How Often Can I Apply Sulfur to My Lawn?

Applying sulfur to your lawn enriches its growth and can help your grass look green, lush, and full. But how often can you apply sulfur to your lawn? 

You can apply sulfur amendments once or twice per year, and it usually takes several applications to reap the full rewards. Learn how often you can apply sulfur to your lawn and the best times to apply it. 

How Often Can I Apply Sulfur to My Lawn?

You can apply five pounds of sulfur for every 1,000 square feet of lawn up to two times per year, during spring or fall. Wait at least three weeks between sulfur applications. You should apply sulfur to established lawns or to the soil before seeding, using plugs, or laying sod. 

Avoid applying more than 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet per year. Adding sulfur amendments beyond this amount can burn the grass. Avoid applying sulfur if you have fruit trees on your property. 

Benefits of Applying Sulfur to Your Lawn

If your lawn lacks sulfur, it can turn yellow or pale green. Sulfur deficiency can also lead to weak shoots and patchy growth. Here are the main benefits of using sulfur for grass.

• Appears greener and more vibrant

• Fosters healthy, dense growth

• Increases drought tolerance

• Withstands winter and cold temperatures better

• Less susceptible to disease, fungi, and lawn pests

• Faster recovery from diseases and fungi

• Helps heal and eliminate thin patches and brown grass

• Reduces the pH of your soil

Applying sulfur to your grass once won’t provide instant green gratification, though. Most soil and grass need repeated sulfur treatments once or twice a year over a couple years to see the best results.

The cost of applying sulfur to your lawn is $15 to $30 for every five pounds, depending on the type you choose. Five pounds covers an application of 1,000 square feet of lawn.

How To Apply Sulfur to the Lawn: 5 Easy Steps

Ready to apply sulfur to your lawn? Follow these steps for thorough application.

1. Test Your Soil's pH

Different grass varieties grow best with certain pH levels in the soil: not too alkaline and not too acidic. Many types of grass grow best with a soil pH of 6 to 7, but some grasses can grow with a pH as low as 5.5 or as high as 7.5. Adding sulfur can help reduce your soil's pH levels so it’s optimal for growing.

Test your soil's pH using a home soil testing kit. You can also ask a local soil testing company to give you comprehensive results that can inform your lawn care decisions and balance your soil.

2. Buy Your Sulfur

For every 1,000 square feet of lawn, plan for 5 pounds of elemental sulfur for each application. Sulfur for grass usually comes in 2½- or 5-pound bags, though you can buy larger quantities at a bulk discount.

The makeup of your soil impacts how long it will take sulfur to change the pH. If your soil is sandy, you’ll likely need 10 to 15 pounds of sulfur (two to three applications) to reduce the pH by a full point (for example, from a 7.5 to a 6.5). If your soil has a high amount of clay, it will likely require 20 to 25 pounds of sulfur per 1,000 square feet (four to five applications). 

You should apply sulfur at least three weeks apart, and you should only apply sulfur twice per year to avoid burning the grass. Applying more than 10 pounds of sulfur per 1,000 square feet in a year could burn your grass.

3. Watch the Weather

Wait until the temperature is below 80 degrees Fahrenheit to apply sulfur to avoid burning the grass. You should also apply it on a day with little to no wind, so the sulfur falls where you want it to go. Spring and fall are often the best times for sulfur application. 

4. Apply the Sulfur

Wear gloves and long sleeves to protect your skin from the sulfur. Sprinkle the sulfur across the lawn, starting from one end and working your way to the other. Wait 30 minutes and then water the lawn to help the soil absorb the sulfur.

If you haven't planted your grass yet, mix the sulfur into the top six inches of soil with a tiller or rake.

You may choose to add other amendments to your soil at the same time, such as lime amendments or organic materials. But avoid mixing sulfur with oils or alkaline reaction elements. Wait at least three weeks to do so for the best results.

5. Retest Your Soil’s pH

It takes approximately two to three months for sulfur to change the pH in the soil. After three months, test your soil’s pH again to see if it has changed. Apply more sulfur to lower the pH if needed.

Continue sulfur application until your soil pH is at the ideal level. Consider testing the pH levels once a year to verify it’s where you want it.