Why Is Lime Important For Virginia Lawns?
Most lawn care applications must be carried out during certain times of the year. However, adding lime to your lawn is a chore that can be done at any time. Liming is one of the most inexpensive ways to improve soil conditions. Soils in Virginia are naturally very acidic. Soil pH’s of 4.5 to 6.3 are common in areas that have not been limed. A pH of 5.0 may be good for blueberries and azaleas, however most lawns will not tolerate these acidic conditions.
Liming the soil helps certain nutrients become more available to the plants. Proper soil pH will also encourage soil microbes to convert nitrogen to a plant-usable form. Overall, homeowners will get more for their fertilization dollars if the pH is in the correct range.
How do I know what my soil pH is? Soil Testing.
Virginia Green’s soil test will not only identify the soil’s pH and nutrient levels, but it will also provide a recommendation for how much lime (or not) should be applied to benefit the lawn. The lime requirement is not only related to the pH of the soil, but also to its buffer capacity or cation exchange capacity (CEC). Total amounts of clay and organic matter in soil, as well as the kind of clay, will determine how strongly soils are buffered. Buffering capacity increases with the amounts of clay and organic matter. Such soils require more lime to increase pH than soils with a lower buffer capacity. Virginia Green offers lime applications for our Premium Lawn Care customers and is included in Estate Lawn Care customer programs. If you would like to sign up – call our office today!
For a stronger, healthier lawn, contact Virginia Green today. Your lawn will thank you.