Masonary Lime

[pat32rf]

I've just been given a garbage can full of masonry lime, probably type S. We live in an area of acid soil and water, a lot of things such as timothy hay just won't grow, (including deer feed). Is the lime any good for sweetening the soil?

 

[weedpharma]

On a similar line, I am interested in DIY lime for my place. Is it practical to use a conical seed/fertilizer spreader for DIY? What type of lime? Is masonary lime ok to spread with this type of spreader? How much per acre?

weedpharma

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

"Masonry" lime is Calcium Hydroxide.
It's caustic when wet. It CAN be used, but it's not the best choice

"AG" lime is Calcium Carbonate.
It is NOT caustic

National Lime Association FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

You can easily spread pellitized lime with most types of spreaders, but bulk powdered lime is a nightmare to spread if it's the least bit wet.

It often contains large chunks that will jam a spreader, along with fine powder that a "cyclone" type spreader can't throw

The only real way to know how much per acre is to do soil tests.
The Ph needed is determined by what you're trying to grow.
Around here, it's normal to use at LEAST 1-2 tons per acre, every other year

 

[tlbuser]

On a similar line, I am interested in DIY lime for my place. Is it practical to use a conical seed/fertilizer spreader for DIY? What type of lime? Is masonary lime ok to spread with this type of spreader? How much per acre?

weedpharma

For us it's just as cheap and tons easier to call the local lime service. It was 60/ton spread and delivered this spring. DIY would definitely be a pelletized thing (powdered is dusty, nasty stuff). Without soil samples, and recently converted from woodland to grass minimum of 2tons per acre, otherwise 1 per.

 

[rmully]

If you have a wooded area you could spread some there but ware a mask and eye protection because it will burn.

 

[forgeblast]

you could use it to make a cordwood shed, they use the masonary lime mixed with sawdust to build with.