Buckeye Yard and Garden onLine

Ohio soils are very diverse.  In many areas of the state, the soils lie on top of a limestone base. Soils overlying limestone "parent material" tends to be naturally alkaline.  The eastern and southeastern parts of the state have older soil deposits that lie on top of sandstone.  These soils tend to naturally stay acidic. When soil pH drops below 6.0, a number of important plant nutrients become less available to plants. The same is true when soil pH climbs above 8.0.  The plants we grow generally do the best when our soil pH is 6.2-6.5.  Of course, some plants require pH levels far below this range.  For example, "acid soils" are considered an important cultural requirement for rhododendrons, azaleas, and some ferns.

The only way to know if the soil in your garden or lawn needs liming, and how much lime is needed, is to have the soil tested by a commercial soil testing laboratory.  The soil test kits and soil pH probes sold in many hardware stores may be cheap, but you get what you pay for! The services offered by professional laboratories are very cost-effective when the risk of losing plants by sending pH and nutrient levels in the wrong direction are taken into account.  Also, laboratory soil test reports will account for the type of soil you have and make specific recommendations as to the amount of product you will need to apply per acre or per 1000 sq ft based on the type of plants you want to grow.  Lime should only be applied when a soil test indicates that it is needed.  As with most soil amendments it should be incorporated into the soil root zone layer.  So, is it time to lime?  It might be. We suggest that you follow the tried and true gardening (and farming) axiom:  Don't guess, soil test!

For more information, see:

• Lime and the Home Lawn Fact Sheet
• Soil Testing Fact Sheet