How to Apply Lime & Fertilizer

Soils need differing amounts of lime and fertilizer to be productive.

If you are a new homeowner, the traditional wisdom and rhythm of applying lime and fertilizer to a lawn and flower beds may be a new and foreign experience. Your lawn and garden soil will, however, benefit from this regular care. Use easily accessible soil testing to determine your soil's nutritional needs. Meet those needs but do not exceed them; overfeeding can cause problems as well.

Things You'll Need

• County Extension contact information or other source of soil testing
• Lime
• Fertilizer(s)
• Mechanical spreaders (or coffee can or similar container)
• Hose or other source of water
• Gloves
• Protective clothing
• Eye protection
• Garden rake
• 1- to 3-foot stakes (optional)
• String

Instructions

1. Obtain soil testing equipment from your local County Extension service or commercial sources as soon as frost passes in the spring. If you are evaluating a new yard, test soil in the front yard, back yard and major planting beds. The results of the tests will determine the amounts of lime and fertilizers needed to make your soil productive. Doing the testing in early spring allows you to address problems before planting and also gives you time to leave adequate intervals between applications of lime and fertilizer, which can interact with each other.

2. Obtain advice on quantities of lime and/or fertilizer from County Extension or a local garden center or nursery. Extension advice is likely to be more conservative, because the Extension is a government center with nothing to sell. Schedule applications to avoid possible interactions between lime and fertilizer. Depending on the chemical content of the fertilizer you use, you may need to wait as long as three weeks between lime application and fertilizer application.

3. Wear gloves and protective clothing when applying lime or fertilizer. Set your mechanical spreader to distribute the lime or fertilizer at the rate desired, if possible--some spreaders have gauges. Follow package directions or estimate by eye if spreading entirely by hand from a coffee can or similar container. Go back over areas as needed to spread an even coat over the entire area. Finish by lightly raking the lime or fertilizer into the top inch of soil.

4. Water the soil after applying lime. The lime will not dissolve, but keeping the soil damp will help keep the lime from blowing away. Water a second time two days later if the weather is dry and windy. You may wish to rake the area again to incorporate lime more thoroughly with soil. Lime is usually applied only once a season. Check with County Extension about whether you need to add more lime to your soil in fall or winter.

5. Rake fertilizer into the top layer of soil and water it, as you did for the lime. Follow package directions, if available, for further watering and incorporation of fertilizer. Follow directions for further applications as well. Fertilizers are sometimes applied at the beginning of the growing season and then again later during the season. Quick-growing vegetable crops, in particular, benefit from a second fertilizer treatment in some soils and regions. Roses also require fertilization on a schedule to perform their best.

6. Use stakes and string to protect treated areas from pedestrians or children, if necessary. Store leftover lime and fertilizers in airtight containers.

Tips & Warnings

• It is always easier to add fertilizer than it is to remove it. The classic example of overfertilizing can be seen in any lawn service that applies fertilizer repeatedly, then has to cut, and cut, and cut the grass. When caring for a lawn or garden, expect gradual changes rather than instant ones. Instant results tend to exhaust plants, gardeners and wallets.

• Wear protective gear when applying lime, fertilizer or any other outdoor chemicals.

References

• University of Kentucky Extension: When to Apply Lime and Fertilizer
• Washington State University Extension: Soil pH, Fertilizers, and Lime
• Yard Care: 8 Steps to Lawn Restoration