Posted by Rod on March 1, 2010, 1:33 pm
> Called into a DIY shop for some lime. They no longer stock it because a
> H&S issues, though I think that may be a good cop out. It occurred to me
> that builders merchants might be a cheap source. Is their lime ok for
> gardens, or does it need more refining?
> --
> Skulking in the low lands of North Staffordshire
> Please reply to group,emails to designated
> address are never read.
AFIK, hydrated lime is hydrated lime wherever you get it from. I've
used the stuff builders' merchants use for years. I do let it weather
a bit after spreading - which you'd do anyway.
Rod
Posted by David in Normandy on March 2, 2010, 7:26 am
On 01/03/2010 14:12, Broadback wrote:
> Called into a DIY shop for some lime. They no longer stock it because a
> H&S issues, though I think that may be a good cop out.
I was surprised to find I could buy quick-lime as well as ordinary
(hydrated) lime here in France from the agricultural shop. No warning
labels on the sacks. So much for elfin safety issues here. H&S seems to
take a back seat. It is common on the DIY programs on TV to see people
not wearing dust masks when doing dusty jobs or no eye protection using
angle grinders etc. I'm not sure which is worse - the lack of H&S here
or the over-abundance of it in the UK nanny state.
--
David in Normandy. DavidinNormandy@yahoo.fr
To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the
subject line, or it will be automatically deleted
by a filter and not reach my inbox.
Posted by Bob Hobden on March 2, 2010, 12:31 pm
"Broadback" wrote
> Called into a DIY shop for some lime. They no longer stock it because a
> H&S issues, though I think that may be a good cop out. It occurred to me
> that builders merchants might be a cheap source. Is their lime ok for
> gardens, or does it need more refining?
Hilliers Garden Centre near me is selling 20Kg bags, so do you have a
Hilliers near you.
--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK
Posted by Chris Hogg on March 2, 2010, 1:14 pm
wrote:
>Called into a DIY shop for some lime. They no longer stock it because a
>H&S issues, though I think that may be a good cop out. It occurred to me
>that builders merchants might be a cheap source. Is their lime ok for
>gardens, or does it need more refining?
Most 'lime' available in garden centres etc. these days is ground
limestone, i.e. calcium carbonate, whereas true lime is calcium oxide,
or if hydrated, calcium hydroxide. Calcium oxide rapidly converts to
calcium hydroxide when wetted, with the evolution of a lot of heat.
Calcium hydroxide slowly converts to calcium carbonate in the air as
it reacts with carbon dioxide. It's the mechanism by which lime mortar
sets. Much of the lime you spread on the ground will end up as calcium
carbonate. The only real difference between lime and ground limestone
from a horticultural point of view is that ground limestone is slower
to work.
--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net
Posted by Phil Gurr on March 2, 2010, 3:48 pm
> wrote:
>>Called into a DIY shop for some lime. They no longer stock it because a
>>H&S issues, though I think that may be a good cop out. It occurred to me
>>that builders merchants might be a cheap source. Is their lime ok for
>>gardens, or does it need more refining?
> Most 'lime' available in garden centres etc. these days is ground
> limestone, i.e. calcium carbonate, whereas true lime is calcium oxide,
> or if hydrated, calcium hydroxide. Calcium oxide rapidly converts to
> calcium hydroxide when wetted, with the evolution of a lot of heat.
> Calcium hydroxide slowly converts to calcium carbonate in the air as
> it reacts with carbon dioxide. It's the mechanism by which lime mortar
> sets. Much of the lime you spread on the ground will end up as calcium
> carbonate. The only real difference between lime and ground limestone
> from a horticultural point of view is that ground limestone is slower
> to work.
Much of the ground limestone available in garden centres contains a fair
proportion of magnesium carbonate. Where the proportion is over 20% the
product is often marketed as 'dolomite' lime. Magnesium carbonate is even
less soluble in the soil, so very long lasting, but very beneficial to
plants.
Phil Gurr
Northern Highlands of Scotland
XML site map
> H&S issues, though I think that may be a good cop out. It occurred to me
> that builders merchants might be a cheap source. Is their lime ok for
> gardens, or does it need more refining?
> --
> Skulking in the low lands of North Staffordshire
> Please reply to group,emails to designated
> address are never read.