Lime on frozen ground?

[Powder]

I've got a couple fields that I need to get some lime on. I'd rather not wait until next spring as that becomes a busy time for me at work to break away. I also don't want to spread it now when I have stuff growing in the plots and plan on hunting them.

I know the best time to spread lime was yesterday. Would it be a problem if I waited until the ground was frozen and possibly had some snow on it before spreading? My thought is that I could spread it on top after I was done hunting for the year so it would work it's way in as soon as spring arrives. The snow and freeze/thaw cycle would help work it in just like frost seeding.

Would this work?

 

[Peeps]

I guess it could wash away a bit with the spring run off but a heavy rain during unfrozen time could also do the same. I know of some big farm operations that spread their fields while they are frozen so if they do it for a business $ vs us for a food plot I would feel comfortable doing it

 

[Powder]

Runoff is always a possibility but my ground is extremely flat so I'm not too concerned about that.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I've spread pelletized lime on top of snow / frozen ground before. The melting snow helped take the lime down into the soil as it melted, and we got clover to grow in that plot where none would grow before. I would have NO problem spreading on frozen ground.

 

[Maddog3355]

The big shots do it all the time.

 

[Powder]

I'm glad to hear this. Now I just need to hope it doesn't snow so much that I can't get to them.

 

[WTNUT]

How many acres are you doing? And are you spreading it or having a co-op do it. If you are not doing more than 2 tons per acre it would not hurt to spread it now. Other than dodging the spreader for a few minutes the deer will not care.


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[WTNUT]

I would spread now.


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[Powder]

3 small plots. 1/2 acre, 3/4 acre and 1.4 acres. I can't get a co-op truck in there so it all needs to be done by hand. I need close to 3,000lbs/acre on each. I know, not fun but it needs to be done. Ph is about 5.5-5.6 on all three plots.

 

[yoderjac]

It depends on several factors. If you fields are fairly flat, runoff is not an issue. If they are steep it can be. Snow is not a problem for the lime but it may be for the applicator. For example, I use a lime buggy to spread ag lime. It operates with a bull and is turned by one of the balloon tires. Anything slippery can cause it to slip. Mud or melting snow can be problematic. If things are frozen hard, it works great. I like to spread lime in February in my area. The season is over by then. We don't get a large amount of snow that stick around, so I can usually find a few days when the ground is frozen solid. This allows me to get into wet areas that are hard to get into in the spring.

I have clay soils so amendments travel slowly through my soils. I need 3-4 tons per acre to amend a new field, but once amended, I only need to add a ton/ac every few years. Surface application works fine for me and it supports my min-till approach. For folks with sandy soil, lime moves quickly and some need to add 3 tons each time they plant. Surface application is a good approach for them, but they may want to wait and apply it closer to planting time.

Best of luck,

Jack

 

[4wanderingeyes]

3 small plots. 1/2 acre, 3/4 acre and 1.4 acres. I can't get a co-op truck in there so it all needs to be done by hand. I need close to 3,000lbs/acre on each. I know, not fun but it needs to be done. Ph is about 5.5-5.6 on all three plots.

Powder, I will start by saying lime is very important, but dont let it break your bank, or your back. Do some each year, just getting your soil up a few tenths, will allow you to grow most things for foodplots. I guess what I am saying, keep it fun, and do what you can do, when you can do it. Spreading it on snow is no big deal, but it may pool up when it melts, unless you plan on incorporating it in the soil in the spring, to kind of mix it with the soil. If you are going with ag lime, and if it has moisture in it, it will turn rock hard. If you are spreading pelletized lime, you also need to keep it dry until it is spread.

 

[Bowman]

My $.02. I plan spread lime and potassium again after the ground is frozen. No worry about compacting the soil. I am in the northern lower peninsula in Michigan. Have had rain lately and I don't want to risk compacting wet soil now. Spreading on frozen ground will gain some time over waiting until spring and avoid driving on wet, thawed ground. I think that the freeze, thaw helps to incorporate it.
"Spreading by hand"? Not sure of your method, but here is a caution. I use a drop spreader. Once I finished in a light rain. After a while, my rate of spreading really slowed. Visually checking the hopper and the lime was not getting spread. When I finished, I found out the problem. The moisture hardened the lime and bent my agitators. I am not blaming the spreader. So my caution to any and all is that I would wait for the snow depth to be low enough to clear the bottom of the spreader to avoid getting the snow to "moisten" the lime. Same recommendation for other times of application. If spreading over growth, make sure that the vegetation is not wet from rain or dew.

 

[Powder]

Will a broadcast spread work for applying lime?

 

[Peplin Creek]

It will for pelletized and granular lime. You will probably have issues with powder lime though.

 

[Tree Spud]

I've got a couple fields that I need to get some lime on. I'd rather not wait until next spring as that becomes a busy time for me at work to break away. I also don't want to spread it now when I have stuff growing in the plots and plan on hunting them.

I know the best time to spread lime was yesterday. Would it be a problem if I waited until the ground was frozen and possibly had some snow on it before spreading? My thought is that I could spread it on top after I was done hunting for the year so it would work it's way in as soon as spring arrives. The snow and freeze/thaw cycle would help work it in just like frost seeding.

Would this work?

It is a chemical adjustment to the soil that is not effected by temps or moisture. I would do it. Freezing/thawing soil will help draw it in.

 

[chucker66]

Has anyone made one of these? Looks like a great way to spread the cheaper lime

Chuck

 

[Powder]

Here's an update to my plan to lime on frozen ground. I thought we would be able to get through the hunting season before we got too much snow. No such luck. We've got a foot on the ground already so it won't work to get this on this fall. Sorry for the crooked pictures. I'm having issues saving them on my computer.

 

[WTNUT]

Has anyone made one of these? Looks like a great way to spread the cheaper lime

Chuck

First, that was not a bad way to spread lime considering where he was. However, it looks to me like it was spreading it very very very heavy. Using a small harrogator to drag it was a good approach.

Now, the use of that homemade packing when may have been the biggest waste of time, energy and hours on a good ATV I have ever seen. On hard bare ground like that just broadcast your clover seed before a rain and let the rain do the work.


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