high lawn pH -- that bad?

[CW]

I tested my lawn soil and it came to about 8 which kind of surprised me. I live up north (cleveland, OH), although I do not know what kind of northern grass I have. What is the best way to lower the pH and what is the best way to go about doing it? I was told that Ironite (iron sulfate among other things) helps but am not sure how many applications or over what period I should apply it.

Any help appreciated. My lawn does not look too g0od and I want to do anything to spruce it up. I just dethatched and fertilized and want to get this pH thing down.

Thanks, CW

[Steveo]

Are you sure it's 8 in Cleveland? hrm..you'll need sulfur to lower your PH to between 6 and 7. Forget the iron, you'll end up putting way too much down.

Very strange...you're not growing grass over some old limestone gravel by any chance, are you?

[RoyDMercer]

I have a high soil PH also (although not nearly as high as 8). 8 is extremely high and I would question if this level is accurate, because if it were you would have a hard time growing just about anything, including grass. You'd know it if your PH was that high because when you applied fertilizer, your grass wouldn't green up(assuming you had any grass to begin with).

There's really very little you can do with soil that has a high PH. The following website does offer some suggestions:

[CW]

I really don't understand it either. I just bought the house last year and the lawn is about 7 years old. I noticed that fertilizer really didn't green things up the 3 times I put it down last year. Part of the 8 may be my fault. My neighbor told me to put dolomite lime down in the fall (after I commented how his grass was starting to look better--he was a new home purchaser too) and I didn't bother to ask why or know what it did. I only did one application so I'm sure I didn't goof up that badly.

The grass is growing for sure but it does not seem very thick at all. The blades are rather thin as well and for the lawn being only 7 years old, I sure brought out a lot of thatch. I noticed a lot of moss growing this spring that I didn't notice when I took ownership a year ago, if that means anything.

Thanks for all the input. CW

[Steveo]

No problem, CW. If you see moss growing, I -really- suspect your 8 ph reading.

Forget the sulfer. Try some milorganite, at label rate.

Good luck.