How to Know if Your Lawn Needs Lime

If your lawn looks patchy, thin, or just isn’t as green as it used to be, the problem might not be your watering schedule or mowing habits. It could be your soil’s pH.

Lime is one way to fix acidic soil. It doesn’t work like fertilizer, and it won’t give you instant results, but over time it helps grass take in nutrients more easily. More nutrient absorption leads to better color, thicker growth, and fewer problem spots. But how do you know if your lawn needs it?

What Lime Actually Does for Grass

“In a nutshell it helps improve the soil PH and helps the grass grow healthier,” shares Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s Home Expert. Lime pushes the soil toward neutral, which is where grass tends to thrive.

Many people assume a lawn needs more fertilizer when they suspect nutrient imbalances; however, that doesn’t always fix the issue. Manfredini points out that “grass really likes nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus,” but if your soil’s too acidic, those nutrients can’t be absorbed properly. That’s where lime comes in—it doesn’t feed the lawn directly, but it helps the soil unlock the nutrients already there.

He adds, “By balancing the soil it helps those essential nutrients get absorbed into the lawn more efficiently. Giving you a thicker greener lawn.” So if your yard looks like it's struggling even with regular feeding and care, lime might be the missing piece.

Lou also jokes that he should have paid more attention in chemistry class, but he’s right—the soil chemistry matters! Acidic soil can’t support the kind of strong, healthy lawn most people are looking for.

newly seeded grass on dry soil. — Amending your soil before planting new grass seed is worth it, especially if you've had problems growing grass in the past. Credit: Emily Fazio

Does My Lawn or Yard Need Lime?

Not all lawns need a lime application. The best way to know is by testing the soil. “It’s good to test the soil with a probe," notes Manfredini. "In a perfect world the PH level should be 6.0-7.0 which is slightly acidic to neutral.”

Soil acidity builds up over time. A lime lawn treatment might be the simple fix you need for a greener, healthier lawn.

You can find a soil test kit at most garden centers, or for more accurate results, work with your local cooperative extension service. Soil testing the ground helps measure soil pH levels and detect nutrient deficiencies that may be limiting proper lawn growth.

There are also a few signs to look for if you're wondering if you need soil amendments:

Pale or thinning grass blades, even after feeding
Moss taking over shaded spots
Poor grass growth near flower beds
Weeds spreading faster than grass
Heavy rain or frequent watering with poor nutrient retention
You have clay or sandy soil types

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Types of Lime You’ll Find at Garden Centers

Not all lime is the same. Depending on your yard’s soil condition and what type of lime treatment you're after, you’ll find a few common forms at most garden centers.

Each one helps reduce soil acidity and raise soil pH levels, but the ingredients and application methods vary. Here’s a quick look at what you might see:

Calcitic lime: Made from calcium carbonate, this is one of the most common forms of lime. It helps neutralize acidic conditions and adds calcium to the soil—it's great for proper growth and stronger grass blades.
Dolomitic lime: This type includes both calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, which is helpful if your lawn soil is low in magnesium. Dolomite lime is especially useful for sandy soil where critical macronutrients can wash away more easily.
Liquid lime: This method of liming is often easier to apply, especially for smaller spaces or quick fixes. It mixes with water and can be applied with a sprayer.
Pelletized lime: This stuff is easier to spread than powder lime... and less messy, too. It works well with a drop spreader, rotary spreader, or broadcast spreader.
*Warning! Hydrated lime: It's strong and fast, but not usually recommended for lawns due to its intensity. It can damage grass seeds or burn cool-season grass if not used carefully as part of your lawn care routine.

Each type is available in different bag sizes, usually labeled with how many square feet it will cover. If you’re unsure which to use or how many pounds of lime to buy, start with a soil testing kit or ask a lawn care expert for help choosing the right lime for your yard.

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How long does it take lime to work on a lawn?

Lime isn’t a quick fix. It takes time to adjust the soil structure and pH—usually several months. Anything applied to the surface needs to be absorbed, which takes time whether you're irrigating or awaiting heavy rainfall. But once the soil nutrients take hold, the benefits last. You likely won’t need to reapply more than every couple of years, depending on your soil type and local conditions.

Can I apply lime and fertilizer at the same time?

You can, but it’s usually better to do lime first. Lime helps the soil take in nutrients better, so it makes more sense to fix the pH before adding fertilizer. Give it a few weeks between the two steps to improve the soil balance so you’re not wasting your time—or your fertilizer.