Lime Treatments In Grass Care

When you look at your lawn, what do you see? Well, grass of course! But have you ever considered the importance of what’s underneath, namely, the soil? Healthy soil is the basis for that emerald green carpet we call our lawn. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to talk with your grass care service and see if your lawn can benefit from a lime application.

Why You May Need a Lime Treatment
Turf grasses do not grow well in highly acidic soils. Acid conditions in lawn soil can occur due to misuse of high nitrogen fertilizers; introduction of excessive amounts of organic soil conditioner, such as compost or peat moss, and by needles dropped from evergreen bushes and trees.
You may have heard the terms “sweet soil” and “sour soil” before? Sour soil has too much acid in it, whereas sweet soils are overly alkaline. Extremes on either end are not favorable, however.

Now, at this point, let’s all remember back to 8th grade chemistry class… …are you with me? Remember that pH is measured from 1-14, with 7 being neutral? Good, keep that in mind for a little while.
Just like liquids in the chemistry lab, soil with a reading of less than pH 7.0 is acidic and soil with a reading greater than pH 7.0 is alkaline. Most turf grasses grow best between pH 6.5 and pH 7.0. That’s near neutral in case you were wondering!

Testing Your Soil pH
You can buy soil testing kits online or at your local garden center and use them to test your soil pH. I recommend you test several areas of the lawn as levels can fluctuate based on surrounding planting such as evergreens and also my runoff from streets and sidewalks.
You can also call your local lawn care service and have them conduct a sampling for you. However, most lawn care pros already know the average soil pH for the areas they service and can most times let you know immediately if lime is an option for your lawn.

What Exactly Does Lime Do for Lawns?
Two important elements that help maintain the balance in the soil are calcium and magnesium. Those two elements together are lime! (you just can’t forget that 8th grade chemistry!)
Acidic soil is not necessarily useless, but is a sign that the supplies of calcium and magnesium are low and need replenishing. What’s more, high acidity or low pH levels may also cause other nutrients to be un-usable to grass plants. A good example if this is iron, which makes grass a deep-blue-green color. Iron binds up and becomes unusable with soil is highly acidic. The greater the acidity of the soil, the greater the need for lime.

More About Lime for Lawns
Lime is NOT a fertilizer product, but more of a soil amendment or conditioner. Here’s what it helps with:
* Corrects soil acidity (low pH)
* Furnishes important plant nutrients-calcium and magnesium
* Promotes availability and use of major plant nutrients and micro nutrients.
* It increases bacterial activity in the soil which promotes more air exchange, thus aerating the root system. This benefit is often overlooked.

Applications of lime on existing lawns are best applied in Fall and Spring because of cooler temperatures and readily available moisture. Ask your lawn care provider about lime treatments and when they recommend scheduling.
If you have large evergreen trees in your lawn and no grass will grow beneath them, be sure to mention this when you call as this may require further lime treatments.

Finally, too much lime can be as damaging to lawn grasses as the lack of it. Lime is not a cure-all for all lawn problems but is an essential fundamental step for soil health and the overall health of your turf.
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Adding Lime To Your Lawn