Tarheel Turf Tips

Why Do I Need Lime for My Lawn?

It doesn’t matter if you are a DIYer, if you have a professional to take care of your lawn, or if you are considering hiring a professional to take care of it with a lawn care program. You should be asking, do I need Lime for my lawn? Why?

The answer depends on your soil’s pH levels and what minerals are present and lacking in your soil to get the best results out of your grass and plants. If you are wondering how to figure out your soil pH levels, you need a soil test which can be purchased by clicking on the link or hiring a professional to come out and do it for you. When your soil has a high pH level, it can prevent certain essential minerals that your grass and plants need from existing in your soil. Acidic soil can cause your lawn to die and prevent growth as well.

Low pH, high acidity soil is not a one-time application, and your home is free. There are several factors that can affect your soil’s pH level. A few of these factors include rain, leaves, and the composition of your soil. Soils that are mostly clay tend to be more acidic. Lawns with lots of leaves that are not removed will also become more acidic and prevent growth. Also, the rain will raise the acidic level of your soil, and the more it rains, the more it can affect the balance.

How Much Lime?

That depends on the initial pH and the consistency of the soil. Over time you can figure it out without a soil test using trial and error, but the quickest way to find out your lawn’s pH level is a soil test kit. Keep in mind the soil test kit doesn’t consider the consistency of your soil. The results of your soil test will most likely come back with specific recommendations tailored to your soil and what it needs. It takes approximately between 20 and 50 lbs of Lime per 1000 sq ft to raise the pH level of a mildly acidic lawn to within the acceptable range of 5.5 to 7.5 for most lawns.