Does surface-applied lime provide any benefit to established lawns and shrubs?
Yes. However, surface-applied lime reacts much slower than lime mixed into the soil. Most of the reaction of surface-applied lime occurs in the top 1 to 2 inches of the soil. If you surface-apply lime to established plants, apply no more than 50 lb per 1000 ft² initially, even if your soil test report recommends more. Apply the remainder after six months. On no-till fields, apply only 1.0 to 1.5 tons per acre; apply the remainder within the following year.
