Managing your soil, whether you are planning a lawn, a flower bed or a vegetable garden, is the most important aspect to growing plants. Determining the soil's pH is one of the aspects of good soil management. A lush lawn requires a pH between 6.2 and 6.5, while most vegetables thrive in a soil pH between 5.8 and 6.3. Raising and lowering the soil's pH requires the addition of soil amendments; dolomitic lime is the amendment to add to reduce the acidity level by raising the soil's pH. The best time to add lime is in fall so it has time to blend into the soil over the winter.
Instructions
1. Collect soil samples from the area where you want to add lime. The best way to do this is to collect them in a zig-zag pattern, from east to west, down the length of the bed. Collect 10 samples and combine them in a bucket. Remove any plant debris from the soil samples and mix them thoroughly. Place the soil in a 1 pint container for pH testing at the cooperative extension laboratory near you.
2. Water the area to a depth of 10 inches the day before applying the dolomitic lime.
3. Add half the required amount of lime to the drop spreader and apply it in strips down the length of the soil.
4. Place the remaining half of the dolomitic lime in the spreader and apply it in strips across the width of the area, so that you end up with a crisscross pattern.
5. Till the lime into the top 6 inches of soil. If this isn't possible, use a rake to mix it with the top inch of soil and water slowly -- at least to a depth of 4 inches -- after applying.
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