re: acid, calcium, clay, concrete




< The higher the calcium level, =
the =
more acidic the soil. And acidic soil is better for most plants.>

I have lost track of where this came from, but the first part is completely
backwards.  The more calcium, the more BASIC and LESS acid the soil is.

In east Tennessee, most of our soils are heavy clay and as long as there is
good air circulation and drainage, iris grow really well in our clay.  BUT
clays are 'configured' in different ways (has to do with how the little
silica bits and pieces hook together and what other elements are stuck in
between the lattices that make up the clay) and depending on which kind of
clay you have, the physical and chemical characteristics can be very
different.  

If that's not esoteric enough I can haul out my soils book and tell you what
the kinds of clay are, where they come from, and what their characteristics
are.  Or maybe Robert Turley can do that from memory?

Around here, adding sand to clay does NOT make concrete - it improves the
soil.  So it really depends on what part of the country you are in.  Ag
extension and local gardeners/farmers are the best source of advice on what
works for your kind of clay and climate.

Linda Mann lmann76543@aol.com e tenn usa
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