If moss or clover grows on the lawn, we recommend liming it. This is not always correct, because only acidic soil should be limed. However, quicklime is not suitable for this and is far too dangerous.
Is quicklime suitable for controlling moss?
Branded lime can be used against moss, but is caustic and dangerous to handle. For the home garden, the use of carbonated lime or specially mixed lawn lime is recommended as they are less risky and also produce good results.
What is the difference between quicklime and lawn lime?
Blastlime is obtained by burning carbonic acid lime. Turf lime, on the other hand, is a mixture of burnt and unburnt lime. The more quicklime there is, the more corrosive the lime is. Although both can be used against moss, quicklime is not necessary in most cases, but is always dangerous to use.
Is quicklime suitable for the home garden?
Because quicklime has a corrosive effect, 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 run around on the lawn.
How do I properly lime my lawn?
Before you even lime 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's best to lime the lawn in autumn, so the lime can release many nutrients from the soil until next spring. If the soil is particularly heavy, you can combine liming with scarifying and possibly also mix sand into the lime. This loosens the soil even more.
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 things about quicklime in brief:
- it sucks
- does not belong in the hands of laypeople
- should not be used in the home garden
Tip
If you want to lime your lawn, then use carbonated lime or specially mixed lawn lime. Fertilize later on so that the soil can make good use of all the nutrients.
