Soil PH different in borders compared to lawned area

Hi all,

I've been doing some soil PH testing and I thought based on the plants there that the soil was acid. From my tests of the borders this appears to be true pH 6. I have also measured under a lawn too by pulling up some grass in a few places as I want to make a new border here. Interestingly I get neutral readings. Does anyone know why this would be? Does grass de-acidify soil? Thanks for the help.

 

How are you measuring the pH ?
pH 6 is quite acid where are you gardening?
It's not a great surprise that the pH is different as you are dealing with two different systems, that you treat differently. Different amounts and types of fertiliser, different cultivation and different plants.
If you dig up grass (good idea) and replace with a border then over a year or so you'll find the pH of new and old borders to be similar.

 

With a PH test kit, liquid based universal indicator with barium sulphate. I'm in central Scotland.

So it's likely that the exposed soil once grass becomes border will tend towards acid over time? I guess that makes sense.