Lime is a type of soil amendment used to improve the health of your lawn by adding calcium to the soil to combat acidity.
Lawns need lime when low soil pH starts inhibiting the availability of nutrients. Primarily a soil conditioner, not a fertilizer, lime performs various functions. Temporarily reducing soil acidity, lime also provides nutrients to your plants and aids in fertilizer solubility as well.
Fall and spring are generally the best seasons to apply lime to your lawn. Fall has an added advantage, as rain, snow and cycles of freezing and thawing help lime break down and begin to work.
The Signs You Need to Apply Lime
- You have sandy or clay soil.
- Your lawn’s pH level is lower than 6.2.
- Wilting grass blades.
- Your lawn has weeds or moss.
- Vulnerability to pests.
- The fertilizer you’re using doesn’t appear to be working.
- Your lawn experiences a lot of rainfall.
- Your grass has yellow spots.
- Your grass recently experienced a drought.
The Benefits of Adding Lime to Your Lawn and When to Apply It
When lawns are weedy, patchy in spots or turn yellow, it may be a sign that the pH balance of your yard is out of whack. One of the primary methods of correcting the problem is to add lime to your lawn to restore depleted nutrients and repair the damage. Liming a neglected lawn can eventually return your grass to a lush green oasis, although the positive effects may not happen overnight.
Raising the pH level
If your soil is below the ideal PH zone and has turned sour, the calcium carbonate in lime can help neutralize your soil’s acidity. Lime is commonly sold as ground agricultural limestone. It is considered a natural soil amendment rather than a fertilizer and furnishes important plant nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. Lime also reduces soil toxicity while promoting the regulation of nutrients such as zinc, copper, and especially phosphorous. Attaining a soil PH reading of 7.0 (neutral) is ideal. A well-kept, green lawn is a source of pride for many homeowners, and it can also be a source of stress when your lawn starts to get patchy. One popular secret to lush, green, healthy grass is lime!
Lime Adds Necessary Nutrients
Lime can also cleanse the soil, removing toxicities and infusing the ground with essential nutrients. This often clears up common grass and turf issues, leading to a healthier and better-looking yard. Made of limestone or chalk, lime’s main component is calcium carbonate. It adds calcium and magnesium to the soil. The nutrients are important to preserve a lawn’s color and lushness, and they mitigate damage caused by drought, heat, or high traffic.
Lime Nourishes Essential Bacteria
Lime also can nourish beneficial bacteria in soil, especially when the lime is used in combination with compost. Lime can be applied throughout the year but tends to be most effective in the winter since rain, snow and cold temperatures help work lime into the soil.
