You have at least three options for amending acidic soil.
Soil can be acid, neutral or alkaline depending on its pH. A pH of 7 is neutral. A number below a pH of 7 shows acidity while a number above it indicates alkalinity. You will find plant species that thrive in all three types of soil, unless pH levels are either extremely high or low. In these severe cases, plants cannot chemically access the nutrients available in the soil and they die. To grow a garden where the soil is too acidic, you have a few options for raising its pH.
Agricultural Lime
Agricultural lime is a combination of several minerals, including calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. There are two different compositions of agricultural lime: calcitic lime (which mostly has calcium carbonate) and dolomitic lime (which has a higher content of magnesium carbonate). As lime particles come in contact with moist acidic soil, they begin to consume the existing acid. To amend your soil with agricultural lime, mix it with the ground and water. The amount of agricultural lime that you need depends on your type of soil and its exact pH. For instance, if you have sand with a pH of 4.0, you need to apply 10 pounds of agricultural lime per 100 square feet of soil to raise its pH to 6.5. Agricultural lime is not an instant solution. In fact, it takes about one year after application for your soil to lose its excess acidity.
Hydrated Lime
Hydrated lime is calcium hydroxide, a white powder that you get when you mix burned lime (calcium oxide) with water. This form of lime is very potent and more commonly used to amend extremely heavy clay because its strength can ruin other soils for plants. Compared to agricultural lime, hydrated lime offers both an advantage and a disadvantage: Once released into the soil, its particles change soil pH faster but, because it is a more powerful chemical, hydrated lime might burn the roots of your plants, killing them. Use hydrated lime at the maximum rate of 2 pounds per 100 square feet. Work it into the soil with a shovel or garden fork and water thoroughly. Hydrated lime is caustic. Wear gloves to protect your skin.
Wood Ashes
The calcium in hardwood ashes from your fireplace can raise your soil's pH. However, they can also add too much potassium to your soil if you apply more than 2 pounds per 100 square feet in one year. If that happens, your plants will not be able to use the magnesium and calcium available in the ground. To treat your acidic soil with wood ashes, work them into the ground in the winter without letting them come in contact with plants' roots or winter-sown seeds. Water the topsoil after application. As a precaution against respiratory problems, use a mask and wait for a windless day to handle wood ashes.
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