Does your lawn look a little…sad? Maybe the grass is patchy, or the green just isn’t as bright as you want. You’ve watered it and mowed it just right, but something is still missing. This common lawn problem often points to the soil underneath. Soil pH is a hidden factor that controls how well your grass can actually use the nutrients you give it.
Choosing the right lime for your lawn can feel like a confusing science project. Should you use dolomitic lime or calcitic? How much do you need? Getting this wrong means you waste time and money, and your lawn stays stubbornly lackluster. It’s frustrating when you put in the effort but don’t see the results you expect.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will break down exactly what soil pH is and why it matters. You will learn the simple differences between the main types of lawn lime, making your next purchase easy and effective. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to balance your soil for a thick, vibrant green carpet.
Top Lime For Lawns Recommendations
- Adds essential elements back into the soil
- Naturally raises the pH level and helps plants to absorb food
- Works all season long
- Naturally bonds with soil to help reduce nutrient run-off and waste
- Ideal to use in any spreader
- Reduces soil acidity – “Sweetens” Soil
- Increases key nutrient availability to plant roots
- Use on lawns, flower & vegetable Gardens
- NOT a fertilizer
- FAST-ACTING SOIL pH CORRECTION LimeLight Pro uses enhanced pelletized dolomitic limestone to quickly raise low soil pH so your lawn can better absorb essential nutrients. Ideal for acidic soils that cause poor color, weak growth, and low fertilizer response.
- IMPROVES FERTILIZER EFFECTIVENESS Low pH locks up nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients. LimeLight Pro neutralizes acidity to unlock existing nutrients, helping every fertilizer application work more efficiently and deliver stronger results.
- BOOSTS MAGNESIUM FOR GREENER, HEALTHIER TURF As a dolomitic limestone, this formula supplies both calcium and magnesium. Perfect for correcting magnesium deficiencies that lead to pale color, thin turf, and slow recovery. Supports deep green color and strong root development.
- 50 LB BAG TREATS UP TO 10,000 SQ FT High-quality, clean pelletized granules spread easily with rotary or drop spreaders and break down quickly for fast soil activity. Ideal for lawns, gardens, wildlife areas, and food plots. Safe when used as directed.
- LONG-LASTING, HOMEOWNER-FRIENDLY FORMULA Designed to provide extended soil conditioning for months. Reduces soil acidity over time, improves moisture retention, supports nutrient availability, and helps create a more resilient lawn that withstands stress, heat, and foot traffic.
- Neutralizes Acidic Soil
- Stimulates Healthy Bacteria
- Enhances Fertilizer Availability
- Pelletized For Easy Spreader Application
- Ideal For Vegetables And Flowers
- An organic, OMRI listed lime soil amendment for lawns and gardens
- Features Andersons patented DG Technology, allowing granules to quickly disperse and dissolve into the soil after irrigation
- Faster and more effective than traditional lime products. Contains calcium and magnesium to support overall plant health
- Adjusts low pH levels resulting in better nutrient uptake. Quickly neutralizes acidic soils for optimal growing conditions
- Non-burning, can be safely applied any time during the growing season. Can be used alongside any fertilizer program or used alone
- Fast Acting Lime – Fast Acting Lime granules start working immediately to raise the pH of your soil, helping grass and other plants absorb nutrients more efficiently, and get your lawn back to looking its best.
- Raise Soil pH – If your soil pH is too low, plants are unable to absorb nutrients effectively. Earth Science Fast Acting Lime naturally raises soil pH to help plants absorb more food.
- Improve Color – Earth Science Fast Acting Lime will help green up your lawn and create colorful blooms! This fertilizer enhancer is long lasting and keeps working all season. Fast Acting Lime adds essential calcium back into the soil.
- People & Pet Friendly – Earth Science Fast Acting Lime is safe to use on any grass type, and safe for people and pets. Your human and furry friends can use the lawn immediately after application.
- Nutri-Bond Technology – Earth Science’s patented Nutri-Bond Technology bonds with the soil to help keep more product where you put it. Nutri-Bond is better for the environment and helps your lawn & garden get the most out of every application.
- FOR USE ON: Use Lightning Lime to help correct pH of acid soils and make fertilizers more effective. Lightning Lime helps grow greener lawns.
- CONTAINS: All-natural limestone with no fillers or additives. Pelletized for easy application
- EFFECTIVE: Ultra-fast lime, one bag equals five bags of regular lime & covers up to 5,000 sq. ft. Works in as little as 6-8 weeks
- WHEN / HOW TO USE: Apply any time the ground is not frozen; Spring, Summer, & Fall. Apply with a drop or broadcast spreader or sprinkle on the surface of the garden soil
- MADE IN THE USA: Product of the Espoma Company. The leader in natural organics since 1929
Your Guide to Choosing the Best Lime for Your Lawn
Does your lawn look a little sad? Maybe the grass is patchy or a certain type of weed keeps popping up. Often, the problem isn’t just the grass seed or the watering. It might be the soil! Soil that is too acidic (sour) stops your grass from soaking up important nutrients. Lime is the simple fix. This guide helps you pick the right lime to make your lawn happy and green.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop for lawn lime, you need to check a few important things on the bag. These features tell you how fast and how well the lime will work.
1. Neutralizing Power (Calcium Carbonate Equivalent – CCE)
- What it is: This number shows how strong the lime is at changing sour soil to a better level.
- Why it matters: A higher CCE means you need less product to get the job done. Look for bags with a high CCE rating for the best value.
2. Fineness (Particle Size)
- What it is: This describes how finely the lime is ground up.
- Why it matters: Finer lime works faster! If your soil test shows you need a quick fix, choose a lime that is ground very fine. Coarser lime takes longer to dissolve and start working.
3. Type of Lime
- Calcitic Lime (Calcium Carbonate): Works best in soils that need more calcium. It usually has a very high CCE.
- Dolomitic Lime (Calcium Magnesium Carbonate): This is a great choice if your soil also lacks magnesium, which helps keep grass a deep green color.
Important Materials and Composition
Lawn lime is mostly made of ground-up rock. It’s a natural product, but the type of rock matters.
- Calcium Carbonate: This is the main ingredient that neutralizes acid. Most good lawn limes use this.
- Magnesium: Dolomitic lime adds this important nutrient. Check your soil test to see if your lawn needs extra magnesium. If it doesn’t, stick to calcitic lime.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Not all lime products are created equal. Some things make the lime work better, and others slow it down.
Quality Boosters:
- Fine Grind: As mentioned, a finer grind dissolves faster when it mixes with water in the soil. This means quicker results.
- High Purity: High-quality lime has very few extra bits of dirt or rock mixed in. You pay for lime, not filler!
Quality Reducers:
- Pelletized Lime: Some lime comes in small pellets to make spreading easier. While easy to use, these pellets sometimes break down slower than finely powdered lime.
- Old or Poor Storage: Lime that sits outside in the rain can start to break down or clump up, making it harder to spread evenly.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you use the lime greatly affects how happy you will be with the results.
Spreading and Application:
Most lawn lime comes in a granular (pellet) form. This lets you use a standard lawn spreader, just like you would use for fertilizer. It is important to apply lime evenly across the whole lawn. After spreading, water the area lightly. This helps move the lime down into the soil where it needs to work.
When to Apply:
- Soil Test First: Always test your soil! Applying too much lime can make your soil too alkaline (the opposite of acidic), which also hurts your grass.
- Timing: You can usually apply lime in the spring or the fall. Fall applications often work well because the winter moisture helps it move into the soil before the next growing season.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Lawn Lime
Q: Why should I put lime on my lawn?
A: Lime raises the pH level of sour (acidic) soil. This lets your grass easily soak up good nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, making the grass healthier and greener.
Q: How do I know if my lawn needs lime?
A: The best way is to get a soil test from your local garden center or agricultural office. They will tell you exactly how much lime you need.
Q: Can I put down too much lime?
A: Yes. Too much lime makes the soil too alkaline. This can lock up nutrients, making it hard for grass to grow, just like when the soil is too acidic.
Q: How fast does lime work?
A: Finely ground lime starts working right away, but it takes several months for the pH level to fully change. You usually see the best results the following season.
Q: Should I use Dolomitic or Calcitic lime?
A: Check your soil test! If you need magnesium, use Dolomitic lime. If you only need to raise the pH, Calcitic lime is usually fine.
Q: Do I spread lime before or after fertilizing?
A: It is usually best to apply lime separately from fertilizer. Wait at least a few weeks between lime and high-nitrogen fertilizers to ensure the lime works correctly.
Q: Does lime kill weeds?
A: No, lime does not kill weeds directly. It creates a better environment for healthy grass, which naturally crowds out many common weeds.
Q: How often should I apply lime?
A: Most lawns only need lime every three to five years, depending on your soil type and how much rain you get.
Q: Is pelletized lime better than powdered lime?
A: Pelletized lime is easier to spread evenly. Powdered lime is often finer and may work slightly faster once it gets wet.
Q: Do I need to water the lime in after spreading?
A: Yes. Lightly watering the lawn after applying lime helps move the particles down into the soil so they can start neutralizing the acid.