Liming the lawnis a treatment often recommended to improve the quality of grass, get rid of weeds and moss. However, this treatment may turn out to be harmful if we perform it incorrectly or at the wrong time. Therefore, it is worth knowing whyliming the lawnand when it is necessary, what ihow to liming the lawnto get the maximum benefit for our turf and what are the recommendedlawn liming dates
Liming the lawn - spreading lime fertilizer
When should the lawn be limed?
Liming the lawnis primarily done to increase the pH of the soil. This procedure makes sense only when the ground under the lawn is too acidic. Otherwise, when liming a lawn that did not require this treatment, liming the lawn may do more harm than good.
Lawns grow best in slightly acidic soils , i.e. with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. If the soil is too acidic, the turf loses its aesthetic value, and weeds and moss appear on the lawn. Lawns on acidic soils are very often covered with e.g. field horsetail. In the event of such problems, it is worth measuring the pH of the soil under the lawn.The indication for liming the lawn is soil pH below 5.5
How to measure the pH of the soil under the lawn?
To determine the pH of the soil under your lawn, you should measure the pH of the soil using any pH meter.The simplest are strip pH meters (cost from a few to a dozen or so zlotys), and the entire measurement consists in putting a paper strip into wet soil. Depending on the color of the strip, the approximate pH value of the substrate is estimated. testing the soil for its abundance of essential nutrients).
Measurement of soil pH under the lawn
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
To measure the pH of the soil under lawns on plots and home gardensI recommend using an electronic pH meter. It does not require taking a soil sample, and therefore no undermining of the turf fragments. In addition, it can be measured repeatedly, without incurring additional costs of purchasing reagents, indicator strips or paying for laboratory results, and the pH measurement result is obtained almost immediately.Such a pH-meter will serve us for many years, and because it also indicates several other parameters, such as soil moisture measurement, it will help to decide, for example, about the need to water the lawn.
Lawn liming - dates
If we have already determined that our lawn requires liming, choose the right moment for this treatment. Already growing lawns can only be limed outside of the grass growing season, when weather conditions allow it. In practice,liming the lawn in spring , and basically in the early spring - from the end of February to March (when the snow has melted but the grasses have not yet started to grow). The second possible date isliming the lawn in the fall , when the grass stops growing already - October to early November.
Note!Do not combine liming the lawn with other fertilizers, as this may lead to the formation of chemical compounds in the soil that are not available for plants (despite the large amount of macro- and microelements, the roots plants will not be able to download them).Allow several weeks between sprinkling the lime and the application of another fertilizer.
With what to lime the lawn?
For liming the lawnyou can use a calcium carbonate fertilizer, such as dolomite or fertilizer chalk, for example under the name granulated chalk lime. Dolomite contains about 30% calcium oxide (CaO), and fertilizer chalk - about 50% calcium oxide. Therefore, the second fertilizer is given in slightly smaller amounts.
Dolomite and calcium-magnesium fertilizer for lawns with moss
Fig. Target
On lawns with moss problems, for the best results, it is worth using a specialcalcium-magnesium fertilizer for lawns with moss TargetIt is a fertilizer of natural origin, containing magnesium, calcium and trace elements, obtained from the grinding of calcium - magnesium rocks.
Note!Oxide fertilizers, such as quicklime and slaked lime, must not be used for liming an already growing lawn, as it could damage the grass.
Dosing of calcium fertilizers on lawns
When we want to carry outliming the lawn , the amount of fertilizer used must be selected depending on the quality of the soil on which the liming is performed, as well as the type of fertilizer used, because individual calcium fertilizers differ in their oxide content calcium. In practice, on light, sandy soils, 5-8 kg CaO per 100 m² is applied every 3-4 years. Depending on the fertilizer used, it will be about 17-27 kg of dolomite or 10-16 kg of fertilizer chalk.
Heavy, compact soils are limed less often, but with a higher dose, i.e. 8-12 kg CaO per 100 m², i.e. 27-40 kg dolomite or 16-22 kg fertilizer chalk.
In the case of fertilizer of calcium and magnesium for lawns with moss, the manufacturer recommends a dosage of 14-60 kg per 100m².
The exact dosage of the fertilizer should be determined on the basis of the instructions on its packaging. Beforeapplication of lime fertilizers , crush them well so that there are no lumps, and then sprinkle them evenly over the lawn. Dolomite and calcium-magnesium fertilizer for lawns with moss should be ordered in our store, taking advantage of the attractive price offer.
What instead of liming the lawn?
If we want to raise the pH of the soil under the lawn or eliminate moss,instead of liming, we can use a deacidifier Subsoil pH +It is a nitrogen-potassium fertilizer, which, after being dissolved in water, is watered lawn. It works similarly to liming, but we can also use it during the growing season, in the period of grass growth from spring to the end of summer. Because it contains nitrogen and a deacidifier. The pH + substrate should not be used only in autumn, so as not to stimulate the grass to grow.
The deacidifier pH + substrate is used in the amount of 100 ml per 10 liters of water, which is enough to water 10m² of the lawn. This should increase the soil pH by +1 pH. However, the result may vary depending on the composition and structure of the soil beneath the lawn. Such deacidification can be repeated several times until the desired pH of the soil under the lawn is achieved
Application of a deacidifier The pH + substrate is therefore much simpler than liming . Especially if we are not sure which lime to choose, how much to use it or we have missed the recommended date of liming the lawn.
