Can I put too much lime on my lawn?

Author: Abe Mayert  |  Last update: Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Too much lime changes the soil pH and pushes it into an area where the grasses will not thrive. If you do not catch this mistake in time, the lawn will turn yellow, and the grasses can die.

What happens if you put down too much lime?

Using too much lime on your lawn will remove the acidity from the soil, but it will also make it too alkaline for your grass to thrive. This will cause yellowing grass that is also not able to absorb vital moisture and nutrients from the soil around it.

Does lime make your grass thicker?

Adding lime to your soil may help your grass grow faster and thicker. Not only just this lend itself to a lush lawn, but one that's robust enough to fight off problems.

What is the maximum amount of lime to apply?

If you need to add more than 100 pounds of lime, apply 50 pounds in the spring, 50 pounds in the fall, then retest the following spring and add more lime if needed until you reach the desired soil pH. Never add more than 50 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet in a single application.

Will lime green up your lawn?

Applying lime is a simple way to improve your lawn's health and help it grow lush and green. When done correctly, it helps neutralize acidic soil – making it less acidic and more balanced.

Q&A - Can you add too much lime to the soil?

How to tell if a lawn needs lime?

How to Tell Your Lawn Needs Lime
  1. Signs your lawn needs lime. Yellowing grass. Invasion of certain weeds. Patchy or slow growth. Excessive thatch. Poor response to fertilizer. Soil test results indicate low pH.
  2. FAQ about adding lime to lawns.

How do I fix too much lime on my lawn?

Too Much Lime On Lawn? (Here's What To Do)
  1. #1 Get A Soil Test.
  2. #2 Add Organic Matter.
  3. #3 Apply Sulfur.
  4. #4 Wait A Few Weeks.
  5. #5 Avoid Adding Too Much Lime Again.

What is the best month to lime your lawn?

6. What's the best time to apply lime? Fall and spring are generally the best times to lime lawns. Fall has an added advantage, as rain, snow and cycles of freezing and thawing help lime break down and begin to work.

Does lime keep bugs away?

At the Fifth Annual Virginia Sustainable Agriculture conference, several noted producers and writers told how hydrated lime applied to the foliage of vegetable crops repelled a wide variety of insects including aphids, flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, squash bugs and cucumber beetles.

Can too much lime hurt soil?

Too much lime will raise the pH of your soil so much that many plants won't grow well and will start to show signs of nutrient deficiencies. Too much lime will also lead to high levels of calcium in your soil, which will prevent plants from absorbing magnesium (an essential part of chlorophyll).

Should I water my lawn after applying lime?

You can also apply lime in early spring. Don't apply lime when your lawn is frost-covered or wilted. And always water the lawn after applying the lime to wash the lime off the grass blades and allow it to make contact with the soil.

Will lime get rid of weeds?

Does lime kill moss or certain weeds? Limestone will do nothing to help kill weeds or moss. However, because moss usually likes acidic (lower pH) soil, it could potentially lower your chances of future growth. But it will not do anything to existing moss or weeds.

How do I make my lawn greener and thicker?

  1. Test Your Soil. Roots depend on healthy, nutritious soil to grow green and lush grass. ...
  2. Fertilize Your Lawn. A big part of knowing how to make your lawn greener is choosing the right fertilizer. ...
  3. Kill Weeds and Unwanted Insects. ...
  4. Use Grass Seed. ...
  5. Water Your Lawn. ...
  6. Aerate Your Lawn. ...
  7. Replace Lawn Mower Blades.

What are the disadvantages of liming?

Nonetheless, lime treatment has a number of inherent disadvantages, such as carbonation, sulfate attack and environment impact. Magnesium oxide/hydroxide are thus proposed as a suitable alternative stabilizer to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of using lime in soil stabilization.

Is lime in the yard bad for dogs?

While lime is widely considered nontoxic, accidentally consuming or breathing it in may cause problems. If possible, you'll want to wait for a big rain to come before allowing your pet to roam freely in the backyard.

Does lime get rid of ticks?

While lime might not be a solution to the problem, it can help in certain situations by creating an environment that is less hospitable to ticks and fleas.

Do mosquitoes hate lime?

Experts generally agree that while lime can help deter mosquitoes, it's not a comprehensive solution. According to the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, lime has some mosquito-deterring properties, but its effectiveness is limited and short-lived.

Will lime get rid of grubs?

Lime as a Natural Way to Control Grubs

Using lime to control grubs is a popular treatment option. Before you add lime to the lawn, you will want to test the pH levels of your soil.

When should you not apply lime?

Lime shouldn't be applied to grass and yards that are wilted or covered in frost. Since it can take two years for lime to move 2 inches into your soil, avoid over liming by applying lime only every three to five years.

How do you know if your lawn needs lime?

How to Tell If Your Lawn Needs Lime (6 Signs)
  • Your Grass Is Yellow.
  • Weeds and Moss Are Prevalent.
  • Fertilizer Doesn't Help Your Grass Grow.
  • There's Been a Lot of Rain or a Season of Drought.
  • You've Got Sandy or Clay Soil.
  • A Soil Test Reveals a Low pH.

How long does it take for lawn lime to work?

This figure also shows that while pelletized lime increases soil pH more than calcitic lime when applied at equal rates, it also takes pelletized lime in excess to 100 days to reach a maximum soil pH adjustment. That is a over 3 months, or slightly longer when taking field environmental factors into consideration.

What happens if you use too much lime?

Effect on pH

Using more than enough lime can cause the pH to increase by so much that this happens. In addition, pH can tie up other elements as it increases, such as boron, iron, manganese, copper and zinc.

How much lime is too much for a lawn?

Always start by checking your soil's pH. Making your soil's pH too high with lime application will cause your lawn to suffer. Generally, only apply 50 lbs of lime per 1,000 sqft of lawn or less during the initial application. If you need more than 50 lbs to fully treat the soil, then apply the lime in two applications.

Can you put out too much lime?

Using more than enough lime can cause the pH to increase so much that this happens. In addition, pH can tie up other elements such as boron, iron, manganese, copper and zinc, as it increases.

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