Need to Spread Lime - What's the Best Way

[cowboydoc]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

That's def. not true. We've limed 3 & 4 tons/acre before on ground we needed to put into hay the next year and we were right where we were supposed to be the following spring. To help with absorption it's not a bad idea to run a harrow over the ground you're going to lime. This will help a little to get the lime into the ground faster.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

If you are mixing the lime into the ground you can put it on heavy. If you are just spreading on the surface of a yard and have no plans to turn it over you don't want to do it too heavy (but it doesn't hurt it). We have always been told Lime will only sink about 1" per year so it will take some time for any large amount to be asorbed into the ground. We spread our fields but turn them over so we spread whatever the fields need and mix it together. We buy our lime in bulk and have it dumped on our property. The guy we deal thru (happens to be our neighbor) lets us use his spreader and if needed any of his tractors. But we have the TN to pull the cart and the 1920 to load it so we have no problems unless we get stuck. The cart can get heavy if you try spreading while the ground is wet. The tires will start to sink some which makes it harder to pull so ideally you want a utility tractor with some weight to pull the carts. The 1920 could pull it right now since the ground is hard and dry but in the spring and late fall when things start turning wet again there is no way I would use a compact on it. So as long as your ground is dry go ahead and use the TC 40 as it should handle it fine or talk to a lime service company.

 

[5030]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

Richard:

Nows the time for Potash with maybe a little boron as the salad dressing so to speak.

We like to apply about 200 pounds per acre here. Keeps the hay plants from heaving over the winter.

We had some corn starter left this spring and applied that to one field. Seemed to really contribute to 1st cut.

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

Yep that and fertilizer. I usually fertilize after the first and last cutting.

 

[MReeter]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

My neighbor and I went together and bought 20 ton of bulk ag lime and spread it with a 3-point hopper type spreader...major league PIA...unless the lime is POWDER DRY it will not spread for poop...take the advise,either rent a cart or hire the spreading done,you will be time and money ahead /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Ag lime is much cheaper and will break down and sweeten the soil in time...next time we lime it will be with a cart or hired done for sure...we live in an ag area,soo the big flotation tired spreaders are readily available at a cost of 3 bucks per ton,for spreading that is /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Docsknotinn]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

Man, I wish I could do what you guys are doin. My property is miles in the boonies. Try dropping a thousand pounds through a hand crank spreader some time /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif And Then Potash and then Tripple 12 and seed...aghhhh ! lol Dave

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

Would you aerate first and then spread the lime or would you spread the lime and then aerate with a core aerator? Also could you aerate then over seed with grass seed and lime? Or should you wait between the lime and grass seed aplication?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

I really don't think it makes a difference. Lime won't do anything fast as it needs rain fall to help push it into the soil. So you can spread the lime whenever it best suits you. Lime will not bother the seeds either. You only need to worry about seeds when you fertilize as some fertilizers will burn the seedlings when they start growing. So you want to fertilze at the same time you seed or after the seed takes root and starts growing. Hope that helps some.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
It helps /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Need to Spread Lime - What\'s the Best Way

If you're going to aerate we always will do that first. This is going to get the lime into the soil quicker. I would also wait on your seeding. If you are going to lime now I would put your seed down in the spring. The reason is because your ph is going to be better in the spring and promote more grass growth. With regard to seeding I wouldn't aerate and then seed. If you do alot of the seeds will fall in the aeration holes and have a tough time germinating. Most grass seed only needs a 1/4" of dirt or less to germinate.