Applying lime in the summer

 

Not that I have really had a summer here, but the sheeps' sorrel is running
rampant in the lawn and the garden and the quickest way to fix it is a good
heavy application of lime.  Usually this happens in the late fall and I just
broadcast lime and in the spring, I'm all set for the season. Generally, I
only have to lime the garden once every 2-3 years, depending on snow
coverage and weather in general

But, it's August, it's been raining buckets and I suspect anything I added
in the spring got washed into the stream (which is why I stay away from
chemicals) or the neighbor's yard.


So - would you lime now and hope or just weed and lime in late fall as
usual.

Cheryl
(southern NH)

 



 An issue of the type of lime used may matter.  Quicklime is quick to
assimilate and dissipate .  Whereas dolomite is slower and breaks down
slower. We always went with the dolomite type along with green sand and
granite dust.  The intent was long term improvement.
 However our area is VERY acid and I am sure our soil can use a test for
sure.

 Bill

  PS Aside

Malathion and Salmon.

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--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

 

On 14/08/08 15:08, Bill wrote:

Speaking as a research chemist , you surely don't use quicklime ?
Quicklime (aka calcium oxide) is  extremely caustic; it can burn the
skin and cause other damages.  Maybe you mean slaked lime?

Ed

 



 Well Ed If I go to my local garden center and ask for 20 lbs. of lime
what do they offer?

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

 

On 14/08/08 17:02, Bill wrote:

Well, I am pretty sure that they do NOT sell you quicklime (Calcium
Oxide).   No way!!

What you are almost certainly getting is slaked lime, which is an
industrial product obtained by adding water to quicklime and is then
ground down to a white powder.   In common parlance this is also often
referred to as garden lime.


Ed