance your soil’s pH. 

Some of the benefits you’ll see after using the right soil amendments include:

• Better aeration of the ground
• Deeper grass roots
• Improved nutrient and water retention
• More efficient drainage

The best soil amendments are going to vary from yard to yard. Even if you and your next-door neighbor have the same type of soil, your pH could be vastly different from theirs. That would mean you’d likely need different soil amendments to rebalance your lawn.

Does Your Yard Need Soil Amendments?

The short answer is yes. None of us have perfectly pH-balanced soil here in Southern California. We have more alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, which means we’d need either ammonium sulfate or sulfur to rebalance to a slightly acidic level. However, you may not be sure which soil amendments near you would be the best. 

None of us have the perfect type of soil, either. Some parts of Los Angeles have expansive clay soils, some have loam, others have sand, and the rest have rock. You may need soil amendments to make your soil more amenable to growing the thick, verdant grass you’ve always dreamed of having.

Lawns Are Tricky. Let Experts Figure Out What Yours Needs To Thrive

With all the ways a DIY solution could go wrong, you’re better off hiring a professional lawn care company like Aerations Plus for soil amendments for your lawn. We’ve been in the lawn care business for more than 25 years and have a long list of happy customers. We can’t wait to add your name to that list. Contact us today for a free estimate and to learn more about our Los Angeles lawn care services.