How to Raise pH in Turfgrass

Test your soil's pH level. Ideally, send several soil samples from your lawn to a county extension office or a commercial laboratory because they will provide a recommended course of treatment if necessary. If not, purchase a kit or probe at a nursery and test it yourself, adhering to the directions on the label.

Determine how much lime you need; ground limestone works well in home lawns. How much lime depends on how much you need to raise the pH and the concentrate of the product your purchase. Read the product carefully for dosing amounts. Do not use more than the maximum recommendation on the label, even if your soil is very acidic, because too much lime at one time can harm your grass. Rather, split the dosing into two applications and apply the second one several months after the first one.

Apply lime with a spreader, such as one with a hand crank or a push spreader. Set the spreader so it distributes the right amount of lime, which varies among spreaders. Apply anytime of the year, but not when there is frost or wilted grass.

Water after application with about a 1/2 inch of water. It's important to wash the lime off of the grass blades.