Lime spreading

Lime spreading for paddocks and grassland

Lime spreading corrects acidic soil, which is one of the most common reasons grass is thin, mossy and weedy. It’s for paddocks and fields where a soil test shows the pH has dropped too low.

What’s involved

Most grassland is limed with ground limestone, spread from a tractor-drawn spinner or a lorry-mounted spreader, usually at a rate of tonnes per acre. Granulated lime, which spreads like fertiliser, is often used on small paddocks or where access is tight.

Lime raises the soil pH. Grass on most mineral soils grows best at a pH of around 6 to 6.5; below that, nutrients become less available, fertiliser is partly wasted, and moss and acid-loving weeds take hold.

Magnesian lime also supplies magnesium, which can matter on some soils. A soil test tells you both the pH and how much lime is needed, so you don’t spread more than the field needs.

When to do it

Lime can go on at most times of year, as long as the ground is firm enough to carry the spreader without rutting. Many people lime in late summer, autumn or late winter, when fields are less busy.

Lime works slowly, taking months to shift the pH fully, so it needs doing well before any reseeding or overseeding. Most grassland needs liming only every few years, and a soil test every three to five years shows when it’s due.

What affects the price

Acreage and how much lime per acre the soil test calls for

The type of lime: ground limestone, magnesian or granulated

Access for a lorry or tractor and spreader — narrow lanes and gateways matter

Whether the lime is supplied and delivered, or already on site

Ground conditions and slopes

Travel and delivery distance

Good to know

Get a soil test first. Liming a field that doesn’t need it is wasted, and pushing the pH too high can cause its own problems.

Keep horses and livestock off until the lime has been washed into the soil by rain.

Leave a few weeks between liming and spreading nitrogen fertiliser, especially urea-based products, so the nitrogen isn’t lost.

Ground limestone is dusty. Pick a still day, and let neighbours know if their houses or washing are nearby.

Lime spreading: common questions

How do I know if my field needs lime?

A soil test is the only reliable way; it gives the pH and a lime requirement. Signs such as moss, thin grass, sorrel and poor response to fertiliser suggest acidic soil, but they aren’t proof.

When is the best time to lime a field?

Any time the ground is firm enough to take the spreader, which often means late summer, autumn or a dry spell in late winter. Because lime works slowly, apply it well before reseeding.

How long after liming can horses graze?

Wait until rain has washed the lime off the grass and into the soil. Check with the lime supplier or contractor for the product used.

How often should grassland be limed?

Usually every few years, depending on the soil and rainfall. Testing the soil every three to five years shows when the pH has dropped enough to need it.

Often booked alongside

Fertiliser application — Spread evenly, at the right rate, at the right time of year.

Scarifying — Thatch and moss raked out so the grass can breathe.

Overseeding — Repair thin or worn paddocks with fresh seed.

Harrowing — Break up thatch, spread muck, level the surface.