The best results will be achieved if you incorporate the lime uniformly at least six inches into the soil. If soil is too alkaline you should determine if it is due to a soil characteristic or lime application.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to change appreciably the pH of naturally alkaline soils by using sulfur, ammonium sulfate, or similar acid forming materials. If this high pH is due to applied lime or dolomite, acid forming materials like sulfur or ammonium sulfate can be applied.
To decrease the soil pH use superfine dusting or water soluble sulfur. Repeat applications of sulfur should not be made more often than once every two months because soil sulfur oxidizes and mixes with water to form a strong acid that can burn the plant roots — so use it with caution.
Our soil on Marco Island is mostly alkaline due to the high sand and shell content. Using sulfur coated fertilizers is a helpful practice. These coated fertilizers are the slow release kind which is a more environmentally friendly way to fertilize and it slowly adds some much needed sulfur to you landscape.
Eileen Ward and her husband Peter own and operate a lawn maintenance and landscaping company. Every year, the Naples Daily News receives hundreds of applications from community groups requesting publicity for their events or for sponsorship. Learn how the Naples Daily News may be able to support your community event ». The Banner Elysa Delcorto news naplesnews. Collier Citizen Jay Schlichter news naplesnews.
Marco Eagle Bill Green news naplesnews. The Journal Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas news naplesnews. Extremes in pH levels can also mean high concentrations or more accessible forms of minerals such as aluminium, which can be toxic to plants.
In addition, pH levels affect the microbial processes that allow organic matter to decompose and deliver nutrients to the soil. In general, a neutral pH provides the best conditions for microbial action that makes nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus available in the soil.
While most plants thrive best in neutral soils, certain species have a preference for more acidic or more alkaline conditions, depending on their nutritional needs. To find out more about this, use our handy soil pH guide , which outlines the preferred pH range of popular garden plants. Measuring pH is done by running a chemical test on a sample of soil.
This test is a simple and accurate way to find out the pH of your garden soil and potting mix. Lime is usually added to acid soils to increase soil pH. The addition of lime not only replaces hydrogen ions and raises soil pH, thereby eliminating most major problems associated with acid soils but it also provides two nutrients, calcium and magnesium to the soil.
Lime also makes phosphorus that is added to the soil more available for plant growth and increases the availability of nitrogen by hastening the decomposition of organic matter. Liming materials are relatively inexpensive, comparatively mild to handle and leave no objectionable residues in the soil. Some common liming materials are: 1 Calcic limestone which is ground limestone; 2 Dolomitic limestone from ground limestone high in magnesium; and 3 Miscellaneous sources such as wood ashes.
The amount of lime to apply to correct a soil acidity problem is affected by a number of factors, including soil pH, texture amount of sand, silt and clay , structure, and amount of organic matter. In addition to soil variables the crops or plants to be grown influence the amount of lime needed. In addition to monitoring soil pH the nutrient status of the soil should be examined.
To obtain soil sampling instructions and kits along with specific recommendation contact Cornell Cooperative Extension listed in your local phone book under United States Government Offices - Agriculture Department.
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