Apply Lime to Your Bermudagrass Before Green-Up in Alpharetta, GA

Having a lawn in northern Georgia generally means your soil is acidic, which means you have to regularly apply lime amendments in order to increase the pH of it. Bermudagrass (and other grasses) cannot absorb nutrients properly without a healthy pH, which is typically between 5.8 and 7.0. Technically, bermudagrass can handle a slightly lower pH, but it is not recommended.

Why Apply Lime Before Green-Up?

Lime can actually be applied any time of the year without impacting efficacy, and many lawns need multiple applications of lime throughout the year. Timing then becomes an effort in not interfering with other lawn care steps, namely fertilization.

If you’ve never added lime to your lawn, fertilizer isn’t going to be as effective as it will be a couple of months after amendment. Applying it in late winter before fertilizing during green-up gives it enough time to take effect before you add nutrients. Lime also adds calcium and magnesium to the soil.

Some people don’t recommend doing lime and fertilizer at the same time, but it has been done many times without any significant impact. Still, if you want to do everything at the best time possible, it is best to do at least one application of lime in late winter and maybe a second in the fall.

How to Apply Lime?

Dolomitic lime is usually sold as pellets or powder. Pellets are easier to use (powder can be messy and blow away in the wind), but both are effective. It is typically applied in a pounds/sq. foot measurement, and you should read the package and look at recommendations from a soil test to decide how much to apply. Lime will be used up by the grass, and some will be washed through the soil when watering. This means reapplication is necessary throughout the life of the grass.

If you are torn between getting powder or pellets, think about this. You want an even application of lime throughout your lawn, which can be achieved with a spreader, but the spreader will have more even results with pellets. Pelletized lime is usually a little more expensive, but the ease of use and better results is well worth the added cost.

How to Tell if You Need Lime?

A lawn that needs lime will possibly be thin and have yellow or bare patches. Don’t rely on the appearance of your lawn to find out if you need lime. Instead, get a soil test at your local extension office. Not only will you find out what your pH is currently, but you’ll also receive advice about fertilizers and what nutrients your lawn truly needs.