Quicklime
Hill_Gardener
9 years ago
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I was wondering if anyone could help me - I accidentally added quicklime to my borders in autumn, probably at the rate of half a small glass per sq/m. I recently put in some plants, which are currently looking rather yellow and dried out. The position is cold and exposed so I had thought this might be due to recent frosts, but these have now passed and the plants are failing to put out new leaves. Perennials added last year are also looking fairly anemic and washed out (I will put up some photos if anybody is interested).
The lime came from an opened bag stored in a damp shed for about 10 years. I have read that quicklime is not stable and, once exposed to carbon dioxide in the air, returns to calcium carbonate, but I have no idea if this has occurred, and the soil still feels caustic to the touch. It was dug in well to a spade's depth. The soil appears 'flocullated' (if that's a word!) and drier than usual.
I am now panicking at the idea of removing 40 plants from a newly planted border and replacing all the soil. Does anyone have any idea how, or if, I could get around this?
A friend who understands chemistry much better than me thought carbonic acid might reduce the quicklime, now possibly slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) since it has had water added to it, possibly in the form of sparkling water, though a powdered form if available would be more economical.
All ideas welcomed
Thanks
Hill_Gardener
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Slimy_Okra
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Hill_GardenerOriginal Author
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Slimy_Okra
Hill_GardenerOriginal Author
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Hill_GardenerOriginal Author
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Hill_GardenerOriginal Author
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Hill_GardenerOriginal Author
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Hill_GardenerOriginal Author
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