How to Spread Algae Lime Granulate on Pasture and Large Areas
Spread algae lime granulate at 200 kg per hectare the first time and 100 kg per hectare in the years after, anywhere between February and November. Check the soil pH first, use a pendulum or centrifugal spreader, and never spread lime and fertiliser together. Lime goes on first, fertiliser follows separately. A 1000 kg big bag covers about 5 hectares on a first application.
Algae lime is one of the simplest jobs on a pasture, sports field or large lawn, but it is also easy to get slightly wrong. Too much in one place, spread in the same pass as fertiliser, or applied to ground that never needed it. Here is how to get it right.
What is algae lime granulate?
Organifer Algae Lime is 100% pure Lithothamnium calcareum, a red algae from the Atlantic Ocean. Over time the algae store minerals from the sea in their structure, and the deposits are harvested from the ocean floor. The result is a lime with a pH above 9.5, around 20% magnesium carbonate, an acid-binding value of 53.7% and more than 70 trace elements. It is permitted in organic farming.
The granulate is made for large areas. The hard granules release their minerals over several months, while the fine powder on the outside of each granule reacts with the soil much faster. So you get a quick start and a long tail from one application.
Do you actually need to lime?
Only if the pH says so. Test the soil before you spread anything.
Most grass grows best in slightly acidic to neutral soil. If your pH is already where it should be, more lime does not help. Moss, sour grasses and grass that stays pale despite feeding are common signs of acidic ground, but a soil test is the only way to know for sure. Take samples from several spots across the field rather than one.
How much algae lime granulate per hectare?
First application: 200 kg per hectare.
Follow-up applications: 100 kg per hectare.
That means one 1000 kg big bag covers around 5 hectares on a first application, or around 10 hectares as maintenance. For sedum and green roofs where the substrate is too acidic, the rate is 10 to 20 g per square metre.
Featured products in this guide
Algae Lime Granulate - Pure Lithothamnium Calcareum (Big Bag 1000 kg for 5 ha)
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Lavameal from Eifel Primordial Rock (24x = 480 kg - for 4800 m2)
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Pasture Grass Seed Meadow - for Horses and Small Livestock (15 kg for 3000 m2)
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When is the best time to spread it?
Anywhere from February to November. Algae lime can go on in any weather without burning the grass, so you can fit it around grazing, mowing and the rest of the work on the land. Spreading before a spell of rain helps the fine powder start working sooner.
How do you spread algae lime granulate?
Use a pendulum or centrifugal spreader. The granulate flows well and does not dust like a powder does. Before you start on the whole field, do a short test strip to check the rate. Run your lines with a small overlap so there are no bare stripes, and avoid spreading twice on the headlands.
If you need to spray lime onto leaves, for example on box hedging, the powder version is the better choice. The granulate is made for spreading on the ground.
Can you spread lime and fertiliser together?
No. Always apply them separately. Lime first, fertiliser afterwards.
When lime and fertiliser go on at the same time, part of the nitrogen escapes into the air and you lose some of what you paid for. Spread the lime first, give it time to settle into the soil, and plan your fertiliser as a separate job later.
What does algae lime do for the soil?
It raises and stabilises the pH, and it supplies calcium, magnesium and trace elements in a form that grass can take up. With the pH in a better range, nutrients in the soil become easier for roots to use. Over time that shows as denser, darker green grass with less room for moss and weeds.
Where should you not use algae lime?
Not near acid-loving plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas and hydrangeas. And not on ground where the pH is already right. If you are not sure, test first.
How should you store a big bag?
Cool, dry and out of direct sunlight. Stored like that it keeps for up to two years without losing quality, so a part bag can wait for next season.
In short: test the pH first. Spread 200 kg per hectare the first time and 100 kg per hectare after that, between February and November. Use a pendulum or centrifugal spreader and check the rate on a test strip. Never spread lime and fertiliser together. Store what is left cool and dry.
Product |
What it does in this job, and when you need it |
Raises and stabilises soil pH on pasture, sports fields and large areas. Spreads with a standard fertiliser spreader. 1000 kg, around 5 ha on a first application. |
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A mineral rock dust that adds silicon and trace elements and helps build soil structure. A good companion to liming on tired ground. |
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For thin or damaged patches once the pH is back in range. 15 kg, around 3000 m². |
