Lime is not the only remedy for a moss-covered lawn, but it is a very effective one. Although moss can be traced back to a variety of causes, acidic soil is considered to be the primary trigger for the dilemma. These instructions explain how to professionally combat moss in the lawn with lime.

Lime only helps against moss if the pH value is too low

PH value test provides clarity about the lime requirement

Although moss is considered an indicator plant for acidic soil, you should use an uncomplicated do-it-yourself test to make sure. Liming only helps against moss if the pH value is actually too low for the precious lawn grass. Otherwise, buying lawn lime is a complete waste of money. You can buy test sets in any hardware store or garden center for about 5 euros. The application is so easy:

  • Soil samples are taken at 10 locations in the lawn from a depth of 8 to 10 cm
  • Mix these samples well in a vessel
  • Remove 100 g and stir into 100 ml distilled water

After 10 minutes, insert the test strip into the sample. Using a staining reaction and the attached table, you can read the pH value in the moss-covered lawn. If the result is well below 6.5, the moss is almost certainly due to soil that is too acidic. Lawn grasses achieve their optimum at a pH value between 6.5 and 7.0.

Soil conditions define the right dose

In order to permanently remove moss from the lawn, it is important to use the right amount of lime. A pH value that is too low affects the growth of the grass just as much as a too high alkaline value. It is obvious that a light, sandy subsoil processes the lime much more effectively than a heavy clay soil. The following table gives tried-and-tested reference values:

cost overview price
Guideline values for limescale per square meter of lawn Light, very sandy soil Medium, loamy-sandy soil Heavy, loam-clay soil
pH below 5.3 150-250 grams 350-480 grams 350-500 grams
pH from 5.3 to 6.5 130-180 grams 180-280 grams 280-380 grams
pH from 6.5 do not lime do not lime do not lime

How to properly lime your lawn

It is not enough if you spread lime on the moss-covered lawn. The material can hardly penetrate the dense felt down to the roots. How to do it right:

  • Scarify the lawn lengthwise and crosswise in March/April
  • Sweep away the combed moss
  • Fill the lawn lime into a spreader and distribute

Please walk the lawn with the lime spreader in such a way that the paths do not overlap and overdosing occurs. In the last step, water the green area extensively.

tips

If the noble grasses turn yellow in the moss-covered lawn at the same time, the problem is not only the pH value that is too low, but also a lack of magnesium. In this case, use dolomite lime. This is obtained from natural sedimentary rock and enriched with magnesium.

Category:

Vegetable garden