Matt Zee

I'm a home brewer and have been spreading my spent beer grains on my lawn with my fertilizer spreader. I've done this in addition to corn gluten meal, some occasional chicken poop fertilizer, and leaving the lawn clippings on my lawn when I mow. I also mulch my leaves into the lawn in the fall.

I thought this would be a good idea because over time the beer grains compost making good fertilizer over time. However, I've learned it may not be a good idea to spread the beer grain on the lawn because as they decay the microbes eating them use up nitrogen in the soil. Is this true? If it is, should I compost the beer grains before I put them on the lawn? Or will doing this over time create an abundance of nitrogen even if the microbes actively break down the fresh stuff?

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the reply John!

I had been thinking about what you were thinking about getting a meter and 'calibrating' it against my extension 's measurement. That is a good idea.

I thought of another way to measure the pH on the way home from work. What if I make a small hole in the ground (about 1/2" diameter, 3 inch deep) and fill it with distilled water and let it sit for a minute ot two? Then I could test the water with various pH strips I have for home brewing. Any flaws in that?

I take it the soil pH changes back over time because there is so much 'stuff' in the ground that influences pH naturally and it just dominates over time?

Is there any good soil pH kit?

I am asking this because I did contact my local extension office and they charge $31 per soil sample. Ouch!

It seems like if there is a good home soil pH kit it might be more economical than having 2 or 3 samples done by my extension office...

Thanks!