By Allan Du
Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock made up mostly of calcium carbonate. It also may contain substantial amounts of magnesium carbonate as well. It forms from the accumulation of minerals in the water, and the remains of marine organisms like coral reefs and sea shells. Outside of gardening and lawn care, limestone is also used as a building material for construction and architecture.
Limestone is a commonly used input for gardens, lawns, as well as in the agricultural industry. The main use for adding limestone to lawns is to raise the soil pH levels for lawns with acidic soil.
Soil pH is a measure of how alkaline or acidic the soil is. A higher pH means that the soil is more alkaline, while a lower pH means the soil is more acidic.
Different types of plants will prefer different pH levels. Lawn grasses prefer soil that is around 6.5-7. This means they grow best in soils that are slightly acidic or neutral.
Experienced farmers and gardeners will often test soil pH to ensure optimal conditions for the plants growing in their fields or gardens.
By keeping soil pH within your lawn grass’ preferred ranges, you can help ensure you’ve freed up the plant nutrients in the soil, making them available for your grass to absorb as much as they need.
When the pH goes out of balance, it makes it much harder for the plants to uptake their nutrients properly, even when they are present in the soil. Limestone helps bring things back to the optimal range and keeps your grass growing at its best.
Dolomite limestone is a common type of limestone typically used on lawns and gardens that are deficient in magnesium.
Dolomite limestone is a type of limestone that contains higher amounts of magnesium calcium carbonate, rather than just calcite or aragonite.
Due to the high amounts of magnesium in the stone, Dolomite limestone can provide a long-lasting boost of the plant nutrient, on top of balancing the pH levels.
The porous structure of Dolomite also improves aeration in the soil, improving absorption of other plant nutrients like nitrogen.
However, improper or overuse of Dolomite can also lead to plant nutrient imbalances, so only use if needed.
Soil pH changes due to things like the weather and inputs like fertilizers which you might add. In places that receive heavy amounts of rainfall, calcium is washed out of the soil over time through water runoff.
In places like this, soils tend to become acidic over time. Meaning that in order to keep the soil pH optimal for your lawn, the occasional top dressing of limestone is necessary.
In regions that receive little rainfall, calcium may not leach away from the water and might build up in the soil over time, resulting in the soil becoming too alkaline.
Soil testing is a way to stay on top of your soil’s pH levels and make sure that it remains within the optimal range. To check the precise pH level of your soil, use a soil pH test kit.
These kits are simple to follow and usually involve taking a few samples of soil, and then mixing the soil sample with a testing solution, to find the soil pH.
If soil pH test results have found your soil to have a low pH. Wait for a calm day during early spring or late fall, and follow these steps to properly apply lime to your lawn:
The best time of the year to apply limestone is during either early spring or late fall. Late fall and early spring are both advantageous because there is more rain and snowfall, which will help break the limestone down and let it work its way into the soil.
How much limestone will be optimal for your lawn will depend on your soil’s current pH, as well as the type of soil your lawn grass is growing in.
A general guideline is to apply no more than a maximum of 15 lbs of limestone per 100 square feet of soil in a single application.
Soils with more sand will require less limestone to achieve the same results compared to soils with higher concentrations of clay.
Usually, it isn’t recommended to apply limestone at the same time as fertilizer. This is because if your soil is too acidic, it won’t be able to absorb as much of the nutrients you add to the soil, compared to how much it would absorb at a suitable pH range.
If your soil is too acidic, you’ll want to first, ensure your soil is at an optimal pH range before using fertilizer. This is because unless the soil is within its optimal pH range, plants won’t be able to absorb nitrogen at their fullest potential.
But if you are planting a new lawn with new grass seed, then if nutrients are lacking in the soil, the grass seed won’t grow. So in this case, adding fertilizer would take priority to ensure that the seeds have enough nutrients in the soil to be able to sprout and establish.
By keeping up with your lawn’s soil pH, not only are you creating the best conditions for your lawn grass to grow and thrive, but you’re also making your lawn less inviting for unwanted weeds and pests. Ultimately, limestone is a key component for maintaining your soil pH and keeping your grass flourishing and healthy.
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