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Soil test results- Calcium needed, but PHmust stay acid
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Posted by
poaky1 6 Pa (
My Page) on
Sun, Nov 18, 12 at 23:41
| As the thread says, I have " Below optimm" Calcium but want to grow Hemlock trees, Rhodies etc. Rhodies are okay in my yard but not Hemlock. I have ULTRA low PHOS. Potash and MAGN are slightly below optimum. I have taken a soil sample from under a wild Hemlock that looked nice and green and it had lower PHOS< POT and MAGN than my yard. The only thing the wild grown and healthy Hemlock had that my yard didn't was VERY HIGH Calcium. The wild grown EASTERN Hemlock was in soil with a PH of 7.4. My PH is 6.0. Prts of my yard are 6.8 in PH. But this area was 6.0. Long question short, can I add Gypsum where I want to grow my WESTERN Hemlock or another EASTERN Hemlock and not lower the PH too much? I am afraid that using Lime may make it too ALKALINE. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Soil test results- Calcium needed, but PHmust stay acid
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| Soil pH is probably of less concern then would be a soil well endowed with organic matter that is ev enly moist but well drained. If your "wild grown" Eastern Hemlock is growing in a soil with a pH of 7.4 and is growing fine that should answer your question. |
RE: Soil test results- Calcium needed, but PHmust stay acid
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RE: Soil test results- Calcium needed, but PHmust stay acid
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| Soil is the least of your concerns for hemlocks. They are being wiped out by the wooly adelgid. Mortality rates are 95%+. Be prepared for expensive chemical treatments every few years. I would wait 20 years or so and see if a resistant variaty is developed. Its been 100 years for the American Chestnut and blight resistant variaties are finally starting to show progress. No promises a resistant variety will appear quickly. |
RE: Soil test results- Calcium needed, but PHmust stay acid
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- Posted by jolj 7b/8a-S.C.,USA (My Page) on
Fri, Nov 23, 12 at 17:41
I have an Hemlock here in South Carolina & no problem as of yet.
I agree gypsum will work, it is a most for peanuts. |
RE: Soil test results- Calcium needed, but PHmust stay acid
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| The tree that I have is a WESTERN Hemlock. They don't die from the wooly adelgid like the EASTERN Hemlock. I've tried Eastern and WESTERN Hemlocks both in my yard and they turn yellow and croak soil tests shows need calcium. I feel like lighting the tree on fire already! But that surely won't help at all either. I will try to make the soil more "Woodsy" adding OM in other words. It may not change things fast enough for this tree to live though, maybe in a few years. The gypsum will do it's thing too. |
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