Liming your lawn: instructions, timing and tips

Why you should lime your lawn

In order for your grass to stay healthy and strong, it must be able to source sufficient nutrients. However, excessive soil acidity blocks nutrient absorption and results in a weak lawn that cannot flourish, and which struggles to fight against moss and weeds.

So if your grass is not growing properly in spite of regular fertilisation, it may be because the soil is too acidic. In this case, you should lime your garden to increase the soil pH again.

Although it is persistent, lawn lime is also not suitable for neutralising dog urine on the lawn. The composition of dog urine literally burns your lawn,  leaving unsightly yellow and brown spots in affected areas. The only thing to do in these cases is to repair the damaged lawn.

So you can see that it is not possible to rely solely on the naked eye. You should always carry out a soil analysis before applying lawn lime. Appropriate test kits are available from specialist retailers. We recommend that you investigate a mixed sample: take some soil from different places in your garden, mix the samples and then add distilled water. You can now determine the pH value using the pH test.

What pH value should your soil have?

Soil must be slightly acidic for lawn grasses to be able to make the best use of the available nutrients. While you should aim for a pH of 5.5 for light sandy soils, a pH of 6.5 is ideal for loamy soils. If your soil analysis suggests a lower value, we recommend you lime your lawn.

When should you lime your lawn?

We recommend liming your lawn at the start of your regular spring lawn care, when frost-free conditions prevail outside. However, you should wait six to eight weeks between liming and fertilising your soil. So mid- to late February is the ideal time to spread garden lime before the gardening season begins two months later. In principle, there is no reason why you shouldn’t lime your lawn in autumn as well. However, it is not recommended in summer as the heat and dry conditions put your lawn under stress.

Note: Never fertilise and lime at the sametime, as the two measures will cancel each other out. You should plan to leave enough time after liming if you want to repair or renew your lawn.  

A spreader can make spreading easier, but it is not absolutely necessary. Simply spread the lime over the lawn by hand, scattering it widely just like you do when fertilising the lawn. Be sure to wear work gloves. Then, water your lawn so that the lime can soak into the soil – or if the weather forecast is favourable, let the rain do the work.

Note: Be sure to apply the lawn lime when there is no wind and the sky is cloudy. Direct sunlight may damage your grass.

Can I lime my lawn in the rain?

In order to prevent the garden lime from clumping during application, we recommend that you do not lime your lawn when it is raining. However, it won’t do any harm if it rains after you have applied the lime. In fact, rain will save you from having to water the lawn.

What type of lime is suitable for a lawn?

When you’re liming your garden, you should only use carbonic lime, also known as dolomite lime. This is often referred to as lawn lime or garden lime in specialist shops.

Never use caustic lime or slaked lime for your lawn. Both types of lime are highly corrosive and, if mishandled, can be very dangerous to humans and nature. While caustic lime is still used in the construction industry and the agricultural sector, it should not be used in your garden. 

How much lime will I need?  

There is no “one size fits all” quantity of lime that is sufficient for any lawn. The amount of lawn lime you need always depends on the type of lime used and the pH value of your soil. If you regularly lime your garden, a guideline value of around 100 grams per square metre can be used for light, sandy soils. Very dense, loamy soils will need a little more. If you have never limed your lawn or haven’t done so for a long time, a larger quantity may be necessary. However, you should always carry out a soil analysis beforehand.

STIHL tip: If the result of your pH test shows that you will need to apply more than 300 grams of lime per square metre, it may be better to initially apply at a rate of 150 grams and then spread the rest after six months, to protect your lawn. This is recommended especially if you have never limed your lawn before.

How often should you lime your lawn?

If you have supplied your lawn with the right amount of garden lime, the soil in your garden will already have the desired pH value after just a few weeks. However, you cannot expect to see the results immediately. To strengthen your lawn in the long term, you should therefore lime it regularly. We recommend carrying out a soil analysis every two to three years and then acting accordingly.

Is lawn lime dangerous to pets?

While caustic lime and slaked lime are highly corrosive, common carbonic lime is generally not harmful or toxic. However, we recommend that you wait at least two to three days after application and subsequent, thorough watering before letting your dog or cat play on your lawn again. Please also observe any warnings issued by the manufacturer.

Overview: liming your lawn

• Liming your lawn prevents the soil from becoming too acidic.
• Always carry out a soil analysis before liming your lawn.
• You should wait around six to eight weeks between liming and fertilising your lawn.
• Apply the lawn lime by hand or with a spreader. The lime will then soak into the soil through watering or rain.
• The amount you need depends on the composition of the lime and the result of the soil analysis. As a guideline, you can use 100 grams per square metre for light soils and a little more on heavy soils. Always note the information on the packaging.
• It is usually sufficient to lime your lawn every two to three years.