Why Liming is used and how
Why Liming is used and how
Lime in itself is not a fertilizer, but sometimes it seems to have almost magical results when applied to a backyard garden.
The most important quality which lime possesses, is its ability to sweeten sour soil or take a soil that is acidity and make it more alkaline.
Most land which has been lying dormant for years is likely to be sour.
This means the average back yard garden which is being plowed up for the very first time is likely to need lime.
Mother nature in many cases will let you know. Weeds and wild plants that grow on your soil can be a fine indicator.
Sorrel or knotweed thrive in acid soil; wild blueberries usually indicate a very acid soil.
Sage brush is a sign of alkaline soil.
The hydrangea bush flowers, bloom blue in acid soil and pink in alkaline soil. If you find a carpet of moss growing on your soil, that would indicate a damp soil, poor in nutrients.
These are just some examples of mother natures soil condition indicators. In any event, it is a good idea to conduct a simple test.
Almost any agricultural college or cooperative extension service will test the pH of your soil, with their sophisticated equipment.
Just send them a small pint size sample.
You can also purchase easy to use soil testing kits from seedhouses, hardware stores, garden shops and nurseries.
Most vegetable gardens thrive best in pH soils between 6 and 6.8.
In former years lime was mostly recommended simply to correct soil acidity, but it really serves other valuable purposes.
Lime helps to loosen up stiff soils and to make sandy soils more fertile. For example, when spread on clay soils, lime causes particles to gather into groups making larger physical units in the soil.
Water and air can more easily penetrate a soil with particles having larger physical units in the soil, then a soil composed of fine clay particles.
In sandy soils, lime has the effect of holding particles closely together allowing water to be held in the soil for a longer period of time.
Another function of lime in the soil, is to help release phosphorus and potash making these essential elements readily available for plant absorption.
Three essential elements necessary for healthy plant growth are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, derived from potash.
Nitrogen stimulates healthy green leaves. Phosphorus stimulates healthy root growth. Potassium stimulates healthy flowers, fruit and seed development.
Lime comes in several different forms, but the safe kind for backyard vegetable gardens would be, pulverized limestone.
Pulverized lime can be purchased from any hardware store, garden shop, seed house or nursery.
It is impossible to lay down any set rule to the amount of lime needed. But in a general way, it can be said, that one pound of lime should be used for every ten square feet of garden.
If you are only using a small amount, you would be safe to simply apply enough to make the ground white.
The best time to put down lime is before planting, but there is no reason why it cannot be used between the vegetable rows later on.
Lime is needed for the new garden, and then about every three years thereafter, as a general rule.