garden manure question
 

I am spreading/tilling fresh horse manure into the garden today..........a
friend told me i will get better results by adding lime. I have not checked
soil ph, but have added the same horse manure for last couple of years, and
vegetables seem to grow well. should I add lime? I

garden manure question
 

garden manure question
 

On 10/10/2014 9:14 AM, wrote:
I am spreading/tilling fresh horse manure into the garden today..........a
friend told me i will get better results by adding lime. I have not checked
soil ph, but have added the same horse manure for last couple of years, and
vegetables seem to grow well. should I add lime? I


You must check the pH before adding lime. Where I live, the soils and
water both tend to be quite alkaline. Lime is rarely seen in nurseries.
Instead, I use significant amounts of sulfate fertilizers and elemental
sulfur to acidify my soil.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

garden manure question
 

garden manure question
 

On 10/10/2014 11:14 AM, wrote:
I am spreading/tilling fresh horse manure into the garden today..........a
friend told me i will get better results by adding lime.

Why? Manure does not alter soil pH.

I have not checked
soil ph, but have added the same horse manure for last couple of years, and
vegetables seem to grow well. should I add lime?


Never add a product to change the soil pH until you've tested the
soil. If the test confirms that the soil pH needs adjusting, you then
will be able to determine what to use, and *how much* of it to apply
to achieve the desired result.

If you don't test ahead of time, at best you'll be wasting your money
and time by applying an unnecessary product. At worst you'll be making
your soil worse for growing whatever you plan to grow in it.