You can't guess soil pH by looking at weeds.

That old trick — “moss means acidic, clover means alkaline” — is mostly folklore. Lawns are complicated. Moss grows in shade and damp, which have nothing to do with pH. Clover pops up in thin grass, regardless of what’s in the soil.

If you really want to know, test it.

Grab a cheap soil test kit from the garden center — the kind with the little tube and color chart. Or send a sample to your county extension office for like $10. That’s the only way to be sure.

For natural adjustment: if the test says acidic (below 6.0), add pulverized lime. If it’s too alkaline (above 7.5), elemental sulfur or pine needles will nudge it down. Both take months. Go slow. You can always add more next season.

Don’t guess. Test first.