- 1. Your Grass Is Yellow<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Weeds and Moss Are Prevalent<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Fertilizer Doesn\u2019t Help Your Grass Grow<\/a><\/li>
- 4. There\u2019s Been a Lot of Rain or a Season of Drought<\/a><\/li>
- 5. You\u2019ve Got Sandy or Clay Soil<\/a><\/li>
- 6. A Soil Test Reveals a Low pH<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ About Adding Lime to Your Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- Hire a Pro to Maintain Your Lawn<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Your Grass Is Yellow<\/h2>
![\"Yellow](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Yellow-grass.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Peulle<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 4.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> When soil pH gets too acidic, it can affect the health of your grass \u2014 including its color. Expert advice varies, but in general, grass needs a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0 to thrive, with some types preferring soil that\u2019s slightly more acidic (e.g., tall fescue) and some preferring soil that\u2019s slightly more alkaline (e.g., St. Augustine grass).<\/p>
2. Weeds and Moss Are Prevalent<\/h2>
![\"Moss](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Moss-in-lawn.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Rasbak<\/a> \/ Wikimedia Commons \/ CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Acidic soil doesn\u2019t only affect grass color but also other indicators of health like grass thickness, disease\/pest occurrence, and nutrient absorption. And when nutrients aren\u2019t readily available, turfgrass can start to die off; this leaves things wide open for weeds and mosses to swoop in, take over what nutrients are around, and cover any bare spots.<\/p>
3. Fertilizer Doesn\u2019t Help Your Grass Grow<\/h2>
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Lawn-fertilization.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Tomasz Zajda<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure> For most homeowners, fertilizer is the go-to when they notice their grass isn\u2019t growing properly. But, if you discover your lawn is still lacking even after you\u2019ve applied a treatment, it could be a sign that you actually need lime, instead.<\/p>
Why? Adding fertilizer to soil that\u2019s too acidic won\u2019t magically allow nutrients to penetrate your grass\u2019s roots. You have to increase the soil pH first to make that happen. In fact, adding fertilizer in such conditions can cause even more damage; it may lead to an overabundance of nitrogen, which can further throw off your soil\u2019s pH.<\/p>
4. There\u2019s Been a Lot of Rain or a Season of Drought<\/h2>
![\"Female's](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Females-lower-part-of-body-in-boots-while-raining.jpg\")
Photo Credit: weyo<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> A muddy yard isn\u2019t the only thing you could be dealing with after a deluge of rain; too much water can affect your soil pH, too. This is because excess water can strip your soil of essential nutrients like potassium, calcium and magnesium, washing it away with the rest of the runoff.<\/p>
Lime adds those nutrients back into the soil, not only replenishing it after stormy weather but also enabling it to withstand times of excess heat and drought. If your soil lacks these nutrients, it won\u2019t be able to take in water well due to stunted root growth and won\u2019t just go dormant for a bit; it will die off. Don’t know the difference? Check out our article Dormant Grass vs. Dead Grass<\/a>.<\/p>
5. You\u2019ve Got Sandy or Clay Soil<\/h2>
![\"chunks](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/800px-Soil_material_containing_Sand_silt_clay-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Soil Science<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Since these soil types are naturally acidic, you\u2019re going to need to add lime to increase the pH and make it more hospitable for the lawn growth you\u2019re after. Sandy soil, specifically, has a hard time retaining water, and both types have difficulty holding on to essential nutrients; adding lime can help improve the retention of both. Amending clay soil with lime also makes it looser\/easier to break up, so you won\u2019t expend so much energy pulverizing soil that feels more like plaster when it comes time to plant grass seeds or plugs.<\/p>
6. A Soil Test Reveals a Low pH<\/h2>
![\"picture](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/rsz_4542559854_43a56a102d_c.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Ryo Chijiiwa<\/a> \/ Flickr \/ CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Of course, the most accurate way to determine if your soil needs lime is to conduct a soil test<\/a>. These tests should be done about every three years, and they measure everything from pH to soil texture to nutrients. The results help you decide what, if any, amendments you need to incorporate into your soil. <\/p>
You may be able to get this done for free by your state extension office; just send your soil sample to their lab for testing. Or, you can purchase a kit at your local hardware store. Note: The tests you get from your extension office will be more accurate.<\/p>
FAQ About Adding Lime to Your Lawn<\/h2>
Can you put too much lime on your lawn?<\/h3>
Yes \u2014 while the right amount of lime can raise your soil pH just enough to make it more hospitable to turfgrasses, adding too much lime can make your soil overly alkaline and cause your lawn to die off. Similarly to soil that is too acidic, soil that is too alkaline won\u2019t be able to properly deliver nutrients and water to all parts of the grass plant.<\/p>
When should you not apply lime to your lawn?<\/h3>
There are a few situations in which you should avoid liming your lawn:<\/p>
- When grass is visibly wilted<\/li>
- When grass has a covering of frost\/predicted frost<\/li>
- During the middle of a drought\/period of high heat<\/li>
- When your soil test shows your lawn\u2019s pH is already balanced<\/li> <\/ul>
How long does it take lime to work?<\/h3>
Don\u2019t expect an overnight miracle \u2014 lime will take some time to work its way through your soil. Just how much time depends on several factors, including the type of lime you use (pellets or powder) and your soil\u2019s pH level and moisture content. Expect to start noticing changes anywhere from several weeks after application to several months.<\/p>
For best results, be sure to evenly spread your lime and water it immediately after application. Water will not only wash the lime off the surface of your grass blades (helping ensure kids and pets don\u2019t accidentally get skin irritations from rolling around in lime), but it will also help activate the lime to begin penetrating your soil.<\/p>
Hire a Pro to Maintain Your Lawn<\/h2>
Liming your lawn is a pretty easy DIY task \u2014 all you need is a spreader or bucket. You can use your soil test results to calculate the amount of lime you need, and get to work. But, if your energy taps out after that bit of manual labor, leave the rest of your lawn tasks to a professional lawn care pro near you<\/a>.<\/p>
Not only can they handle the mowing, trimming, and edging, but they can also advise you on fertilization, watering, weed control, and aerating. Then, you\u2019ll have a healthy lawn that lasts season after season.<\/p>
- 2. Weeds and Moss Are Prevalent<\/a><\/li>