Understanding soil pH and how it affects plant growth is a critically important and often overlooked part of gardening. Plants like lawn grasses grow when they are cultivated in a soil that lies within an ideal range of soil pH values; cultivating the plant in a soil that lies outside this ideal range will often yield marginal results at best. If you find that your lawn soil has an unsuitable pH, you can adjust the pH using soil amendments such as dolomite.
Liming
Soil with a pH reading from 0.0 to 7.0 is considered acidic, while soil with pH between 7.1 and 14.0 is considered alkaline. Soils that are very acidic often need to be made less acidic to support healthy grass growth, and one process of doing so is liming. Agricultural lime, on its own or in a mix, is added to acidic soil to raise its pH. Dolomite or dolomitic limestone is one frequently used material for lawn liming.
Application Rates for Lawn Liming
The ideal amount of dolomite to use depends on many different factors. Light, sandy soils require less lime than silt and clay soils. The ideal amount of dolomite to use on your lawn also depends on the species of grass you are growing and its ideal pH range. In general, however, lawns tend to grow well in soils that have been treated with no more than 150 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet, at a frequency of one application every three to five years. If your lawn soil is particularly acidic and requires more than 150 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet, apply half the total amount of dolomite the first year of treatment, and the remaining half over the next two to three years.
Application Methods
Lime applied to soil is not mobile, so even coverage over the entire growing area is essential for success. Using a spreader will ensure good coverage over your entire lawn. If available, use pelleted dolomite for your liming program. Pelleted lime may be a bit more expensive, but it drops more consistently through a spreader and is easier to clean up.
Other Considerations
Like fertilizer and any other soil amendments, dolomite applications need to be made only as the lawn soil needs it. Over-liming can cause many grass growth problems in your lawn and is a frequent mistake made by homeowners. Have your soil pH tested prior to applying any dolomite, and regularly check soil pH after applications. Grass health problems due to over-liming can be worse than health problems associated with not liming the lawn at all, so avoid over-liming at all costs.
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