Some plants cannot thrive if the soil contains too much lime. It is therefore important to improve the soil quality. My tips will show you how.
Whether the plants grow luxuriantly and delight us with rich flowering depends not only on the green thumb of the hobby gardener, but also on the soil conditions. There are very different types of soil which, depending on their composition, are preferred or avoided by certain plants. You can do a lot to improve the soil quality and thus create the best possible conditions for he althy plant growth. In the following you can find out what needs to be considered with calcareous soil, which plants thrive there and how the lime content of the soil can be reduced.
Is my soil calcareous?
All soil contains a certain amount of lime. If we are talking about a calcareous soil, the proportion of calcium carbonate is more than 40%. We speak of basic, alkaline or calcareous soil when the pH value of the soil is more than 7. You can tell with the naked eye whether your soil is calcareous. If there are small stones and pale clods of earth, it can usually be assumed that the soil is calcareous. A soil analysis gives you certainty about the lime content of the soil. This can be carried out professionally in a soil laboratory. For home use, however, a simple test set is sufficient, which can be obtained from any garden center for about five euros.
Tip: A soil pH test only provides a rough indication of the actual lime and acid content. Due to the density of the loamy soil, the acid value can be higher than with sandy soil, although the same pH value is indicated.
If you want to know whether the soil is basic or acidic, you can use a simple household remedy. You will need vinegar and baking soda for this. Add vinegar and baking soda separately to a soil sample. If hissing noises can be heard with vinegar, a basic substrate can be assumed. On the other hand, if it starts hissing over baking powder, the soil is acidic.
Different soil types and their characteristics
limestone
- Lime soil is dry and quite poor in nutrients, which can lead to deficiency symptoms in certain plants.
- After rainfall, limestone soil sticks together due to the clay it contains.
- Limestone soils have a pH of 7 and higher.
clay soil
- Loam soils are dense and retain water.
- If there is a lack of moisture, clay soil tends to be hard and cracked.
- Then clay soil is difficult to cultivate.
Sandy soil
- Grainy sandy soil is poor at retaining moisture.
- On hot days, the soil dries out quickly and needs to be watered more frequently.
Why is lime important?
The main component of lime is calcium carbonate. Thus, a calcareous soil automatically contains calcium. Lime can thus supply the plants with important nutrients. The soil properties are also improved by the lime content. Furthermore, the lime in the soil also keeps the soil organisms alive.
Tip: Calcareous soil appears crumbly and loose.
Lime stops acidification of the substrate. Acidic soils are avoided by soil organisms. So that life can develop in the soil, a neutral soil condition is important. The activity of the soil dwellers keeps the soil loose and rich in nutrients. Lime is therefore an important soil component and is required to maintain numerous functions in the soil.
Gardening on calcareous soil
A calcareous soil is actually a pleasure for every hobby gardener, because you don't have to fight your way through heavy soil, but can easily work the loose soil. A prerequisite for this, however, is dry weather. When it rains, the hobby gardener experiences a nasty surprise and finds a muddy and muddy surface. The clay content of the soil is responsible for this change in soil composition when it is wet.
Numerous plants do not have problems with calcareous soil and thrive without any intervention. The best prospects are when gardening on calcareous soils with Mediterranean plants.
Tip: The plants should be planted in the ground in autumn if possible so that the roots can grow well before winter.
In fact, most plants are quite happy with calcareous soil, as they need a pH between 5 and 7.5 to ensure their nutrient uptake from the soil. The lime acts as a buffer against one that is harmful to the plantsSoil acidification.
Tip: Lime is often added to acidic soils to raise the pH. Calcium, on the other hand, is also found in abundance in acidic soils and does not need to be added.
Since the limestone soil is quite dry and poor in nutrients, deficiency symptoms can occur due to the lack of manganese, iron, copper, zinc or magnesium. Due to the loose nature of the limestone soil, not only does the water drain off easily, but the nutrients dissolved in it also evaporate more quickly than in denser clay soil.
Warning: Never fertilize a lime soil with fresh manure. The high proportion of carbon dioxide leads to the formation of bicarbonate, which can prevent plants from absorbing iron.
Which plants like calcareous soil?
Trees and Shrubs:
- Boxwood
- Almond Tree
- Olive
- Acacia
Bedding plants:
- Aster
- Lavender
- Chrysanthemum
Fruit Trees:
- Hazelnut
- Lemon
- Tangerine
Which plants don't like calcareous soil?
- Azaleas
- Heather
- Rhododendron
- Ginster
- juniper
- Blueberry
- Mountain
- Pine
- lupine
- Magnolia
How to enhance a calcareous soil?
When the lime contained in the soil combines with other available nutrients, chemical compounds are formed that support the growth of the plants. However, too much lime is rather harmful for many plants. If there is an iron deficiency, you can tell by the yellowing of the leaves. The plants no longer grow as usual, even if there is sufficient lime in the soil.
Most plants need iron for he althy growth. Therefore, hobby gardeners should provide calcareous soils with an acidic fertilizer. With this, a certain ground balance can be established and the lack of iron can be compensated.
Tip: On particularly calcareous soils, it is worth planting clover or lupins and occasionally turning over the soil to create a shallow soil.
How can the lime content of the soil be reduced?
If the soil is too calcareous, it has a high pH value. This is difficult to lower. The lime content of the soil can be temporarily reduced by mixing in leaf soil or rotted pine needles. A proportion of lime in the soil will only build up permanentlydifficult to lower. Clearly, the best option here is to opt for plants that thrive in chalky soil. When planting, appropriately deep planting holes should be dug. You can then fill them with compost. In this way, the plants used receive all the important nutrients and do not only come into contact with the calcareous soil.
Tip: Watering with Sequestrin solution, which releases the trace elements in the soil, helps prevent yellowing of plants in limestone soil.
When does the soil need lime?
The opposite can also be the case: the soil lacks lime. A lack of lime can be recognized, for example, by the specks that appear on apples or quinces. The shell is then covered with brownish spots. The pulp can also be affected and brown spots appear. The blossoms of tomatoes that suffer from a lack of lime rot.
Tip: If growth is disrupted and leaves turn yellow, a lack of lime in the soil can be responsible.
Summary
Proper maintenance of calcareous soils
The pH value can be lowered by adding rotten needles. If humus is added, the consistency of the soil improves. If the soil lacks iron, this can be compensated for by mixing in heather soil. Limestone soil should be dug up from time to time.
Vital limestone soil - optics
- loose soil conditions
- good tillage possible
- good water and air permeability
- nutrient rich
- good memory properties
- Vibrant activity visible in the soil
Improvement of the quality of calcareous soils
- Add compost
- Create humus layer
- digging up frequently