Did you ever find a good supplier of calcitic lime in the St. Louis area? Thanks.




On Sunday, November 20, 2011 8:50:43 AM UTC-6, ZoysiaSod wrote:
I'll probably apply some calcitic lime over one of the last snow falls in

early February, and rely upon the melting snow to carry the lime into the

soil. I read that lime is slow-working and it can take 3 to 5 months for

the soil and lawn to reap the lime's benefits.



The only problem is I've only seen dolomitic lime at the big box stores,

not calcitic lime which has a better ratio of calcium to magnesium (7:1)

than the dolomitic stuff. Tukey's book says too much magnesium in the

lime in relation to the calcium isn't ideal for your soil. You want

a 7:1 calcium to magnesium ratio in the lime, not 3:1 or anything else

for pampering your soil the best.



Would anyone know where I can get calcitic lime in the St. Louis area?

Worm's Way maybe? I'll give them a call.



I found this great, informative page about applying calcitic lime

and/or dolomitic lime to the lawn and garden. The page is from

Home Depot's web site, but I'm going to reproduce it here in case

Home Depot ever takes the page down. I want to be able to

review the info on this page each year when it's time for me to

apply lime.



To be fair to Home Depot, I'll provide a link to their web page:



http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...t/ContentView?

pn=Lime_Gypsum&catalogId=10053&storeId=10051&langI d=-1



From Home Depot:



Improve the soil in your lawn or garden using lime and gypsum



Although lime and gypsum are both used to improve the soil in your lawn

and garden, they serve very different purposes. Adding lime to soil

raises the pH so it becomes less acidic. This can help increase vegetable

production in the garden and enhance the appearance of your lawn. Gypsum

is often used as part of a strategy to correct compacted soil or soil

with large amounts of clay. It can also be used to counteract excessive

saline levels in soil and has the added benefit of not affecting the pH

of soil. Before you prep your soil with lime or gypsum, consider the

following questions:



* Have you tested the pH level of your soil?

* Should you apply lime and fertilizer at the same time?

* Is there clay or a hard layer of topsoil in your garden?

* Do you live in an arid or maritime climate?



Lime, Gypsum and Application Tips



The best way to determine whether or not your soil needs liming is to

test its pH. Since the most fertile gardens and lawns are those with a

proper pH balance, having your soil tested every few years is highly

beneficial. The target pH level of turf grass, for example, is between

6.2 and 6.5, so if your soil has a lower pH it will likely benefit from

the addition of lime. Remember, though, too much lime can be as harmful

to your lawn as too little, so always test the soil and read the

instructions on the lime package before application. To determine if a

soil can benefit from gypsum, you can test saline amounts or simply

observe if you are working with soil that is heavy with clay or hard to

break up. Although it may be tempting to apply your lime, gypsum and

fertilizer at the same time, it's not a good idea to introduce too many

chemicals at once.



Lime: Lime is a compound made up of calcium or calcium and magnesium and

is used to reduce the damaging effects of acidic soil on lawns and

gardens. Lime also reduces the toxicity of elements in the soil, such as

aluminum, manganese and iron, which can adversely affect plant growth.

Lime also adds desirable nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus. In

addition, lime increases bacterial activity, which helps improve soil

structure. The two most common types of lime used in gardening are

calcitic lime and dolomitic lime.



* Soil in the eastern U.S. often requires the addition of lime to

reduce acidity

* Calcitic lime is pure calcium carbonate and is the cheapest form of

lime

* Dolomitic calcium contains calcium carbonate and equal parts of

magnesium carbonate

* Vegetables thrive best in a slightly acidic soil, with a pH between

5.8 and 6.3

* Adding too much lime to soil can damage it as much as having high

acid levels



Gypsum: Gypsum is actually an element called calcium sulfate that is used

to loosen up stubborn, compacted or clay soils. Gypsum works by pulling

together clay particles in the soil to make bigger particles, creating

porous spaces for air, water and plant roots. For saline-infused soil,

gypsum removes sodium and replaces it with calcium. For all soil types,

gypsum adds calcium and sulphur, which are necessary elements for plant

growth. Gypsum also helps soil retain water and helps decrease soil

erosion.



* Gypsum will not alter pH levels and is relatively inexpensive and

easy to use

* Soil in the southeast U.S. often contains clay and may benefit from

gypsum

* Arid and coastal regions that feature high soil salts can benefit

from gypsum

* Gypsum prevents surface crust deposits on soil that adversely

affect seed emergence

* Gypsum can correct lawn damage from salt and other winter ice-

melting chemicals



Application Tips: It is easy to apply lime and gypsum using a drop

spreader or broadcast spreader. Since lime is insoluble, it tends to stay

exactly where it is spread, so these devices ensure uniform coverage.

Gypsum is neutral and does not change the pH of your soil so you can use

it around acid-loving plants, such as rhododendrons and azaleas, to

provide extra calcium. As with all fertilizers, apply lime and gypsum as

directed on the label. Both substances are safe to use and are nontoxic

to humans and plants.



* Although best applied in the fall, lime can be applied at any time

* For even coverage, apply half the lime in one direction and the

rest in a crisscross pattern

* Apply lime and fertilizer at least two weeks apart to avoid

damaging plants

* Both lime and gypsum can be easily applied using lawn spreaders

* Lime can burn a lawn if misapplied, but gypsum will not



Consult the chart below to learn more about how to apply these useful

substances to your lawn and garden.



Features



Calcitic Lime: Mined from natural limestone, calcitic lime is then

crushed up into finely ground powder granules. Pelletized lime is created

from finely ground lime plus a cementing agent that is added to form

pellets. Pellets are more expensive but easier to use and eliminate the

dust problem of granular lime. Pellets dissolve in water so it's

important to water thoroughly after application. Calcitic lime also

contains calcium, a necessary element to encourage healthy plant growth.

Calcitic lime is most often applied to lawns but may also benefit garden

plants, shrubs and flowers.



Dolomitic Lime: Dolomitic lime is mined in the same manner as calcitic

lime and is also crushed and sold in either finely ground powder form or

pellets. Dolomitic lime provides both calcium and magnesium. Dolomitic

lime is most often applied to lawns but may also benefit garden plants,

shrubs and flowers.



Granular Gypsum: Gypsum is ground up into a fine, white powder and sold

in the form of granular gypsum, which is applied using a lawn spreader.

Granular gypsum may be applied to turf grasses, garden plants, shrubs and

flowers. Finely ground formulas are rapidly available to plants and soils.