If your grass is yellowing despite regular fertilizing, you might be tempted to put down lime.
But before you do, you need to know that in Idaho Falls, lime can often do more harm than good.
While lime is a miracle for acidic soil, most Eastern Idaho soil is naturally alkaline—meaning adding lime is like pouring salt on a wound.
The real secret to a healthy Idaho lawn is balancing the pH level. In our region, "nutrient lock-up" is usually caused by high pH, which requires sulfur, not lime, to fix.
Applying the wrong amendment can permanently damage your soil's chemistry and prevent your grass from ever reaching its full potential.
Here is what lime actually does for a lawn, why you probably need sulfur instead in Idaho Falls, and how a simple pH test can save your yard.
If your lawn soil pH is too low, it’s time for lime, a soil amendment made from ground limestone rock, which contains calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate.
Lime restores balance in overly acidic soil.
If your grass isn’t growing well, even if you’re staying on top of your fertilizer, or if you see moss in your lawn, your lawn might need lime.
Many lawns in Idaho Falls, ID already naturally have a higher pH level, so lime treatment for lawns then is a bad idea.
Instead, those lawns need added sulfur to balance the lawn pH. Otherwise, the higher pH will lock up the micro-nutrients like iron, and they won’t be as readily available to the lawn.
Get a lawn soil pH test.
This simple laboratory test measures the amount of acidity or alkalinity in your lawn’s soil. The results will let you know if your lawn needs lime or sulfur to bring its pH into balance.
Most lawn care companies can take samples of your lawn soil, sending it off for laboratory analysis before crafting the right lawn care plan for your lawn.
Fertilizer is super important for your lawn’s health. It’s how it eats.
You can use all the fertilizer you want, but if your lawn’s pH level is off, it won’t do any good. Your lawn won’t be able to absorb all those great nutrients.
Both lime and sulfur work to balance the pH level of your lawn. Once your lawn is balanced with the right pH, your soil can actually use the nutrients in your fertilizer, and flourish.
A simple soil pH test will tell you if your lawn’s soil needs a boost.
It’s a lot more fun to add limes to happy hour than to try to figure out if your lawn needs lime.
So leave that part to us.
If you want simple, hassle-free lawn care in Idaho Falls, ID that offers quality core lawn care services for a healthy, impressive lawn, it doesn’t get easier than Lawn Buddies.
No stressing about which complicated combination of lawn care services will get you beautiful, healthy grass.
You don’t have time to fuss with all that. Give yourself a break.
Lawn Buddies features one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your lawn needs to grow healthy and green.
Fertilizer, weed treatments, and grub control, all wrapped up in six visits, each perfectly timed throughout the season, so your grass is green and strong and resists weeds.
Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started. Just fill out the form on this page, call us at (208) 656-9131 or read more about our services. Then you can kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard.
Image Source: pH meter