How to Use Lime on Lawns

Lime strengthens grass roots and makes the color a lush dark green.

A lush, healthy, green lawn is a dream of many homeowners. Oftentimes, though, soil is acidic, causing symptoms such as dead patches, or grass that's yellowing or light green. Lime, however, can remedy these problems and give you great-looking grass. You can use powder or liquid lime obtained from your local gardening store.

Things You'll Need

• pH test kit
• Lawn spreader
• Lime

Instructions

1. Conduct a pH soil test on your lawn, following the directions on the packaging. Some tests provide you with results on the spot, while others require you to send it into the local county extension office, which will then notify you of the results.

2. Use a walk-behind lawn spreader to apply lime to your grass. Fill the hopper with powder or liquid lime, whichever you prefer, and set the dial to how much lime you want spread per distance. On average, about 10 pounds per 1000 square feet are used.

3. Start at one corner of the lawn and walk around the edges with the spreader, distributing the lime. Then walk back and forth across the body of the lawn, as you might when mowing it, until you've dispersed the lime evenly across the lawn.

4. Water your lawn thoroughly--if it isn't scheduled to rain within a couple of days--following the application.

References

• Growise: Turf Tips: Does Your Lawn Need Lime?
• Ohio State University Extension: Lime and the Home Lawn
• The Greene Solutions: Lawn Care