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Hello, I live in southern New Jersey. We have had a very hot and humid summer so far this early summer. I have Sod and have fertilized my lawn up until now. My question is should I apply lime to keep my grass green during this summer ? Also I have applied the chemical Sevin to prevent bugs in the lawn. Does the lime help in any way prevent bugs in the lawn? I will appreciate any help you can give me . Thank you, Murph

Lime, Calcium Carbonate, is an essential macro nutrient that aids in plant growth so the lawn will be green, but it is not something to add to keep your lawn green unless your soils pH is below 6.2.
The most important thing you can do now to help your lawn is to water it. With the hot and dry weather most of us have been having turf grasses are very stressed and will not respond to fertilizers unless they are well hydrated. Keep in mind that most of our turf grasses want to go dormant now, not continue growing.
If a good reliable soil test, Rutgers Coopeerative Extension Service does this, shows a need for liming that shouild be applied in the fall, like late September. If that soil test shows a need for some fertilizer that too can be adderd in the fall, like late October.

Hello Kimm Sr. Thank you for the helpful advice and information about Lime. I appreciate it. Murph

MM, call your local county extension office & ask about soil tests. Ours sends them to the UofGa. & it only costs $6 ea. here.

Thank you Ggakaren that was helpful advice. I will schedule that for this week, I appreciate it. murph

If we lime, it's generally spring or fall.
Lime takes three months to activate and do some good. I suggest you wait until late Sept/early Oct. That way the heat shouldn't be a factor.

We spot spread pelletized lime when mushrooms appear where trees were (roots are rotting). Just did a small spot.
Lime is not a fertilizer. It makes acidic soil less acidic.

Found this for you. W Va University

Applications of lime on established lawns may be made at any time of the year, the most favorable time of the year being fall, winter, or early spring, in that order. If applied when the soil is too wet, it is difficult to obtain an even distribution. If heavy equipment is needed to spread the lime, make the application on level areas when the ground is frozen. Less damage is made to the soil and grass under these conditions. Alternate freezing and thawing and early spring showers hasten its penetration into the soil.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: M-ma,

The reason most people apply lime to lawns in the spring is because that is when most garden centers have lime readily available and most people are thinking of working on their lawns. Lime is still available at these garden centers in the fall, but usually is not out on display because experience has shown the garden center people that the buyers are not buying it then. Buyers are not buying it then because the sellers do not have it out on display.
Many gardeners are quite surprised to find out that most all universities tell you that the best time to apply lime is in the fall.

quote:

Lime takes three months to activate and do some good.

This depends on the form of the lime you apply. I use ag lime which is pretty much a powder form and it helps right away. I would NOT recommend using it for lawns as I apply it by hand to specific areas.

Hydrated lime, available both as a dust or in pellet form, will move into the soil quicker with water then will ground limestone. However the chemical reaction necessary to make the change to soil pH will not really occur much faster.
Research that I have seen done idicates that when Hydrated Lime is used the reaction, change, in soil pH will occur in 3 to 6 months while with ground limestone it occurs in 4 to 6 months. The reaction can begin sooner with the Hydrated Lime, but the full reaction still takes about 6 months.

Well Kimm, once again you are in a totally different area than I'm in and I can only go by the differences I see after I have applied the ag lime!
It takes less than 2 weeks for me to see a difference once I apply the lime.
And why would farmers down here apply lime to their fields just before planting if it wasn't going to do any good during the entire growing season for their crops????