Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Liming new pond

The newest kid on the block needs help. I'm having an old pond cleaned out and would like to add lime to the bottom before it fills up. I had a soil test done several years ago that recommended two tons to the acre to neutralize the acidity of the pasture where the pond is located. The pond will cover a little over a half an acre when full and depth will run from ten to five feet deep. The bottom is hard clay and caliche. Any ideas? Will send pictures of work progress and structure when I figure out how to post them.

I am assuming the pond is in east Texas, not in Deer Park. (Deer Park soils need no lime). If your pond is in east Texas, most every co-op and fertilizer sales company sells aglime. And, most of those who sell it, apply it. Call around and find a supplier, then coordinate to deliver and apply it immediately after the earthmover is finished doing what he does. Don't linger, though. It's easier to apply lime in a dry pond bed. By the way, these guys apply it with a spreader truck that slings it out the back.

Yes the pond is in east Texas, (Grimes County) I have the equipment to haul and spread. Just needed to know how much you would recommend?

It will be hard to over lime. 1 ton for a 1/2 acre will be spreading it pretty thin, and you will be having to reapply soon. I put 5 tons last fall in my 1/2 acre in the Mississippi pines(acid). It didnt raise the hardness excessively and I know I will not have re do it for several years.

As inexpensive as lime is, I would put three or four tons in the pond basin, and another two or three in the watershed. You should be able to buy the stuff for less than $30 per ton. That's a bit of overkill, but you won't need to do it again for a number of years, depending how much flushing your pond receives.

Thanks!I should be able to get it done Friday evening and start working on my structure. Burgermeister, my dad is your country neighbor. He lives on the Pike/Walthal county line in the community of Pricedale on Eric Price road. He'll soon turn 82 and is still an avid fisherman with three ponds of his own. Thanks for the help again, I'm going to really enjoy the site.

I put 15 tons of ag lime in my pond. I put it on the banks of the pond so the watershed would wash it in the pond.

A word of caution on using a spreader truck in a pond basin. My local ag vendor (a friend) was reluctant to put his truck in the basin of my 6 acre pond. He was concerned about getting stuck. I assured him it would be OK. As luck would have it, a front tire fell into a silted over stump hole. Not only was the truck stuck but the tie rod was bent. Rain was on the way. I had to get a large wrecker to extricate the truck and tow it to the shop for repair. Expensive lime! I ultimately had a vendor put more lime in using a lime barge when the pond filled. Though cost per ton is more for a barge, I feel distribution of lime is more uniform and worth the added cost.