If you are struggling to get your landscaping to reach its full potential or you simply are looking for ways to make the most out of your property, it’s important to dive deep into the details. For example, the more you can learn about the soil on your property, the better suited you will be to improve it and get the plants on your property to grow healthy. Many of the most common landscaping issues are the result of poor soil quality, which tells us just how important it is to monitor soil quality at regular intervals.

One of the best ways to learn about the composition of your soil is to perform a soil test. By testing your soil, you can discover a lot about what types of nutrients are in your soil and the pH levels as well. There are several reasons why pH levels are important in landscaping, which is why we’ve put together a brief article detailing the reasons why. After reading over this post, you should have a great idea about what pH levels are and how to improve them if your soil is not where it needs to be. Remember that you can always reach out to Cal Blend Soils if you are interested in purchasing landscaping products to improve the quality of your soil and help you achieve your landscaping goals.

What are pH levels?

When you hear the term pH levels, it is referring to the level of alkalinity or acidity in your soil. These levels are measured in pH units, which range from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral and a higher number signifies more alkalinity in the soil. Most plants prefer a pH level of roughly 6.5, which is why it’s important to test your soil to figure out whether or not it has the right balance to support plant growth.

pH levels are important because they allow the plants in your landscaping to absorb nutrients. The right pH levels can also increase the number of soil-dwelling organisms that help your plants grow and convert nitrogen in a way that plants can use it. Many factors will impact the pH levels in your soil, including the amount of rainfall that your property receives, the texture of your soil, and more. The good news is that if things aren’t where they need to be in terms of the pH levels of your soil, you can make an adjustment.

Soil Additives and Changing Your Soil’s pH

There are several different ways that you can adjust the pH levels in your soil if you discover that it’s not where it needs to be after performing a soil test. Soil additives are a helpful landscaping product that can directly impact the pH levels on your property. You can use limestone to raise the pH levels and sulfur to lower pH levels after you have an idea about what your soil needs. Additionally, gypsum is a powerful tool that can change the soil texture by adjusting the pH levels and breaking up the clay in your soil. Figuring out which soil additive is right for you is all about accurately performing a soil test, so keep that in mind.

Additional Landscaping Products that can Improve the Quality of Your Soil

Since we are discussing the theme of landscaping products that can improve the quality and composition of your soil, let’s take a look at a few more that you might want to consider investing in.

Topsoil

Topsoil is a landscaping product that is essentially nutrient-rich soil. It’s used to work into existing soil in order to improve the soil composition and nutrient-levels. Amending your garden beds and lawn with topsoil can help plants truly flourish in your landscape. It can also include certain ingredients like limestone that can help with pH levels. Before you invest in topsoil, make sure you perform a soil test to gain a better understanding of where the soil on your property is in terms of pH levels and composition.

Perlite

This landscaping product is a naturally occurring mineral that can be used in gardening and landscaping for several different benefits. It is primarily used for aeration, drainage, and moisture retention and can make a very positive impact on your landscaping. Reach out to Cal Blend Soils today if you are interested in purchasing perlite that will help you take your landscaping to new levels of success. We’ve previously written about why perlite is such a great option for landscapers, so make sure to read over that post to learn more.

Soil Mixes

Adding soil mixes into your landscaping product arsenal is another smart choice. These great products will help you elevate the soil levels to accommodate all different types of planting conditions. If you aren’t exploring products like this, you are missing out on a tool that will truly transform your outdoor space into something special.

Mulch

Finally, mulch is a great landscaping product to consider that can add valuable nutrients to the soil as it decomposes over time. Since mulch is made from organic materials, it will improve the quality of your soil as it breaks down. There are plenty of other great benefits that you can expect from using mulch too, which is why you should consider making an investment in it.

Final Thoughts

If you are interested in purchasing landscaping products like gypsum, soil amendments, topsoil, and other great supplies that can help you in improving the pH levels in your soil, reach out to Cal Blend Soils today. We offer discounts on bulk purchases and can help you achieve all of your landscaping goals with our assortment of quality supplies.