When Should I Put Lime On My Lawn

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:53 pm

Your lawn should be in the best condition at all times. For this intensive care is necessary, as well as the administration of various additives. Not only mowing the lawn and fertilizing are important activities.

Also liming the lawn may be necessary if the pH of the soil is too low. Then the absorption of nutrients in the soil is hardly possible and the lawn suffers.

When is it necessary to spend the lawn lime and what you need to pay attention to?

The pH value of the soil is crucial

The pH of the soil should be in a range between 5.5 and 6.5. Only in the slightly acidic environment, the lawn feels comfortable. If the soil is too acidic, the lawn will not be able to get the nutrients from the soil in sufficient quantities. Although you have been meticulous about applying fertilizer, your lawn turns yellow and looks anything but healthy.

As a result of stressing the lawn, you can expect the pH level to drop. As the green space is laid out, nutrients are removed and the composition of the soil changes. Acidification is therefore a natural process.

If the pH of the soil drops below a value of 5.5 you should intervene. Lawn lime is alkaline and raises the pH value again. As a result, it moves to the desired level and your lawn can grow again without problems.

It is important that you only apply the lawn lime when there is actually a need. If you lime the lawn even though the pH is above 5.5, you could achieve the opposite effect and cause damage. Then the pH is too high and the lawn suffers from the liming as well.

You can find out if the lawn needs lime in several ways. Before applying the lime, it is strongly recommended that you test it so that you do not harm the soil.

Checking the pH value

If the pH of the soil is below the threshold of 5.5, liming is advisable. With the lime you upgrade the acidic soil and the lawn feels good on it again.

Soil analysis for the laboratory

The safest way to find out whether liming the lawn is necessary is to have the soil analyzed in the laboratory. Meanwhile, such soil analysis is affordable even for amateur gardeners.

For the analysis you take soil samples at different places of the garden. You send these to the laboratory and a precise analysis is carried out. During the soil analysis, you will learn not only the pH value, but also the exact composition of the soil. This will also tell you if there is a nutrient deficiency. This knowledge allows you to fertilize more precisely and avoid overfertilizing the lawn.

Every year in spring it is advisable to carry out a soil analysis. Based on this, you will coordinate further work and your lawn will enjoy better health.

Quick test

If the effort for a complete soil analysis is too high for you and you want to know the pH-value promptly, there are suitable quick tests for this purpose. Similar to measuring the pH value of a pool, there are also special test strips for the soil. To do this, take some soil, mix it with water and use the test strip. Depending on the discoloration, you will be shown, more or less accurately, the pH value. Sets with several quick tests are available for less than 10 euros. This will give you a first overview of whether you should lime the lawn.

Other indicators that point to liming

Whether you have acidic soil in the garden, you can estimate not only from an analysis. You can also pay attention to various clues that provide information about the pH level.

Weeds in the lawn

While the lawn and most other plants in the garden have difficulty surviving in acidic soil, some weeds really flourish there. They prefer acidic soil and, over time, crowd out the lawn.

This includes moss in particular, which proves to be frugal. It copes better with an acidic environment and spreads without problems. Other plants and weeds also indicate that the soil is too acidic. These include:

• Erica
• Sorrel
• Sundew

If you discover plants in your garden that are predominantly found in bog, this is a clear sign that the soil is too acidic.

Fertility declines

If the soil is too acidic, this is a sign of lower quality. If you grow vegetables or even fruit trees in your garden, you will recognize acidification by the fact that the yield is lower. Fruit trees absorb fewer nutrients, which is why the fruit doesn’t grow optimally. Rather than simply applying more fertilizer without thinking, check the quality of the soil and perform liming if necessary.

Procedure for liming

When to liming the lawn you should now know. If the pH is below the mark of 5.5, liming is appropriate. Thanks to the lime, the soil moves in a healthier character and the lawn gets better growing conditions. For best results when liming the lawn, follow these tips.

Mowing the lawn

In order to improve the absorption capacity of the lime, it is a good idea to prepare the lawn properly. To do this, first mow the lawn if the grass blades are too long.

Scarify

After that, remove any felt layer with scarifying. This step loosens the lawn a bit and improves the absorption of the lime. You can perform dethatching as early as February, temperatures permitting.

Lime the lawn

Now apply lime evenly to the lawn. For best results, use a fertilizer cart. This will prevent overfertilization and give you better control.

Fertilize

About four weeks after applying the lime, you can fertilize. You can use a lime-based fertilizer for this if the soil is still in an overly acidic range.

When should lime be applied to the lawn?

Whether the lawn needs lime depends primarily on the pH value. If this is below a value of 5.5, the lime helps the soil to become more neutral. The lawn feels more comfortable and absorbs the nutrients in the soil.

The best time to lime is in the spring, before the lawn starts growing again. By doing so, you will improve the soil’s properties early on and lawn care will show to be more effective.

To apply the lawn lime, choose a dry spring day. In this way, the lime will not be washed away and will penetrate optimally into the soil.