wilkes

Unsulphated molasses or brown sugar is recommended to feed soil microbes, but apply on the side of caution because too much can be harmful. I made a tea of worm castings, kelp fertilizer and a little molasses and used it on my lawn in Boone; the grass was very thick and green

Several things can be used in place of lime if your PH is acceptable. Gypsum to add calcium, Epsom salt to add magnesium, bonemeal (slow acting calcium).

I believe hydrated lime is fast acting and can be mixed with water and applied with your sprinkler at the same time as the sugar you mentioned. The pellets are slow release and I have never had a problem using them. To adjust the PH properly, it may take several years as it is a slow process.

Here is a little info from an organic supplier on using sugars for growing, these people are university educated and live in a very large growing community.

Wood ash is commonly used as a liming agent because of its high calcium content. Liming agents are used to increase soil pH (pH is a measure of how acid a soil is). Soils in the Northeast are naturally acid. Soil pH of 4.5 to 6.0 is common. A soil pH of 7.0 is neutral. Most plants prefer soil pH between 6 and 7 (although potatoes and blueberries prefer lower soil pH). http://umaine.edu/publications/2279e/

I've never heard of using sugar, but it makes sense that it would feed the bacterial microbes that support the grass roots.

I would be worried about it attracting ants, though.

My soil is pretty acidic, and has more weed than grass (a lot of clover, and some tall, tough weeds with small white flowers).