Top Tips For Using A Lime Spreader The Right Way

With very few exceptions everyone knows that to have a nice green lush lawn, you have to use some form of fertilizer. Most soils do not have the nutrients and pH to maintain a healthy lawn. This is not to say that they will not grow, but they will be much nicer with a good fertilizing strategy. Part of any good strategy is using a good lime spreader to keep the soil's pH balanced correctly.

There are generally two kinds of spreaders. There is the rotary/spinner spreaders and there is drop spreaders. The rotary spreaders will generally apply limes across a 4-8 foot path. Though finer particles always travel out more than denser particles dependent on their relative speed. Drop spreaders apply the lime directly under the spreader. It is harder to spread limes evenly with drop spreaders, and any overlap will cause a striping to occur in the lawn.

Most varieties of lawn grasses grow best in a soil that is neutral or close to it. Over time most lawns slowly become slightly more acidic with the accumulation of organic matter. Adding lime and lime agents will drop the pH and help your lawn to grow better and stay healthier and disease free.

Before you begin planning to do anything to your lawn, you should test it so you know exactly what and how much it needs for a positive balance. There are inexpensive tests you can buy at most home improvement stores. They can also be done by county agents, and nurseries.

Regardless of the variety you plan to use, you will make a lot of fine dust that can be quite harmful to someone's lungs and the mucus membranes of your nose, eyes and mouth. Always insist that you or anybody assisting you uses protective equipment while spreading it. Using lime pellets can reduce the dust generated, but everybody should still have protective equipment.

There are typically two kinds of limes people use for their lawns. One is called calcitic, the other is called dolomitic. Calcitic limes only add calcium to the lawn. Dolomitic limes add both calcium and magnesium to it. Typically calcitic limes will be cheaper, but dolomitic limes will be a better option when you have an abundance of sandy soil.

It is also very important what time of the year you decide to put it down. As a rule it is always better to apply it in the mid to late fall rather than the spring. This gives it enough time to break down into the soil so the lawn can use it effectively. If you do apply it during the spring try to wait 2 days to a week before watering so you do not take a chance of burning the lawn.

One of the key factors to using your lime spreader is getting it down uniformly on your turf. Most people end up with having uneven gaps in their turf. This skill is something that takes time to learn. In time most people master it and their lawn start looking full and healthy in no time.