Soil Care
At GREEN & BRIGHT SOLUTIONS, we focus on the foundation of your lawn’s health: the soil. We offer professional soil care treatments: including lime, gypsum, and compost topdressing — that correct imbalances and enrich your soil. Healthy, fertile soil is the key to a naturally thriving lawn. It helps grass grow thicker, retain moisture, and better withstand pests and disease. applications.
Forget the short-term fixes of conventional lawn care.
Our soil improvement services provide a long-term, sustainable solution for a lush, green lawn that lasts.
"Healthy Lawns Start From the Ground up — Literally!"
Lime Application – Balancing Soil pH
Many Greater Toronto Area lawns become acidic over time from rainfall, snowmelt, and organic breakdown. While turfgrass tolerates mild acidity, excess acidity causes nutrient lock-up, making nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients less available to the roots.
Lime (such as Hi-Cal Granular Lime) is rich in calcium carbonate and works by raising soil pH toward the optimal range of 6.0–7.0.
Here's why balanced soil pH makes all the difference:
- Nutrient absorption — correct pH allows grass to absorb essential nutrients efficiently.
- Healthy microbes — balanced pH supports beneficial soil organisms that improve turf health.
- Root growth — prevents root damage from toxic elements in overly acidic or alkaline soil.
- Treatment effectiveness — ensures fertilizers and weed controls work at their full potential.
We include lime annually in our GREEN & BRIGHT Plan, unless your soil test shows pH is already balanced — in which case we may switch to gypsum.
Gypsum Application – Improving Soil Structure
Gypsum (calcium sulfate) is a powerful soil conditioner that improves the physical structure of your lawn’s root zone without changing pH.
In the GTA, many properties have clay-heavy soils that compact easily, restricting water movement and root growth. Gypsum works by loosening tight soil particles and allowing better movement of air, water, and nutrients through the root zone.
Key benefits of gypsum:
- Adds calcium without raising pH
- Improves drainage and water infiltration in clay soils
- Especially helpful after winter road salt exposure or in areas affected by pet urine
- Encourages deeper, healthier root systems
We recommend gypsum when pH is already optimal but the soil needs physical improvement.
Compost Topdressing – Boosting Soil Biology
Compost topdressing is the process of spreading a thin layer of granular, nutrient-rich compost across the lawn. This natural application improves soil health, feeds beneficial microorganisms, and creates the ideal conditions for long-lasting grass growth.
Benefits of compost topdressing:
- Adds organic matter to improve soil texture and moisture retention.
- Supplies slow-release nutrients for steady grass growth.
- Increases microbial activity, which supports nutrient cycling and disease suppression.
- Helps thicken turf and improve overall lawn resilience.
At GREEN & BRIGHT SOLUTIONS, compost topdressing is included in our Back to GREEN Plan for a complete lawn transformation.
Whether as part of a plan or on their own, our eco-friendly soil care services — lime, gypsum, or compost topdressing — give you flexible options to improve your lawn.
Soil Care Service Comparison
Not sure which amendment is right for your lawn? Here’s a quick breakdown to help you choose.
| Feature | Lime Application | Gypsum Application | Compost Topdressing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Purpose | Corrects acidic soil by raising pH | Improves soil structure & relieves compaction | Rebuilds soil biology & organic matter |
| Best For | Acidic soils (pH below 6.0) | Clay-heavy or compacted soils with balanced pH | Lawns needing organic nutrient boost & improved soil life |
| Nutrients Provided | Calcium (Ca) | Calcium (Ca) + Sulfur (S) | Organic matter + balanced macro & micronutrients |
| Effect on pH | Increases pH | No effect on pH | Slightly buffers pH toward neutral over time |
| How Quickly It Works | Gradual – visible improvement in 1–3 months | Gradual – drainage & rooting improve over weeks to months | Moderate – turf thickening & colour improve within 4–6 weeks |
| Environmental Benefit | Improves fertilizer efficiency, reducing waste | Reduces need for mechanical aeration & promotes efficient water use | Builds long-term soil fertility, reducing chemical fertilizer dependence |
| Key Benefits | Unlocks trapped nutrients; Boosts microbial activity; Enhances fertilizer performance | Loosens compacted clay; Improves water infiltration; Flushes excess salts (road salt, pet urine) | Feeds beneficial microbes; Improves moisture retention; Enhances turf density & resilience |
| Visible Results | Greener, healthier turf over time | Deeper roots, better drainage, stronger lawn | Thicker turf, richer colour, healthier root zone |
Ask for
Our Soil Care Promise
Every property is different. That’s why we:
- Test and Monitor basic soil pH and compaction on-site.
- Apply the right amendment based on actual need.
- Schedule treatments at the optimal time for best results.
- Track progress and adjust our approach as your lawn improves.
- Provide clear recommendations for ongoing lawn and soil health.
With balanced pH, healthy soil structure, and thriving soil biology, your lawn can make the most of every drop of water and every nutrient it receives.
If you'd like a full laboratory soil analysis for detailed nutrient breakdowns, we can recommend trusted labs such as the University of Guelph or A&L Canada Laboratories. Check out the full list of accredited soil testing labs in Ontario on the Ontario.ca website.
Contact GREEN & BRIGHT SOLUTIONS today for your free Soil Health Check.
