Gardening Gifts FAQ:
Someone suggested that I add lime to an old garden soil before planting my bulbs but I would like to know its chemical name.
Someone suggested that I add lime to an old garden soil before planting my bulbs but I would like to know its chemical name.
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the Lime you use in gardening is Lime Stone. It has not been treated with any chemicals or heated in a fire in any way. It is natural stone that they quarry from the ground and pulverize to a stone or a granule or a powder. I use the powder on a non-windy day and either mix it in the dirt with a shovel or use a garden hose on it. It is harmless to use.
A lot of people get confused because contractors use Hydrated Lime and Burnt Lime, etc. Stay away from those. Just go to a Gardening supply and buy what you want there.
Lime, you can get it at any place that sells masonry supplies, even lowes and home depot- the anhydrous form of calcium carbonate. Use it if your soil is acid.
Calcium Sulfate, also known as gypsum, is a good additive if you need water retention in sandy soils. doesn’t really affect Ph, but over time during natural chemical breakdown, will render the soil less alkaline, and slightly more acid.
If you have alkaline soil and want to move it towards the acid side (better flower and vegetable production at 7.5 to 8.5 Ph), use granulated sulfur, or Ironite, and spade it in about a month before planting.
Don’t know what nutrients are lacking in your soil? do a simple soil test (buy the kit). Involves taking a sample of soil and adding 4 volumes of clean water. stir the mixture of soil and water up and agitate a few times for about two days. when the water is settled, take a syringe or dropper, and mixing the liquid with the soil test chemicals, agitate that again, and let the samples sit for about an hour. compare coloration to that in the soil test instructions to ‘fix’ your garden. It may take a few years to bring everything into optimum range, so don’t just go and dump enormous amounts of additive, works with what you have and build up the soil, and sooner or later, after taking note of soil composition, you will have the sort of vegetable or flower garden you wanted.
Calcium oxide is the chemical name for garden lime.
Calcium Oxide is manufactured by heating limestone to drive off the
carbon. It is *very* caustic and very hard to apply correctly. It absorbs
water very quickly and has a habit of turning into goo.
Dolomitic lime contains calcium and magnesium which does a lot to help
repair ph damage to the plants. The dolomite lime will break down slower
and last much longer in the soil (up to 6 years per application). Besides
you don’t have to wear a mask and pps to apply.
I hope this was helpful,Take Care!!!
Crushed lime stone ask someone at the store they should know what you are talking about.