Applying lime to your lawn is your first defense against many pest , weed and disease . Why ? Because fluxing lime evens out acidic soil . Georgia ’s cadaver soil tends to have low pH levels , but if you bring lime to it for a few years , the sour may level off on its own . The less acidic the grease , the less strain affecting your lawn .
take too much quicklime on your lawn can cause major trouble . While lime is good for rectify acidic soil , putting down too much can enkindle the pH dangerously mellow , leading to nutrient deficiency and wretched grass health . Thankfully , there are several steps you could take to get your over - lime lawn back on track .
What Happens When You Add Too Much Lime?
Before getting into solutions , it ’s helpful to sympathize why excessive liming is elusive .
Lime contains calcium carbonate , which works to neutralize acidity and raise pH levels in the filth . This is helpful , as most turfgrasses favor a pH of 65 - 70 . However , adding too much lime can tug the pH well above the ideal range , causing the ground to become overly alkaline .
When pH exceeds 75 , significant nutrient like iron , manganese , Cu , and Zn become far less available for works ingestion . inadequacy in these food quickly lead to greensickness ( yellowing ) , stunt development , and step down greensward .

Furthermore as pH ascent , beneficial microorganisms in the soil become less active . This leads to slower breakdown of constituent matter and misfortunate soil structure over time .
How to Fix an Over-Limed Lawn
Here are some footfall - by - footstep instructions for remediate an over - liming problem :
1. Get a Soil Test
Start by taking several stain samples from around your lawn and sending them off for laboratory analysis . This will confirm if pH is actually too gamey , and furnish customized recommendation for amendment app rate .
Target sampling area that you know received heavy liming . Also check smear far from lime program zone to see if the effect were far-flung .
Most labs provide results within 1 - 2 weeks . cost range from $ 15 - 30 per test .
2. Adjust Mowing and Watering
While waiting on test final result , slimly evoke your mow height and water profoundly and infrequently . Taller eatage blades and deeper roots will serve the turf mess with nutrient issue . Avoid spare nitrogen , which could worsen nutrient deficiencies .
3. Apply Sulfur
Once trial run support high-flown pH , enforce a pH - lowering material like aluminum sulphate or elemental S . atomic number 16 works slowly but in effect , lowering pH over a period of several months . implement at recording label rates , H2O in well , and retest pH every 2 - 3 month until attain the target stove .
4. Increase Organic Matter
Work in 1⁄4 - 1⁄2 inch layer of compost over the lawn . Organic issue helps buffer against pH wavering while also improve nutrient and piddle retention . Reapply yearly .
Alternatively , propagate and water in a thin stratum of peat moss for a straightaway pH scale - lowering boost .
5. Apply Chelated Micronutrients
Foliar spray hold chelate iron , atomic number 25 , and other micronutrients can help address nutrient deficiencies in the light - term while dirt pH gradually drops . Apply weekly according to label directions .
6. Consider Re-sodding Damaged Areas
In cases of severe over - liming , areas of dead grass may need surrogate . Consider resodding or reseeding badly damaged department . Choose fluxing lime - tolerant pasturage varieties like tall fescue . Stagger and fuse Modern greensward edges into exist sward .
7. Adjust Future Liming Rates
Signs You’ve Added Too Much Lime
Some former indicators that your lawn is getting over - limed include :
If you observe these signs , discontinue liming and have your soil test directly . The earlier you could diagnose and treat high pH issues , the better hazard your lawn has of full recovery .
How to Prevent Over-Application in the Future
To forefend excess liming in the future :
Always soil test first and follow research lab recommendations for lime need . Never apply blindly .
Split larger lime applications into halves or third base , applying over multiple calendar month .
Water lime in thoroughly after spreading to melt and desegregate particles .
quarry problem patches , not entire lawn , when spot - liming .
Calibrate spreader routinely to assure accurate software rates .
invalidate lime just before seeding or sod new lawns .
With proper care and monitoring , lime can keep soil pH optimized for respectable grass growth without risk of overdoing it . Stay open-eyed and react quickly if your lawn show sign of excessive alkalinity . direct over - liming promptly can get your sward back into top frame .
Does your grass struggle to grow?
For people who on a regular basis utilise a slow - act plant food , seeing sparse grass can be a sign that the pasture is n’t getting enough nutrients . You might render your hardest , but the sourness storey might break you . You might drop a tidy sum of money , only to be let down . Adding lime tree to your soil may help your skunk maturate faster and thicker . This not only lay down for a lush lawn , but also one that is strong enough to handle problems .
Do you have dull or light-colored grass?
Soil with gamey sourness prevents your grass from absorbing food from the soil . If you ’re adding fertilizer to the land to no avail , check your pH value . in high spirits acidity may be the culprit . In these situation , lime hydrate can help make the deep unripe expect you ’re after .
Q&A – Can you add too much lime to the soil?
FAQ
What happen if I put too much lime on my lawn ?
Will lime cauterize grass ?
What bump if grime has too much lime ?
What can nullify garden burnt lime ?
Does too much quicklime move grass ?
The solution is yes . Too much lime can bear on the grass ’s access code to vital nutrients . calx software increase the land pH stage and promote healthy growing conditions for grass . Although there are numerous welfare to lime , too much lime can encourage gamy grease alkalinity . The most usual effect of too much linden on a lawn is iron lack .
How much fluxing lime should I add to my lawn ?
Ideally , to acquire grass you want to aim for a ph level between 6.5 and 7 . The type of soil you have and the soil ’s current ph level must be taken into consideration when calculating how much lime to add to your lawn . Heavier soils will require more lime for ph layer modification .
How do I fix too much lime in my lawn ?
Once you ’ve established there is too much basswood in the soil you have several option to castigate the trouble . The first selection is to await a month or two and mulch organic matter with your mower to amend the ground and water the lawn with the hope that the lawn better . The second option is to add horticultural S to the lawn to lower the pH scale .
Can you put too much lime on a modest pH lawn ?
The correct amount of lime is often recommended for lawn with downhearted pH. unluckily , many hoi polloi often utilize too much Citrus aurantifolia on their lawn . The sequent alkaline condition hurt pot growing and ruin the lawn ’s aesthetic appeal . It is easy to put too much lime lawn treatment when trying to reduce soil pH.