How to Apply Lime

Lime can be applied at any time of the year. There are several types of lime available:

• Dolomotized lime (pellets)
• Calcitic lime (hard to find in non-agricultural areas)
• Powdered lime (sold in sacks)

Your soil test will tell you the pH of your soil and recommend how much lime to apply. A rule of thumb is that 100 lbs of lime spread over 1,000 square feet will raise your soil pH by 1 point.

You should never apply more than 100 pounds per 1,000 square feet at any one time. If your lawn's pH is 4.5 (not as rare as you might think!) you will need to do a series of applications one month apart until it is all applied. After you have completed all the applications, you need not apply any more lime until your next soil test (in three years, minimum) indicates a need.

Do not apply fertilizer at the same time you apply lime! It will not be available to the plants for use, and will leach out of your soil and into the groundwater (or the Bay).

The best way to apply lime is to use a push spreader. The best choice is calcitic lime, but if you aren't lucky enough to live near an agricultural area, you can use dolomitized lime. Set your spreader to apply the lime at the appropriate rate, and walk back and forth across your lawn horizontally then vertically. This way you will ensure even coverage and avoid blank strips between the rows.