Mix lime, nitrogen, P2O5, and K2O into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil before seeding. Use 1.5 lb N/1000 ft² and lime, P2O5, and K2O rates suggested in the following tables.
Lime Use the amount of limestone to achieve a target pH of 6.4 indicated in the table below.
| Rate (Lb/1000 sq ft)1 of Agricultural Limestone Needed to Raise Soil pH to 6.4 | |||||||||
| Buffer pH of Sample | |||||||||
| Water pH of Sample |
5.5 |
5.7 |
5.9 |
6.1 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
6.7 |
6.9 |
If Buffer pH Is Unknown |
| 4.5 | 320 | 300 | 280 | 250 | 220 | 180 | 150 | 130 | 180 |
| 4.7 | 320 | 300 | 280 | 240 | 200 | 170 | 140 | 120 | 170 |
| 4.9 | 310 | 290 | 260 | 230 | 190 | 150 | 130 | 110 | 160 |
| 5.1 | 310 | 290 | 260 | 220 | 180 | 130 | 100 | 80 | 150 |
| 5.3 | 300 | 280 | 240 | 210 | 160 | 120 | 90 | 70 | 130 |
| 5.5 | 290 | 270 | 230 | 190 | 140 | 100 | 70 | 60 | 120 |
| 5.7 | 280 | 260 | 220 | 170 | 120 | 90 | 60 | 50 | 100 |
| 5.9 | --- | 240 | 200 | 150 | 100 | 80 | 50 | 40 | 80 |
| 6.1 | --- | --- | 180 | 120 | 80 | 60 | 40 | 40 | 60 |
| 6.3 | --- | --- | --- | 90 | 60 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 40 |
| 1 See page 6 for limestone rates needed expressed in T/A. | |||||||||
| Phosphate and Potash | ||
| Lb/1000 sq ft | ||
| Soil Test Level | P2O5 | K2O |
| High (above 60P, 300K) | 0 - 1 | 0 - 1 |
| Medium (60-30P, 300-200K) | 1 - 2 | 1 - 2 |
| Low (below 30P, 200K) | 3 - 5 | 3 - 5 |
Lime Based on soil test levels, apply limestone at rates indicated under "Establishing New Turf" section. Apply no more than 70 to 100 lb/1000 sq ft at once. Additional lime can be supplied as repeated applications at three- to six-month intervals.
|
Maintenance Level |
Number of Nitrogen Applications Per Year |
Cool-Season Grasses1 (Kentucky Bluegrass & Tall Fescue) Best Months to Apply |
Warm-Season Grasses2 (Bermudagrass & Zoysiagrass) |
| Low | 1 | Oct. - Nov. | June |
| Medium | 2 | Sept. - Oct., Nov. - Dec. | May, July |
| High | 3 | Sept. - Oct., Oct. - Nov., Nov. - Dec. | April, June, August |
| Very High | 4 | Sept. - Oct., Oct. - Nov., Nov. - Dec., late May - early June (½ rate) | April, May, June, August |
| 1 Red fescue and all cool-season grasses
grown in shady lawns should be fertilized only one time per year.
2 Zoysiagrass needs only a minimum amount of N after lawn is fully established. |
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Nitrogen Apply 1 to 1½ lb actual N/1000 sq ft per application or 40 to 60 lb/A. The frequency of nitrogen applications depends on the level of overall maintenance. The following low- and medium-maintenance levels are best for general lawns that get little or no summer irrigation. The high and very high levels usually require some irrigation and a high mowing frequency. (Refer to table below.)
Phosphate and Potash Based on soil test levels, apply phosphate or potash at rates indicated under "Establishing New Turf" section.
Refer to Extension publication AGR-53, Lawn Fertilization in Kentucky, for more specific details on lawn fertilization.