Do you dream of having a lush lawn, gorgeous flowerbeds and a healthy vegetable garden full of juicy fruits and vegetables? What if we told you there is a miraculous ingredient that could help you get all of those things? That’s right! Dolomitic granulated lime is a true ally for the growth of your plants! However, to get good results, you must know how to use this type of lime correctly. Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about it.
What is dolomitic granulated lime?
Dolomitic lime is made from dolomite, a finely ground sedimentary rock. It is commonly used in horticulture to neutralize soil acidity, or increase the pH if you prefer. It is used primarily for lawns, but can also be applied to flower beds and vegetable gardens. The advantage of dolomitic lime is that it contains both calcium and magnesium, two essential nutrients.
Available on the market in granular form, it is very easy to apply lime with a spreader. In addition, there is no risk of burning your lawn. In fact, dolomitic lime dissolves slowly. Unlike fertilizers or ordinary calcite lime, which act quickly, it takes several weeks or even months to work.
What are the benefits of using lime on your lawn?
Turf requires a pH of 6.5 to grow well. By neutralizing the pH of acidic soils, granular dolomitic lime allows for better absorption of nutrients which promotes vigorous growth of plants and grasses. In addition, lime:
- Maximizes fertilizer efficiency for greener, denser turf
- Promotes deeper rooting
- Increases disease and drought resistance.
When should dolomitic lime be used?
Rainfall, decomposition of organic matter and the application of nitrogen fertilizer all contribute to the acidification of the soil over time. Granular dolomitic lime is used to counteract this phenomenon. However, a soil test is the only way to know if your land really needs it. Fortunately, most garden centers offer this type of service. Refer to a garden center near you for more details!
Once the test is done and it turns out the soil does need dolomitic lime, we recommend using dolomitic granulated lime for best results.
It is usually applied in the fall, if possible just before a rainy period. Why in the fall? The soil will have plenty of time to absorb the lime and neutralize the pH before the beautiful spring days arrive! However, liming can also be done in the spring or summer.
How to use dolomite lime on your lawn?
The number of applications required to achieve a neutral pH will vary depending on the application rate, the current soil pH, and the soil type. Generally, several applications will be required to achieve the desired pH. Your garden expert should be able to guide you through the application process depending on your particular situation.
We hope we were able to enlighten you regarding dolomitic granulated lime and its usage! For more tricks and tips and to learn all about the spring maintenance of your lawn, flower-beds and vegetable garden, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!