If moss or clover grows on the lawn, it is often recommended to whitewash it. This is not always correct, because only acidic soil should be limed. However, burnt lime is not suitable for this and is far too dangerous.

Quicklime does not belong in the organic garden

What is the difference between burnt lime and lawn lime?

Quicklime is obtained by burning carbonate of lime. Lawn lime, on the other hand, is a mixture of burnt and unburnt lime. The more quicklime it contains, the more corrosive the lime is. Both can be used against moss, but quicklime is not necessary in most cases, but it is always dangerous to handle.

Is quicklime suitable for the home garden?

Because quicklime is corrosive, it should only be used by professionals. It has no place in the hands of laypeople or in the home garden where children and animals romp about on the lawn.

How do I properly lime my lawn?

Before you even whitewash the lawn, you should determine whether it is really necessary. With a soil analysis you can easily determine the exact pH value. If this value is below 7, then the soil is acidic and can be improved with lime. The growth of moss in the bed or lawn also indicates an acidic pH value.

It is best to lime the lawn in autumn so that the lime can release many of the nutrients from the soil by next spring. If the soil is particularly heavy, you can combine liming with scarifying and possibly also mix sand into the lime. This also loosens up the soil.

If you decide to lime in the spring, you should not fertilize the lawn at the same time or shortly afterwards. This reduces the benefit of both measures because not all nutrients are dissolved.

The most important facts about quicklime in brief:

  • is corrosive
  • does not belong in the hands of laypeople
  • should not be used in the home garden

tips

If you want to whitewash your lawn, use carbonated lime or specially mixed lawn lime. Only fertilize after a longer period of time so that the soil can use all the nutrients well.

Category:

Vegetable garden