How to Lime a Garden
Lime is made of ground limestone, and is added to soil to raise the pH level, or alkalinity. Many nutrients needed in gardens are washed away in areas that receive large amounts of rain or lawns and gardens that are heavily irrigated. Adding lime to these areas helps restore the soil's alkalinity. Cabbage, blueberries, okra, and yams are all vegetables that require an alkaline soil to produce the highest yield. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Test the soil in your garden using a soil test kit to find the current pH. Take a sample from 4 to 6 inches into the soil. Fill the test tube included in your kit to the fill line with soil. Add enough distilled water to completely cover the soil. Shake the sample well to mix the soil with the water. Allow the sample to settle for approximately 30 minutes. Dip the test strip into the test tube, and compare the strip with the enclosed pH chart.
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If your soil is too acidic, add enough lime to raise your soil pH. Loamy soil with a pH of 5.0 should receive 10 pounds of lime per every 100 square feet to raise the pH by 1.5. Apply 8 pounds of lime for every 100 square feet of sandy soils. Add 3 pounds of lime for every 100 square feet of sandy soil to raise the pH by 0.5. Add 4 pounds of lime for loamy soils.
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Add lime to your garden in the fall after the last harvest. Remove all dead plants from the ground and dispose of them. Use a hoe to dig up all the roots.
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Spread the limestone with a mechanical spreader. Walk behind the spreader and apply in even rows until the entire garden has been covered.
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Retest your soil pH in three months, and apply more lime if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear a face mask when working with lime to protect yourself from the dust.
References
- Washington State University Extension; What Does Lime Do in the Garden?; Mary Robson; Nov. 15, 1998
- University of Kentucky; When to Apply Lime and Fertilizer; Kenneth Wells
- Ohio State University Extension; Lime and the Home Lawn; John R. Street
- Iowa State University Extension; How to Change Your Soil's pH; Eldon Everhart; April 6, 1994
