- What is Lime?<\/a><\/li>
- What is Soil pH?<\/a><\/li>
- When to Apply Lime to the Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- What Does Lime Do For Your Lawn?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Lime a Lawn<\/a><\/li>
- FAQ About Liming the Lawn<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
What is Lime?<\/h2>
Lime is a soil amendment<\/a> made from ground limestone containing calcium carbonate and sometimes magnesium carbonate. Lawn lime raises the soil\u2019s pH level, making it less acidic. <\/p>
Whether your lawn needs lime and the quantity of lime you apply depends on the findings of the soil test results. Don’t worry, there are no grades involved here.<\/p>
Types of Lime<\/strong><\/p>
There are different forms of lime you can use for your lawn. When selecting a type of lawn lime, seek advice from a local lawn care expert or follow the recommendations of your soil test to identify the most appropriate type of yard lime for you.<\/p>
The two main types are:<\/p>
- Calcitic lime<\/strong>: Also known as calcium carbonate, calcitic lime is the most commonly used type of lawn lime. It raises the soil’s pH level and provides calcium to the soil.<\/li>
- Dolomitic lime<\/strong>: Dolomitic lime contains both calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. It is recommended for lawns with a magnesium deficiency and low pH levels.<\/li> <\/ol>
What is Soil pH?<\/h2>
![\"Soil](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_soil-ph-update-646x457.jpg\")
<\/figure> Time to think back to your chemistry lessons: Your lawn\u2019s soil can be classified as acidic, neutral, or alkaline, described by a pH value range between 0<\/strong> and 14<\/strong>. A pH value below 7.0 is considered acidic<\/strong>, 7.0 is neutral<\/strong>, and a pH above 7.0 is alkaline<\/strong>. For healthy grass, knowing why, how, and when to soil-test<\/a> your yard is essential.<\/p>
When to Apply Lime to the Lawn<\/h2>
Fall is the best time to apply lime to the lawn, as it allows more time for the lime to break down. However, the specific timing of putting lime on your grass may vary depending on the type of grass and soil condition.<\/p>
- For cool-season grasses<\/a> such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass, the best time to lime your lawn is during the fall season.<\/li>
- For warm-season grasses<\/a> like Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and Zoysiagrass, it is recommended to apply lime in late spring or fall.<\/li>
- Lime should not be applied<\/strong> in extreme heat or on a drought-stressed lawn<\/a>.<\/li>
- Most lawns benefit from lime application every two to three years<\/strong>. Consult your soil test results for guidance on how often to add lime.<\/li> <\/ul>
What Does Lime Do For Your Lawn?<\/h2>
When the lawn\u2019s soil becomes too acidic, the general lawn health declines. Adding lime to the yard raises the pH level and brings it closer to neutral. Most turfgrasses require a pH range between 6.0 and 7.0 (although centipedegrass<\/a> won\u2019t need lime treatment unless its pH falls below 5.0). <\/p>
Strongly acidic soils<\/strong>, which have a pH less than or equal to 5.5, are prone to the following issues: <\/p>
- Reduced nutrient uptake<\/strong>: Liming the lawn helps make nutrients like phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen more available. <\/li>
- Increased weed growth: <\/strong>Unless you control lawn weeds<\/a>, they can overtake your yard and outcompete your grass.<\/li>
- Reduced pesticide effectiveness: <\/strong>If soil is too acidic, it can decrease the effectiveness of some turfgrass pesticides.<\/li>
- Excessive thatch:<\/strong> Acidic soil decreases the number of microorganisms that help break down certain nitrogen fertilizers and decompose thatch<\/a>.<\/li>
- Increased toxicity:<\/strong> Acidic soils often mean a higher availability of aluminum and manganese, which can be toxic to lawn grass.<\/li> <\/ul>
How to Lime a Lawn<\/h2>
Liming a lawn is very simple and similar to spreading fertilizer<\/a>. The first step is to conduct a soil test. Once you determine how much lime you need to apply (if any), spread the lime with a fertilizer spreader. <\/p>
Step 1: Conduct a Soil Test<\/h3>
![\"person](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Testing-soil.jpg\")
Photo Credit: HeikeKampe<\/a> \/ Canva Pro \/ License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Although DIY soil test kits are available, they won\u2019t provide information about liming your lawn. The results might reveal your soil\u2019s pH but won\u2019t indicate the right amount of lime for your specific soil type<\/a>. <\/p>
Instead, you can send a sample to your local soil testing laboratory. Several universities and Cooperative Extensions<\/a> offer inexpensive, detailed soil testing. Using these soil test results, you can determine how many pounds of liming material to apply per 1,000 square feet.<\/p>
Step 2: Calculate How Much Lime You Need<\/h3>
![\"Pennington](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41KC3Eddq6L._SL500_.jpg\" "\\"Pennington")
<\/a> <\/h3> We asked if you paid attention in chemistry class, but did you also pay attention in math class? You may need to make a few calculations when determining how much liming material you need because lime varies in purity. How much lime you apply will depend on its purity. <\/p>
A lime for grass that increases the pH the same amount as pure calcium carbonate is considered to have a \u2018calcium carbonate equivalent\u2019 (CCE)<\/strong> of 100 percent. If your lime product does not have a CCE of 100 percent, then you\u2019ll need to adjust the amount you apply. The CCE is displayed on the lime packaging as a percentage.<\/strong> <\/p>
Determine How Much Lime to Apply: <\/strong><\/p>
To determine how much lime to apply, you can follow these steps:<\/p>
- Refer to the soil test recommendation<\/strong> for the amount of lime per 1,000 square feet needed.<\/li>
- Identify the CCE (calcium carbonate equivalent) percentage<\/strong> of your lime product. This information is usually provided on the lime packaging.<\/li>
- Divide the soil test recommendation <\/strong>by the CCE percentage.<\/li>
- Multiply the result by 100<\/strong> to get the amount of actual liming material required per 1,000 square feet.<\/li> <\/ol>
For example<\/strong>, if a soil test recommends 25 lbs of lime per 1,000 square feet, but the liming material you have has a CCE of 90 percent. Here\u2019s how you would calculate the amount of liming material you need.<\/p>
(25 lbs. <\/strong>per 1,000 square feet \/ 90 <\/strong>CCE) X 100 = 27.8 lbs. <\/strong>per 1,000 square feet of actual liming material.<\/p>
Try it Out:<\/strong> Assuming a CCE of 90 percent, calculate how many pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet you’ll need.<\/p>
<\/div> - Identify the CCE (calcium carbonate equivalent) percentage<\/strong> of your lime product. This information is usually provided on the lime packaging.<\/li>
- Increased weed growth: <\/strong>Unless you control lawn weeds<\/a>, they can overtake your yard and outcompete your grass.<\/li>
- For warm-season grasses<\/a> like Bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, and Zoysiagrass, it is recommended to apply lime in late spring or fall.<\/li>
- Dolomitic lime<\/strong>: Dolomitic lime contains both calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. It is recommended for lawns with a magnesium deficiency and low pH levels.<\/li> <\/ol>
- What is Soil pH?<\/a><\/li>