Question
 I HAD MY LAWN LIMED ON MONDAY 10/13.  I WANT TO KNOW WHEN I CAN LAY DOWN THE SEED.  I LIVE IN BABYLON.  I ALSO REMOVED THE CRABGRASS FROM MY LAWN AND NEED TO REPLACE SOME TOP SOIL.  WILL THIS EFFECT WHEN I SHOULD SEED?  THANK YOU.  TAKE CARE.

Answer
The Soil goeth down before the Seeds, my friend.  Lime takes YEARS to make a difference in Soil pH, but I have this funny feeling you have no clue what the pH is anyway so that doesn't matter.  Just for future reference, Lime only changes the pH an inch at a time over a year.  The Lime companies will happily let you believe otherwise, but that's the truth.  Your Grass will grow happily despite this, because Grass doesn't grow as well in ALKALINE Soil as it does in slightly ACIDIC Soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0.  This is some racket, isn't it?  Next time, ask before you buy the stuff.

Put the Seed down asap, but on top of the Soil.  DO NOT FERTILIZE.  Your Soil is probably going to be wonderful enough as it is.  Don't waste your money.

In Spring, get yourself a bag of Milorganite over at Hicks on Jericho Turnpike or any other garden center, and your Grass will thrive all Summer on its Slow Release Nitrogen.

Guess we know what you'll be doing this weekend.  Good luck.

THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER