Lime/Fertilizer?

Before you lime or fertilize your yard, get a soil test done by your County Agricultural Extension office. It is very inexpensive and will tell you just what your lawn needs. Lime is only needed under certain conditions. Getting a soil test (don't use the packaged ones found in stores they do not give you enough information) will save you money by not putting things on you lawn it doesn't need. Also the people at the Extension office are very knowledgeable about the local soils.

Spring is a great time to test your soil, and you can apply lime between falland early spring. Many gardeners prefer to lime just before the first frost in fall because the soil has all winter to absorb the lime. Don't spread lime on a dry, wilted lawn or a soggy, wet lawn.

Agree with Sal about getting a soil test. There is often more than one reason for problems with a lawn. As to fertilizing your lawn, it depends on what type of grass you have. Cool season grasses, such as bluegrass and fescue, that stay green through winter can be fertilized now and every 6 to 8 weeks until summer heat takes over. However, if you want to keep mowing to a minimum fertilize only twice, in fall and spring. If you have a warm season grass, like bermuda, St. Augustine or centipede grass, you need to wait for it to green up in spring before applying fertilizer. After that you can fertilize every 6 to 8 weeks until about a month before the average first frost date. Don't, however, fertilize during a drought. Also southern grasses do better when mowed at a higher setting. If you are in a drought stop mowing altogether until rain starts up again.