Liming an established garden

I had my soil tested by a lab, and I need to apply lime to raise the soil pH. I know what kind of lime to use and how much to apply, the problem is that the garden is already established so how do I apply the lime in such a way that it's evenly mixed in the root zone? Broadcast over the surface along with organic compost, then use a garden fork to selectively till it? (Garden plot = 250 sq. ft., so a small area.)

Yeah the lime is is pretty immobile (even more so if your soil happens to be clay), so I'd figure it would take at least a year with a surface application for it to really get down to the root zone and raise the pH. And of course too much tilling won't be good for an established plot.

I love your idea about forking it in, and you might even be able to rock the fork back and forth and then sprinkle some lime down in the channels it makes?

I think the fastest way with minimal tillage is to try and boost your microbiome growth / health as much as possible. The microorganisms have to break the lime down further for it to spread through the soil, so compost teas, worm teas, fermented plant juice, any of those as a soil dredge to kickstart microbial activity as much as possible will help speed up the process.

Also I would just be careful to apply it gradually in multiple applications, rather than all at once. That should help avoid burn and help the microbiome get used to the change as well 'cause that microbiome population has to rebalance as the pH goes up.

Good luck! I'll be very curious to know how it turns out, and how long it takes before you're measuring noticeable changes in the pH.

I was thinking along those lines as well, working the lime in by rocking the fork back and forth the way one uses a broadfork, so minimal tilling. However, I need to apply 50 lbs of dolomite lime (because the soil in this area needs magnesium too) and I'm concerned that working the lime in like this could cause the soil pH to become "patchy" and uneven. It will average a little over 3 oz of dolomite per square foot, and there will be many areas I can't work because there are plants there. I suppose I could lift the plants temporarily, till the lime in, and replant? I'm going to apply the lime as soon as the plants go dormant next month.

I've already taken steps to boost the microbiome, but I believe the soil pH (5.5) is too acidic for bacteria although the fungi are doing fine. There's a lot of biomass in the soil so the buffered pH is closer to 6.7. I want to create a more balanced microbiome.