If you ’re in a hurry to sow a new lawn and you know your lawn needs lime to rear the dirt pH , can you apply lime and grass source at the same time ?
you’re able to , and the lime wo n’t harm the eatage seed . But lime does n’t change the pH instantly , so you will be seed your grass seed in a less - than - idealistic surround . * * The best recitation is to add lime before sowing seed or laying turf . * *
Why Add Lime to Your Lawn?
Many soils have a low pH , which is defined as anything below 6.5 . Some plants do best in a moderately acidic environment , between 5.5 and 6.5 pH , but a pH low-spirited than 5.5 is an inhospitable environment for almost all plants . That ’s because a too - low grunge pH makes it impossible for plants to get the food they require from the ground . Further , some component become too available , such as aluminum , which can burn a works ’s antecedent .
To counteract this , farmers and gardener tot lime tree to the dirt to make thesoil more alkaline . The pauperization to add calcium hydroxide is so frequent that the word has even become a verb , as in " When should Ilimethe grunge ? " It is also call " sweetening " the dirt .
Lime is not always a good thing , though . It raises the territory pH , but if you already have an alkaline soil , linden can harm plants by making the soiltooalkaline . In that typesetter’s case , nutrient again become unavailable to plants . Further , acid - loving flora like some ornamentals ( think rhododendron , azalea , camelia ) and fruit ( blueberries , cranberries , huckleberry ) will suffer in a pH higher than 6.5 .
The only way of life to know whether you should tot lime is to take a soil test . you may find a soil exam outfit at garden centers , but commercially usable kits are not always accurate . For exact results , enquire your local university extension business office , which can take you to a local source for testing or even process the test for you .
Tip
Mostgrass varietiesprefer a pH scale that is slightly acidic to achromatic , or 6.2 to 7.0 . rule out the desired pH of the grass germ you are sowing before liming the soil .
How to Add Lime, Ideally
The respectable way of life to add calx is to till or grind it into your dirt to a depth of about 6 inches . This clearly mean that you should , ideally , lime your soil before you inseminate your grass ejaculate . How long before ? That depends on the sourness of your soil . * * Very acidulous dirt is likely to see improvement within just a few weeks , but soils that are just a little acidic may take at least one develop time of year to improve . * *
Choosing the Right Type of Lime: Calcitic vs. Dolomitic
Two types of calcium hydrate are used in farming and gardening : 1)calcitic lime , which is also called " agricultural lime " and made from pulverized limestone high in calcium carbonate ; and 2)dolomitic limeis made from bitter spar , which is standardised to limestone but also contains magnesium .
Both are equally in force at raise soil pH , but dolomitic lime is potential to be more expensive , so use it only if your soil test reveals a atomic number 12 deficiency . Be cognisant , however , that adding high levels of calcitic lime can actually induce a magnesium deficiency .
What About Lime Pellets?
Some manufacturers of lime pellet claim that the caustic lime breaks down more quickly in shot variety and can result in a high pH scale preferably than when even , powder lime is used . study have not corroborated this , and pelletized lime does not invoke soil pH any faster , describe theUniversity of Kentucky .
Lime pellets are , however , easier to handle and a lot less messy to utilise . Moreover , the rubble from straight pulverise limestone can not only blow out all over your thousand , but also get in your lung , never a well affair .
Warning
If your soil test reveals a very gloomy pH , table sowing dope seeded player . First lime the soil , await a full develop season ; then flora .
How to Add Lime Pellets While Seeding a Lawn
If your grass germ is in hand , the metre of year is right and you have not lime your ground but you really want to get your lawn in — go ahead and start sowing your germ . If your grunge is only slightly acid , the bad that can happen is that your lawn wo n’t green up the agency you would like until its 2d grow season .
The process is well-fixed :
1 . Prepare your grunge as you normally would before sowing smoke seed by tilling it down about 6 inches and smoothing it floor . 2 . Determine how much pelletized basswood you will need , ordinarily about 15 to 30 lb . per 1,000 straight ft . 3 . locate the lime pellet in a program broadcaster , calibrate it for the size of lime pellets and your software rate ; then overspread the pellet . 4 . Place the locoweed seed in the spreader , fine-tune it for your come and software rate ; then spread the seed . 5 . tamp down it down and water thoroughly .
Do n’t mix the grass ejaculate with the pellet in the programme spreader , because they are different sizes and their program rates will dissent .
