However, it is such a fine powder that the slightest breeze makes it airborne and poses an inhalation risk. The calcium carbonate equivalent, or CCE, is factored into calculations to establish the recommended number of pounds per acre. TRYING TO GROW GRASS UNDER A HUGE OAK TREE, EVERY SPRING THE TREE HAS THIS YELLOW POWDER THAT COVERS ALL OF MY LAWN. They don’t treat plant beds for shrubs or trees or flowering plants. Grass that responds well to good care requires neither acid reduction, nor the addition of calcium or magnesium. A spreader is the best tool for applying lime. A reduction in acidity may take place in the first year, or over several years, depending upon your lawn’s unique conditions. A note of interest: Nitrogen is so changeable that home test kits generally don’t measure it. Soil has a quality known as buffering capacity, aka reserve acidity, that is greatest in the presence of clay and rich organic matter. Be sure to rake these up as they fall, and plant shade-tolerant grass seed of a variety that does well in moderately acidic soil. So the selling point may be apply properly this year and check again in 2 years. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Depending on the type of lime, you can use a drop-style or rotary spreader. I think the one-size-does-not-fit-all concept cannot be stressed enough. The grass is blooming, and you want to make sure your soil is getting enough water and nutrients. Allow enough time before planting to do a soil test and apply lime … To make your lawn less acidic, you can apply lime. Don’t confuse calcitic and dolomitic agricultural limestone with non-agricultural quick lime (calcium oxide), and slaked/hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide), which are used in a variety of applications from cooking and papermaking to construction and water treatment. If your lawn is beautiful, do not add lime. It is used to raise the soil's pH or make the soil more alkaline for grass growth. Fall is a good time to apply lime to your lawn or vegetable garden, so it has a chance to work into the dirt before the next growing season. Soil amendments and regular fertilization are the key to a healthy lawn. For us to know the best lime to go for, we need to understand what lime is. Dirt that can buffer changes in pH is less likely to become too acidic or alkaline. Pelleted limestone has become preferred over powdered form, mostly because it’s easier to apply. Is your grass lush, like a thick green carpet, or is it marred by bare patches and weeds? If yours is sandy, it may not be able to buffer properly to avoid becoming acidic. Lime with a high calcium content is referred to as calcitic lime and it has the benefit of adding calcium to the soil. As you travel west, dirt tends to be more alkaline. Would also assume following apps would be low. To summarize, liming isn’t a fall task that all homeowners with lawns should routinely perform. You won’t know if your lawn needs lime unless you conduct a soil test. Granular lime pellets are most commonly used in a spreading machine and that’s the reason they are easy to spread evenly. According to the website AllAboutLawns.com, the best time to apply lime to soil is before your lawn is planted. Calcitic and domestic lime most commonly used in gardening. The choice is up to you. Her background includes landscape and floral design, a BS in business from Villanova University, and a Certificate of Merit in floral design from Longwood Gardens. Have warm-season grass? If you’re not sure whether it’s right for you, read on! Back in the day, Dad evaluated ours by considering where we lived and what grew there. Don’t spread lime on a dry, wilted lawn or a soggy, wet lawn. Apply half of the recommended amount of lime by walking back and forth horizontally with the spreader, then add the second half by walking vertically. Spring is a great time to test your soil, and you can apply lime between fall and early spring. Hi William – Thanks for your excellent question. The yard was full of acid-lovers including boxwood, cypress, hemlock, and rhododendron shrubs, as well as some weedy crabgrass, dandelion, plantain, and sorrel. By understanding how lime helps lawns and why you may need lime, you can help your lawn reach its full potential. They can test the soil to determine if it has the proper nutrients and whether it’s alkaline enough. So have tested the pH of your soil and you now want to add lime to your soil as you believe this will improve your lawn and turn it into the lush green grass that you have always wanted. Thanks for the informative article. One reason your lawn or vegetable garden may be in distress is that the dirt is too acidic, and this is where we’ll begin our discussion of lime. If your dirt is acidic, and the nutrient content is adequate, the calcitic type is the better choice. You can inhibit nitrogen deficiency by mowing regularly and letting the grass clippings stay where they fall. Choose a Time Scotts Turf Builder Classic Drop Spreader. Don’t lime during frosty weather. An advocate of organic gardening with native plants, she’s always got dirt under her nails and freckles on her nose. A pH or nutrient imbalance inhibits this process. Pelletized lime is very similar to ground ag lime, but easier to apply in this pellet form. Follow the specific testing guidelines on the product that you purchase. Dolomitic lime (calcium magnesium carbonate) is comprised of the mineral dolomite. If you fertilize regularly, or your grass absorbs runoff from neighboring properties, ammonium and/or an overabundance of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus may increase acidity. If your lawn doesn’t improve, test the dirt again. Whether you test it yourself or have a garden center or lawn care extension service do it … Liming was a tradition at my dad’s house, so when caring for the lawn became my job, I intended to do the same – that is, until I learned it’s not a one-size-fits-all application. THANKS, The yellow powder that you see each spring is pollen from the trees, and this shouldn’t have an effect on the soil (though it may get your allergies going). ft. As it turns out, his pH assessment was an accurate one. If your garden shrubs and plants are thriving, I would leave the soil alone. I switch between dolomitic and calcitic depending on mg needs there is a Grassfactor YouTube video in lime and seems research points to proper rates holding pH for 2-3 years. 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