How often should lime be applied?
Lime should be applied ONLY when soil testing indicates that it is needed. Yearly applications of lime, without making a soil test, are strongly discouraged because alkaline (high pH) conditions may develop. WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO APPLY LIME? Lime can be applied at any time during the year. However, it should not be applied to turf that is wilted or frost-covered. The turf should be irrigated after application in order to wash any lime off of the turfgrass leaves. ARE ALL LIMING MATERIALS THE SAME? As indicated in the table below, all liming materials are NOT the same. They can differ in price, safety, ease of application, calcium carbonate equivalent, and rate at which they work. It should be noted that gypsum (calcium sulfate) is NOT included in this table. Gypsum will change soil pH very little, if at all, and should NEVER be considered as a liming material!
The answer to this question depends on a variety of considerations. A soil with a low CEC (cation exchange capacity; the capacity of a plant and soil to exchange nutrients) does not require a lot of lime to correct soil pH but may need to be limed frequently. A soil with a high CEC requires a large amount of lime to initially correct pH, but it may be several years before another lime application is needed due to its high buffering capacity. As fertilizer is applied to enhance forage or crop production, the removal of essential plant nutrients from the soil also increases. As a result, lime may be needed more frequently to replenish removed nutrients. For example, the rate of nutrient removal from a pasture being hayed is much greater than a pasture being grazed. Therefore, the hay field may need to be limed more often.
The effects of liming will usually only last about a year. Soil will gradually return to its “native’ pH in time. Yearly lime applications, without making a soil test, are strongly discouraged because alkaline (high pH) conditions may develop. Applying lime does not interfere with any Scotts products. You can apply lime the same day you apply any Scotts lawn product. When Is The Best Time To Apply Lime? Lime can be applied at any time during the year. However, it should not be applied to turf that is wilted or frost-covered. The turf should be irrigated after application in order to wash any lime off of the turfgrass leaves.
