{"id":1006,"date":"2025-08-27T10:10:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-27T09:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/?p=1006"},"modified":"2025-08-27T10:37:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-27T09:37:18","slug":"low-soil-ph-and-bare-patches-in-your-lawn-causes-and-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/low-soil-ph-and-bare-patches-in-your-lawn-causes-and-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Soil pH and Bare Patches in Your Lawn \u2013 Causes and Solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2025\/08\/lawn.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2025\/08\/lawn.jpg 650w, https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2025\/08\/lawn-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2025\/08\/lawn-520x390.jpg 520w, https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2025\/08\/lawn-320x240.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your lawn is suffering from <strong>bare patches, thatch build-up, and ant problems<\/strong>, one of the underlying issues may be that the soil pH is too low (too acidic). Grass prefers a slightly acidic soil, ideally around <strong>pH 6.0 to 6.1<\/strong>, and when the pH falls below this range, growth weakens, weeds and moss creep in, and bare patches appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s a step-by-step guide to getting your lawn back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Addressing Soil pH<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Test the Soil:<\/strong> Start with a soil test kit to check the exact pH level. This will tell you if acidity is the root of the problem.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Apply Bio-Lime Fertilizer:<\/strong> If the soil is too acidic, apply a <strong>Bio Lime<\/strong> product to raise the pH.<br>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Application rate:<\/strong> Around one handful per square metre.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Water in:<\/strong> Either water it in gently or allow rainfall to help it absorb.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By adjusting the pH, you create a healthier environment for grass roots and reduce the conditions that encourage moss and weeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Managing Thatch and Ant Problems<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Thatch Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thatch is the layer of dead roots and stems that builds up between the soil and the green grass blades. Too much thatch prevents water and nutrients from penetrating the soil and creates a dry, fibrous environment that ants love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apply <strong>beneficial fungi and bacteria<\/strong> to naturally break down the thatch.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These come in liquid or granular form and work best on moist lawns.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ant Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ants thrive in dry, thatch-rich lawns. Reducing thatch is the first step, but you can also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Use wetting agents:<\/strong> A light spray of water mixed with a few drops of washing-up liquid or baby shampoo helps keep the surface moist.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Introduce nematodes:<\/strong> Specifically, <em>Steinernema feltiae<\/em>, a biological control that targets ants safely.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Alternative Solution \u2013 Clover Lawn<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want a low-maintenance alternative, consider overseeding your lawn with <strong>microclover<\/strong>. This creates a green, tough surface that needs less feeding and naturally suppresses weeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc49 Learn more about the<a href=\"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/gardening-how-to\/lawns\/benefits-of-a-micro-clover-lawn\/\"> benefits of a microclover lawn here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Additional Lawn Care Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Aeration:<\/strong> Spike or hollow-tine aerate the lawn to improve drainage and reduce compaction.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fertilisation:<\/strong> Use a balanced, slow-release fertiliser to strengthen the grass.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regular Maintenance:<\/strong> Mow regularly, repair bare patches quickly, and keep weeds under control.<br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Outcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the soil pH has been raised, the grass will recover, thatch will break down naturally, and the ants will find the environment less attractive. Within a season, your lawn should start to thicken and look much healthier.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your lawn is suffering from bare patches, thatch build-up, and ant problems, one of the underlying issues may be that the soil pH is too low (too acidic). Grass prefers a slightly acidic&#46;&#46;&#46;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gardening-notes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gardenadvice.co.uk\/redgate\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}