When is it necessary and how is it done?

Recognize lack of lime - this is how it works

If you observe regularly which plants will settle in your garden by themselves, you will receive valuable information about the soil quality. Indicator plants for lime deficiency in the early stage are moss, hare clover, sorrel, Sand pansy and Field horsetail. At an advanced stage, a lack of lime causes growth disorders in numerous plants, such as dried-up leaf tips or yellowish discolored leaves.

A pH value test from the garden center or hardware store gives you final certainty. The following results are for a healthy one Garden soil desirable:

• Clay soil with a small proportion of sand: 6.5 to 7.0
• Sandy loam soil: 6.0
• Pure sandy soil: not below 5.5

If these values ​​are not reached, you should lime your garden. An exception applies to rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, pagan and other plants that only thrive healthily in acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 and below.

Recommended lime fertilizers for your garden - a selection

If you have come to the conclusion that your garden needs lime fertilization, there are various products to choose from. In the near-natural cultivated ornamental and kitchen garden, the following are possible Lime fertilizer(€ 9.70 at Amazon *) compliant with ecological principles:

• Algae lime, consisting of 70 percent calcium carbonate, 20 percent magnesium carbonate and valuable trace elements
• Dolomite lime (carbonate lime) with a high magnesium content, especially suitable for conifers
• Rock flour, depending on the source rock with different duration of action
• Lime marl, with 70 percent carbonate of lime and 30 percent clay, ideal for light sandy soils

Not recommended for liming in the garden Quicklime and slaked lime. Both products are very corrosive and pose a health risk in private ornamental and kitchen gardens.

Correctly dose and administer lime - you should pay attention to this

Please pay special attention to the dosage of lime. The more carbonate of lime that is given, the more valuable it is humus will be dismantled. In the short term, your plants benefit from the rich supply of nutrients. In the long run, however, the soil leaches out. Therefore, an old peasant rule warns that lime makes fathers rich and sons poor. The following guide values ​​have proven themselves in practice:

• Every 3 years 150 grams per square meter to keep the lime content stable
• 250 to 500 grams per square meter to raise the pH by one point

On light sandy soils, the amount of lime should be lower than on heavy clay soils. If a dosage of more than 500 grams per square meter is required, please administer carbonate of lime in two stages with an interval of 6 months.