Author/Reviewed By: Josh Miller, Sales Manager: Baker Lime & North America Minerals Published: 3/3/2017 – Updated: 10/25/2023
In general, it’s best not to apply lime, seed and fertilizer at the same time. You typically want to apply agricultural lime before fertilizer for acidic soil, or fertilizer before lime for nutrient-deficient soil. Seed comes after either one or both. Whether you’re growing a lush green lawn or productive crop field, a duo of lime and fertilizer — or a lime, seed and fertilizer application in the right order for the intended plantings — can help you maintain optimally fertile soil.
How do fertilizer and lime work? Can you apply lime and fertilizer at the same time? Which one should you apply first and when is the best time to spread lime on lawns? Read on to learn more about fertilizer and lime application techniques.
Establishing a lush, healthy lawn requires proper preparation of the soil before sowing grass seeds. Two crucial steps are applying lime to balance the pH and adding starter fertilizer to provide nutrients. But what’s the optimal order – can you lime and seed at the same time? Or should one come before the other? Understanding the purpose and effects of both soil amendments will clarify the ideal application schedule. Read on for a complete guide to liming and seeding a new lawn the right way.
The Role of Lime in Lawn Establishment
Lime is a vital soil treatment for most lawns. It delivers these benefits:
- Neutralizes acidity and elevates pH
- Makes nutrients more accessible to plants
- Allows fertilizers to work more effectively
- Contributes calcium to support root growth
- Improves soil structure and drainage
Lime originates from pulverized limestone and contains key compounds like calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. When lime dissolves into the soil, it counteracts acidity chemically by displacing hydrogen and aluminum ions. This neutralizing capacity is why applying lime is imperative before planting grass seed if a soil test indicates overly acidic conditions.
How Lime Application Affects Seeding
With a better grasp of how lime works to balance pH, it’s evident that timing is significant when seeding a new lawn. Consider these potential issues with liming and seeding at the same time
-
Lime takes time to fully react in the soil It can take 2-3 months to markedly alter pH Seeds will germinate quickly in the unchanged soil acidity.
-
Grass seeds are very sensitive to high pH levels during germination. Fresh lime on the surface makes a concentrated zone of high pH that can impede seedling growth.
-
As lime permeates downward, it will elevate pH levels deeper in the root zone later on. This pH fluctuation can shock young grass plants.
-
Lime makes nutrients like nitrogen less usable by plants until the pH stabilizes. Seeds require nutrients instantly to get established.
Best Practice for Liming Before Seeding
To prevent these problems, it’s generally optimal to lime a lawn at least 2-3 weeks prior to seeding. This provides adequate time for the lime to start reacting and partially amending pH levels in the top few inches where seeds will sprout.
Follow these best practices when liming before overseeding or establishing a new lawn from seed
- Test soil pH and calculate lime amount required to attain target pH
- Apply recommended lime quantity and water into soil 2-3 weeks before seeding
- Just before seeding, till lime into top 2 inches to avoid concentrated layer on surface
- Proceed with seeding, fertilizing, and watering new grass as usual
Retesting after a few months will indicate if more lime is required to correct pH deeper in the soil profile as roots develop.
The Role of Fertilizer in Lawn Establishment
Along with proper pH, newly seeded lawns require sufficient nutrients to thrive. Starter fertilizer supplies an immediate source of the key nutrients grass plants need most in their young stage:
- Phosphorus – Stimulates root system growth
- Potassium – Improves drought tolerance
- Nitrogen – Vital for healthy leaves and shoots
The rapid boost of available nutrients fuels rapid germination and establishment. Applying starter fertilizer at seeding provides seedlings an advantage over weeds.
Select a starter fertilizer with optimal N-P-K ratios like 10-20-10 or 5-10-5. Slow-release nitrogen prevents burn risk. Follow product instructions for spread rates.
Best Practice for Fertilizing After Liming
Fertilizing after liming allows plants instant access to nutrients in the soil. Whereas lime takes time to elevate pH, fertilizer works right away.
If feasible based on timing, apply starter fertilizer 1-2 days after liming when overseeding. This sequence guarantees both soil amendments work synergistically:
- Lime starts neutralizing acidity and liberating nutrients
- Fertilizer directly enhances nutrient levels
Seeds sprout in an upgraded chemical and nutritional setting.
An Optional Single-Step Application
While liming first is ideal, spreading both lime and fertilizer together is an acceptable option if your lawn’s pH is already near the target.
This single-step application works only when soil pH doesn’t require major adjustment. The smaller lime amount has minimal impact on seed germination.
Benefits include convenience and ensuring your lawn gets needed lime maintenance. Just be sure to water thoroughly after an overlapping application to minimize impact.
Timing Considerations for Lawn Seeding Projects
Along with proper product sequence, timing is critical when establishing a new lawn:
-
Cool-season grasses – Best seeded in fall when temperatures are 60-75°F. Early fall allows roots to develop before winter.
-
Warm-season grasses – Best seeded late spring once frost danger passes and soil warms to 65°F minimum.
-
Timing lime – Applying lime 2-3 weeks before seeds allows partial neutralization.
-
Timing fertilizer – Applying starter fertilizer near seeding jumpstarts nutrients.
-
Follow-up liming – Reapply lime later as required based on follow-up pH tests.
Proper timing and order of soil amendments produces ideal conditions for grass seeds to prosper.
Key Takeaways About Liming and Seeding
The sequence of operations is key when liming, fertilizing, and seeding a new lawn:
-
Test soil pH first and apply recommended lime amount.
-
Wait 2-3 weeks for initial lime reactions to start elevating pH.
-
Right before seeding, incorporate lime into top 2 inches of soil.
-
Apply starter fertilizer 1-2 days after liming to supply nutrients.
-
Seed lawn at the best time of year for the grass species.
-
Reapply lime later as needed per follow-up soil tests.
With patience and diligent soil preparation using this liming-fertilizing-seeding sequence, you’ll provide your new lawn the healthiest potential start! Consult lawn care experts if you need any guidance.
How Agricultural Lime Helps Fight Soil Acidity
Lime is introduced both to supply calcium and to help restore the pH balance of soil. Liming is by far and away the most cost-effective solution for neutralizing soil, so it is used widely by farmers and gardeners everywhere.
Lime is made from ground limestone, a gray sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, which are formed from the buildup of ancient organic remains. These components make lime rich in calcium and magnesium. These compounds are what neutralize the acidity of the soil.
As lime dissolves in soil, calcium rises to the surface of soil particles, replacing the acidic component of the soil. The acidic components, including hydrogen and potassium, react with the carbonate, leaving behind neutralized clay, carbon dioxide and water. As a result, you have neutralized soil that is able to foster proper plant growth.
What Is Soil Acidity?
Fertilizer has its many advantages, but these benefits cannot be properly realized without proper soil acidity. Acidity is a measure of the amount of hydrogen present in the soil and is graded by pH, or “power of hydrogen” value. pH is measured on a logarithmic scale that ranges from 0 to 14. A pH value of 7 is considered neutral. A substance with a pH value lower than 7 is considered an acid, and a substance with a pH value higher than 7 is considered an alkaline or base.
Keep in mind that a lower pH level means a higher concentration of hydrogen, and as the scale is logarithmic, each unit increase means a tenfold change in acidity. For example, soil with a pH value of 6 has ten times the hydrogen concentration of soil with a pH value of 7. Don’t worry — that’s the last math you’re going to have to do in this article.
Most soil ranges in pH value from 5.5 to 10.0. For healthy plant growth, a pH value between 6.0 and 7.0 is recommended. When the soil’s pH value falls below 6.0 there are several harmful side effects, including:
- Aluminum toxicity: Aluminum becomes soluble at low pH levels. Aluminum restricts root growth and limits the availability of water and plant nutrients.
- Nutrient availability: At high acidity, plants are unable to absorb nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. This inhibits proper growth.
- Microbial activity: In acidic conditions, bacteria and fungi are unable to break down organic matter and cycle nutrients through the soil.
While acidic soil won’t destroy your plants or decimate your lawn, you won’t achieve maximum possible growth which is why you should test your soil. Fortunately, you can test the acidity level of your soil in a variety of ways. You can purchase an expensive, yet accurate commercial pH testing probe, a more affordable disposable pH testing kit or use any of a variety of DIY home-testing methods. Depending on your goals and budget, the dollar amount spent on soil testing can vary greatly. Learn more about the different soil types.
Can I apply lime and fertilizer at the same time?
FAQ
Should you lime and seed at the same time?
Typically, you should wait about 2 to 3 weeks after applying quick lime before seeding your garden. This waiting period allows the lime to neutralize soil acidity and improve soil structure without harming the seeds or seedlings.
Does lime affect seed germination?
-
Reddit · r/lawncarehttps://www.reddit.comI already put down seed, is it too late to add lime : r/lawncareSep 20, 2022
-
jointhegreenteam.comhttps://www.jointhegreenteam.comWhat Does Lime Do To Soil? | The Green TeamLime raises soil pH, reducing acidity, which can unlock essential nutrients that plants and grass need to grow. Enhances nutrient availability: By adjusting the…
-
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govNutrient availability and pH level affect germination traits and …Aug 2, 2021 — Final germination percentage and pH levels (acidity) The pH alone did not influence final germination percentages. On average, the FGP was not sensit…
How soon can you plant after applying lime?
-
Lime’s Effect on Soil pH:Lime changes soil chemistry, primarily by raising the pH. This can benefit certain plants while potentially harming others.
-
Timing for Seeding:If you’re seeding, applying lime shortly after or even with the seed is generally okay, provided you’re careful with the amount and water well.
-
Protecting Seedlings:If you’re transplanting seedlings, it’s best to wait at least two weeks after applying lime to allow the soil to stabilize and the lime to mix in before planting.
-
Fall Application:Applying lime in the fall gives it time to work its way into the soil and change the pH before spring planting.
-
Soil Testing:A soil test is essential to determine if your soil needs lime and how much to apply.
Do you put lime down before or after sowing?
The best time to sow granulated lime is about a month before the planned sowing of seeds. In practice, soil liming is most often carried out in autumn after harvests or very early in spring. This is the period when lime can interact properly with the soil and produce the expected effects.
Should you mix lime before planting seeds?
Thoroughly mixing the lime deep into the soil’s surface before planting seeds facilitates effective distribution of lime throughout your lawn’s entire surface. When planting new grass seed, or seeds of any variety, it’s best to apply fertilizer before lime. If nutrients are absent from the soil, the seeds will not be able to grow effectively.
Can you plant grass seed and apply lime at the same time?
You can sow grass seed and apply lime at the same time but it might take a season or two to achieve a full, green lawn as lime conditions soils slowly. Before seedling, liming or fertilizing your lawn, conduct a complete soil test. Use a commercial kit from a garden center or a service available in your area.
Can you apply lime at the same time?
You can apply lime at the same time. Alternately, follow a one-year plant. Apply lime in early spring, seed new lawns or over-sow existing ones in fall and apply lime again in early spring. This method works well for soils that are significantly acidic.