Organic Fertilizing with Lime

The pH balance in soil should be neutral for grass to grow lush and green and garden vegetables to produce in abundance. Determining the soil type is crucial to the serious organic gardener. Soil testing kits can be purchased at the local farm store for $5 to $20 each, or contact the local agricultural office for testing.

Testing the soil will reveal the pH (Power of Hydrogen) levels and give the information needed to make the correct amendments. Never mix lime with fertilizers as they cancel each other out and a reaction between the two releases nitrogen from the soil.

When to Use Lime

Organic lime is best applied to lawns and gardens in the late fall. Application in the autumn allows it to work its way into the soil over the winter, as lime is ground rock and does not dissolve into soil quickly. Some products are advertised to dissolve more quickly than others so read labels on various products, keeping in mind that it may take two to three months to work properly.

Do not apply lime to active crops in the ground as it may damage the crop roots.

Lime on Lawns

Lime is the ideal organic lawn fertilizer. When lawns are showing yellow grass, pale grass, or even dead patches in the ground and fertilizers have been added and insect populations have been ruled out, consider the earth beneath the lawn. Visual signs also reveal whether the soil is acidic:

• Soil that is subject to heavy rain run-off
• High growth of moss and other lichens
• Clay or dense soils
• Weeds – such as dandelions, sorrel, creeping buttercup, nettle, dock (all are acid loving plants)

When applying lime to lawns, apply to the surface and water in thoroughly. If the soil is extremely acidic, make several applications over time, using no more than five pounds per 100 square feet. Too much lime applied at once will burn plant roots and poison beneficial soil microorganisms. Apply an amount of lime to lawns in winter equal to the total amount lawn food applied during the year for healthy and greener lawns.

Lime on Gardens

Organic garden lime contains magnesium and calcium which helps plant growth, assures strong plants, good fruit, and leaf quality. A lime deficiency produces yellowing on edges and between veins of older leaves, as well as curled leaves on plants. Organic garden lime helps nutrients become more accessible to the plants and helps aerate heavy soils. It can be added to composting piles to help break down organic matter.

Different plants require different levels of acidity. Once the soil is tested, check out garden books or Internet sites to determine the levels needed for the vegetables in the garden. One site with extensive and valuable information is Garden Health. Most vegetables flourish when the soil is slightly acidic, or a pH level between 6.5 and 7. Lime is ideal for use when growing sweet peas, peas, cabbages, and corn.

Different flowers prefer different levels of pH also. Organic lime is ideal for use when growing roses, chrysanthemums, and cactus as sun loving plants prefer ‚”sweet soil”. Never apply lime around or near ‚”acid loving” plants such as azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons, hostas, or ferns. Most shade loving plants thrive in high acid soil.

Creating a beautiful organic plant or vegetable garden is more than just hard work. It can be a scientific project. All the fertilizers added to the soil are useless if the pH is too low or too high because the nutrients get locked up in chemical forms the plants cannot take into the system. Proper preparation will produce desirable lawns, vegetables, and flowers.