The Importance of Applying Lime to Your Lawn

The Ins and Outs of Applying Lime to Your Lawn

LAWN CARE TIPS | LAWN MAINTENANCE

Most homeowners are fully aware that their lawn needs fertilizer, bare spot repair, and regular mowing. However, few remember or even know that adding lime to your lawn is a critical component to keeping it healthy. Applying lime to your lawn helps grasses reach their full potential. It aids in nutrient absorption and balances pH levels so your lawn can grow vigorously.

Why Lime is So Important to Lawn Care

Lime helps to regular soil pH. Different types of grasses have different preferences for soil pH. Generally, a soil pH between 5.8 and 7.2 works for most grasses in Pennsylvania. Lime is so important, and more specifically pH, because it helps grasses use all the available nutrients in the soil. Many homeowners religiously fertilize their yards, but almost never apply lime. Often what happens is the soil pH is so high or low that the grass cannot even soak in those added nutrients. That equals less healthy grass and wasted money.

How to Tell if Your Lawn Needs Lime

There are several ways you can tell if applying lime to you lawn is needed.

1. Moss starts to appear - Mosses prefer acidic soils and once they appear it is a tell tale sign your lawn needs lime.
2. Common weeds start to appear - If you have been successfully controlling weeds in your lawn, then starting to see them return can indicate low pH and the need for lime.
3. No response to fertilizer - Grass shows no sign of increased growth or vigor after your lawn care professional has applied fertilizer then your yard may need lime to adjust the soil's pH.
4. Soil test says so - The easiest and most accurate way to see if applying lime to your yard makes sense is by way of a soil test. The results will show you your lawn's pH and direct how much lime to apply based on your soil type and other factors.

Soil pH is always changing. Weather plays a huge factor in soil pH but how you take care of your lawn also matters. Consistent and proper lawn maintenance will ultimately balance pH overtime. However, checking your soil's pH and monitoring changes will help when it comes time for adding lime to your lawn.

Soil testing is relatively easy and can be done by any homeowner in Pennsylvania. The Penn State Extension Office offers this service and more information on soil testing can be obtained from their website.

Penn State Extension Soil Testing

Best Time for Lime in Your Yard

The best time for lime is spring and fall. Applying lime to your lawn these times of year creates the most benefit for your grass. Early spring and fall have plentiful rain and even some freeze-thaw days, which all help added lime breakdown and begin to change your soil's pH. You can incorporate adding lime to your lawn with your other spring landscaping projects or fit it in later in the year as the leaves begin to change.

An important tip about adding lime is to not add it when grass is stressed or dormant. Doing so can cause more damage than good. Also, new yards should have a soil test completed and lime added as recommended before grass is seeded. This will give an ideal seedbed for new grass and have your lawn off to a great start. 

How Much Lime and How to Apply it

A standard soil test, as recommended above, will provide all the necessary information in terms of the amount of lime your lawn needs. These recommendations, based on your soil's type and measured pH, will get your yard's soil back to the range of healthy growth. 

We recommend a granular lime product versus a lime dust for several reasons. First, granular lime spreads easier. It is more consistent when applying lime to your lawn using a hand or push spreader, which helps to distribute the correct amount of lime. Second, there is less dust produced during application with granular lime. For most applications, a push yard spread will get most homeowners up and running with adding lime to their lawn. For bigger yards and for a more precise application, we always recommend scheduling this project with a lawn care expert. Finally, always read applicable product labels and follow instructions when applying lime yourself.

​Liming Your Lawn for Better Grass

Liming your lawn ensures your grass is able to use all available nutrients and grow as healthy as it can. Lime is one of those overlooked lawn care maintenance practices but it can have huge benefits if done and done properly. Don;t forget the importance of applying lime to your lawn this year!