To understand the importance of applying lime to your lawn you need to know what lime actually is and when your lawn needs some.
Lime is a soil amendment or conditioner it is not a fertilizer. Lime is used to balance the acidity level of your soil. You can test your soil using a soil test kit, pH meter or having it professionally tested.
This may not seem important, however once you understand what the soil pH means to your lawn you will understand how valuable lime can be.
The soil pH is calculated on a scale from 1-14. One meaning your soil is very acidic and 14 meaning your soil is very alkaline. Zoysia lawns thrive in soil pH levels between 6 and 7. The pH in your soil affects how minerals behave as a result how easily grass and plants can absorb them. Even though most minerals and nutrients are present in your soil if your pH is too low or too high they are not available to your plants.
The best time to add lime to your lawn is in the fall, winter or early spring. Lime can be applied using powder, pellet or liquid lime, such as our Café Lime which you simply attached to your hose and spray. This will allow for better and even distribution. The amount of lime will vary with the degree of acidity. It is recommended to follow the package instructions.
Don’t get discouraged if your pH levels do not reach the desired range after one application of lime, it may take a few years to get your soil pH in the correct range.