Test before applying
The soil result gives the recommendation a measurable basis.
Separately quoted add-on
Soil Analysis, Amendments & Lime
A soil analysis can show whether pH or nutrient levels support a lime or amendment recommendation. GLS Turf quotes the analysis and any recommended application as add-on work.
Start with a representative soil sample
When you actually need soil analysis, amendments & lime.
Sampling method affects the result. The report should determine the amendment and its timing. GLS Turf collects the sample and lets the lab report determine the amendment and its timing.
Use lime only when needed
Soil pH and the turf species should support a lime recommendation.
Keep the result on file
The report can inform later turf-treatment decisions.
How we work
We check the lawn before we treat it.
- 01
Collect the sample
Soil from the treatment area goes to analysis. GLS Turf collects the sample so the result reflects the treatment area rather than one spot.
- 02
Read the report
The pH and nutrient results show whether an amendment is warranted.
- 03
Quote the application
GLS Turf quotes lime or another amendment when the report supports it.
| The question | Common mistake | GLS Turf process |
|---|---|---|
| Deciding whether lime is needed | Common mistakeLime goes down because the soil is assumed to be acidic. | GLS Turf processThe soil report determines whether lime belongs in the plan. |
| How much material goes down | Common mistakeA general bag rate replaces the reported recommendation. | GLS Turf processThe report sets the material and the rate, instead of a standard bag application. |
| What a soil test can and cannot tell you | Common mistakeOne amendment is expected to correct every turf problem. | GLS Turf processWe read the soil report alongside what the property is doing. |
Questions
Common questions about this service.
Is soil analysis included in the 7-Step Program?
No. Soil analysis, amendments, and lime are quoted separately.
Why pay for a soil test?
Because pH decides whether the fertilizer you are already paying for can be taken up at all. Midlands soils tend to run acidic, and once pH drops far enough, nutrients stay locked in the soil no matter how much goes down. A test tells us whether that is your problem or whether to look somewhere else.
Does every lawn here need lime?
No, and liming a lawn that does not need it pushes pH the other way and causes its own problems. That is the reason to test first. If your pH is already in range, we will tell you to keep the money.
How fast does lime work?
Months, not weeks. Lime has to dissolve and move down into the root zone, and that happens at the speed of rainfall. Plan on retesting the following year rather than watching for a change this season. Clay ground takes longer than sandy ground.
Will a soil test tell me what is wrong with my lawn?
It tells you about pH and nutrients. It says nothing about grubs, fungus, shade, compaction, a sprinkler head spraying the driveway, or a mower blade nobody has sharpened in three seasons. It is one useful input, not a diagnosis.
What is top dressing, and do I need it?
It is a thin layer of soil or compost spread across the lawn surface, usually right after aeration, to add organic matter and level out low spots. It helps most on thin, compacted, or heavy clay ground. On clay, organic matter is the amendment that works. Sand is not, because sand worked into clay can set up firmer than the clay was on its own.
Related turf services
See the rest of the program and add-ons.
Talk with us about soil analysis, amendments & lime.
Tell us what you are seeing and where the property is. GLS Turf can confirm availability and whether this add-on fits the turf plan.
