Maintaining a healthy lawn and garden can be challenging, especially when your soil has a high pH and elevated levels of mineral salts and bicarbonates, which is common in the western half of the US. These conditions can create significant obstacles for plant growth, including yellowing, dryness, slow, patchy growth, and wilting. Understanding the issues and knowing how to identify and address them can lead to lush, thriving greenery.

- Yellowing Leaves: Iron chlorosis, characterized by yellowing leaves with green veins, is a common sign of high pH soil.

- Stunted Growth: Plants may exhibit reduced growth due to nutrient deficiencies and osmotic stress.

- Brown Tips and Edges: Leaf tips and edges turning brown and crispy are indicative of salt toxicity.

- Sparse and Patchy Growth: Poor germination and establishment can result in a lawn that looks sparse and uneven.

- Wilting and Poor Vigor: Despite adequate watering, plants may wilt and appear weak due to osmotic stress and poor root health.

High pH (alkaline) soils have a pH level above 7.0, leading to several problems:

1. Nutrient Availability: In high pH soils, essential nutrients like iron, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus become less available to plants. This can result in deficiencies that affect plant health and growth.

2. Salt Stress: Elevated levels of mineral salts can create osmotic stress, making it difficult for plants to absorb water. Toxic levels of sodium and chloride can also accumulate, harming plant tissues.

3. Soil Structure: High sodium levels can cause soil particles to disperse, leading to poor soil structure and reduced aeration. This can impede water infiltration and root development.

4. Bicarbonate Toxicity: Excess bicarbonates can buffer soil pH at a high level, making it difficult to lower the pH. They can also damage roots and interfere with nutrient uptake.

To confirm the presence of high pH, mineral salts, and bicarbonates, conduct a thorough soil test, and look for the following parameters:

- Soil pH: A pH above 7.0 indicates alkaline soil.

- Electrical Conductivity (EC): High EC values indicate elevated salinity.

- Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) or Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP): High levels suggest potential soil structure and toxicity problems.

- Soluble Salts: Check concentrations of sodium, chloride, and sulfate ions.

- Bicarbonate and Carbonate Levels: High levels contribute to high soil pH and potential toxicity.

- Nutrient Analysis: Look for deficiencies in micronutrients like iron, manganese, and zinc.

- Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC): High CEC values can indicate good nutrient-holding capacity, but imbalances in specific ions (like sodium) can still pose issues.

- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Indicates overall salinity levels.

- Soil Texture: Understanding soil texture helps predict how soil will respond to pH and salinity adjustments.

Soil Amendments

- Sulfur: Adding elemental sulfur can help gradually lower soil pH over 6 months to a year or more.

- For a quicker response, use a soil acidifier, such as exiGrow, which is used by professional turf managers to manage soil pH and high mineral salt and bicarbonate content. 

- Organic Matter: Incorporating organic matter can improve soil structure and nutrient availability.

Irrigation Management

- Leaching: Periodically apply extra water to leach excess salts below the root zone.

- Quality Water: Use high-quality irrigation water with low salt content. Note that in areas with hard water, the later in the year it is the more 

Fertilization

- Chelated Micronutrients: Apply chelated forms of iron, zinc, and manganese to improve nutrient availability.

- Balanced Fertilization: Ensure a balanced fertilization program to address any deficiencies.

Plant Selection

- Salt-Tolerant Species: Choose grass varieties and plants that are tolerant to high pH and salinity conditions, such as:

Cool-Season Grasses:

- Tall Fescue

- Perennial Ryegrass

- Kentucky Bluegrass

Warm-Season Grasses:

- Bermudagrass

- Zoysiagrass

- Seashore Paspalum

- Buffalograss

- St Augustinegrass

High pH soil with high mineral salts and bicarbonates can pose significant challenges for your lawn and garden. By recognizing the symptoms, conducting a thorough soil test, and implementing appropriate solutions, you can improve soil health and create a vibrant, thriving landscape. Understanding these issues is the first step towards a greener, healthier lawn and garden.