Some of the most important work that is done on your landscape is done in the Spring! Limestone and fertilizer are not only the tools used to keep your lawn healthy and your trees growing but you may be surprised to know how much they help the environment.
First things first, limestone applied in the Spring adjusts the p.h. of the soil as we have all heard but what does that mean? Why does the acidity in my soil need to be adjusted? These are questions that I have personally heard while applying my customers limestone. Well, the answer isn't a complex one. If the soil is too acidic the grass on your lawn will not be able to access all of the nutrients applied by your lawn care professional. This doesn't mean that your grass won't grow but with year after year of fertilizing without adjusting the p.h. there is a buildup of nitrogen in the soil and with our sandy soils in New England we get leeching into the water table. We use a special limestone that breaks down quickly and oftentimes you can see the lawn green up with the nitrogen that was previously unreachable.
If you are going to do it yourself there are a few things to keep in mind. First thing, it's recommended that 50 lbs. of limestone be applied
per 1,000 square feet. You may be surprised how small an area that is! Also when you buy your limestone at the store, check the back of the bag. Most of the time you will find that the contents are 40-60% limestone and the rest is clay fillers.
Well, I hope this information helps answer some of the questions customers have asked me over the years and please remember, if you have a question and you see me doing an application on your lawn or your neighbors. PLEASE come and talk to me, I won't bite! I do this for a living and I love to talk about what I do.
Bob Barrett
Lawn/Tree Healthcare Tech.
Chris Mark & Son's Landscaping
Lic. # 33096
MCLP #1578
