Lime is applied to the soil of home lawns to increase the soil pH. Soil pH, a measure of the soil's acidity or alkalinity, can directly influence the vigor and quality of the home lawn.
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.
If you're adding fertilizer to the soil to no avail, check your pH values. High acidity may be the culprit. In these situations, lime can help create the deep green look you're after.
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.
After you've applied the lime, immediately water your lawn to rinse any extra lime off the grass blades to prevent leaf burn.
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.
In general, it's best not to apply lime, seed and fertilizer at the same time. You typically want to apply agricultural lime before fertilizer for acidic soil, or fertilizer before lime for nutrient-deficient soil.
Lime works by reacting with soil particles to raise pH levels. However, when there is excessive rainfall, the lime can be quickly diluted and washed away from the soil surface before it has a chance to interact with the soil. This can result in uneven distribution and reduced effectiveness of the lime application.
According to Virginia State University, calcitic and dolomitic lime are nontoxic to humans, wildlife and pets. However, because all types of lime dust can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin, you should wait until the application of lime has been incorporated into the soil before using your yard.
Alternatives to using Lime on your Lawn
If you are slightly unsure but know you want to improve the composition of the soil, then Calcified Seaweed is a fantastic option to use instead of lime.
Signs of acidic soil include yellow grass, weed infestations, moss present on your turf, and more. If you're noticing any of these indications, you'll want to get on top of it as soon as possible to prevent the issue from worsening.
You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.
Fertiliser and lime are expected to be applied at the same time. There is usually no reason why you can't use them together. Your lawn care expert should prescribe a specific lime and fertilizer application schedule and just the right products to boost your lawn's health.
The winter or very early spring is the best possible time to apply lime to your lawn—lime can burn growing grass, so you'll want to make sure you apply it after the growing season has ended but before the new growth of spring.
Once you have determined that your soil needs lime, the best time to apply it is just before planting grass seed. For established lawns, any time during the year will work as long as it's not applied to a lawn that is too wet, wilted, or frost-covered.
Remember that wilted or dormant grass and frosted-over lawns won't take in the lime very well, so too early in the spring or too late in the fall isn't the best time to lime your lawn. Applying lime to a lawn in summer is very common, as that's the optimal time to apply quite a few types of fertilizer.
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.
Ideally, you'd put lime down a few months before you plant your seeds. This gives it time to start working on the soil pH. But if you can't do that, it's usually okay to put lime down when you're seeding or soon after. If you're putting lime down with new seed, try to spread it evenly and don't overdo it.
It can be applied with any spreader and is safe for children and pets. This 40 lb. bag will cover up to 6,500 sq. ft.
Lime can not be used to kill weeds. While it works to balance the pH of your soil, it may inadvertently make the space less desirable for weeds to grow. But, it should not be your first line of defense or offense against weeds.
The best way to kill the existing lawn and weeds is to apply a nonselective herbicide, such as glyphosate, over the entire area. Glyphosate is a postemergence translocated herbicide that effectively kills turf and grassy and broadleaf weeds. Glyphosate is translocated rapidly in all actively growing plants.
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.