Garden lime is most commonly used to raise the pH of your soil, lowering the acidity, making it “sweeter”. Depending upon the types of plants that you have, your soil, especially if it is clay, may be too acidic, resulting in less-than-optimal plants. This can cause poor flowering, unhealthy looking foliage and low vegetable production. It is recommended that you separate the application of lime and all-purpose fertilizers by a period of at least several months. For example, apply lime in the fall in order to allow the changes to take place over the winter, and then fertilize in the spring. Lime is alkaline and fertilizer is acidic; they just don’t play well together. You can, however add organic matter or manure at the same time as lime, the fall or winter also being the ideal time.
We recommend testing your soil to determine its current nutrient health prior to adding fertilizers or supplements. We have a full range of soil testers, guaranteed to help you have the most beautiful flower gardens, the most productive vegetable gardens and the healthiest landscape, while providing only what is necessary for the optimal soil health.
