What does lime do for grass?

Lime raises soil pH, making acidic soils more neutral and improving nutrient availability to grass roots. In Charlotte's acidic Piedmont soils, lime application is often necessary for optimal grass growth and is one of the most impactful amendments available.

pH Effect on Nutrient Availability

Acidic soils (pH below 6.0) reduce availability of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus that grass requires for healthy growth. Nitrogen is less available; micronutrient availability decreases. This results in pale, weak grass despite fertilizer applications. Raising pH through lime application unlocks nutrients already present in soil, improving growth without additional fertilizer.

Lime Benefits for Acidic Soils

• Improved Grass Color: Lime-corrected pH allows better chlorophyll development and green color
• Stronger Growth: Nutrient availability improves, supporting vigorous root and shoot development
• Disease Resistance: Better nutrition increases natural disease resistance
• Reduced Weeds: Conditions favorable for grass naturally suppress weeds
• Reduced Moss: Moss prefers acidic conditions. Raising pH makes conditions less favorable for moss

Application Timing and Amount

Apply lime in fall for Charlotte lawns—it requires time to raise pH and is more effective incorporated during fall rain and winter conditions. Amount depends on current pH and target pH; soil testing determines exact amount needed. Follow recommendations from soil test rather than applying standard amounts.