Soil liming – when and how to do it?
Regardless of the season, good soil quality should be ensured. Although the gloomy autumn may not encourage you to work in the garden, now is the right time to take care of preparing the soil for spring, to enjoy beautiful, colorful and above all healthy plants in the next season. So how do you carry out soil liming?
Soil liming – recommendations
Soil liming is carried out to change the soil pH to slightly acid, which is most favorable for most plants. Acidification is best checked using an acid meter, but if you do not have one, you can give a soil sample to any organization that deals with this type of research. The most suitable period for liming the soil is from late summer to early winter. Remember that after this treatment you should not plant any plants or use any other type of “boosters” because this fertilizer needs time to mix thoroughly with the soil. However, if you decide to carry out liming the soil in spring, remember to make it at least a month before the planned sowing of plants.
What to liming the soil with?
One of the most commonly used agents for liming light soil are slow-acting calcium fertilizers, e.g. carbon lime (e.g. dolomite, chalk fertilizer). Absolutely, however, the fastest deacidifying fertilizer is chalk, which has more calcium than the equally popular dolomite. In turn, the second of these agents is rich in magnesium. Its exact dose depends on the pH of the substrate and the type of soil. If you use too much drug, then the properties of calcium can cause that nothing will grow on earth. In addition, some fertilizers used for liming soil eliminate moss, which neutralizes soil reaction.
To maintain adequate acidity, it is also recommended to use a granular form that will help maintain even distribution. If you decide on raw chalk, for example, you can also add it to the slurry, which reduces the smell of organic fertilizer.
Benefits of liming soil
Undoubtedly, the greatest benefit of liming soil is changing its acidity, so you can better adapt garden conditions to specific plant species. The earth is also supplemented with many valuable microelements. It is also worth remembering that weeds usually grow in acidic soil, which is why it must be weeded regularly!
Although the most work in the garden is usually in the spring and summer, you can not underestimate the autumn treatments. How you take care of the soil now will pay off in the next season, which will allow you to enjoy beautiful and healthy plants.
