[medit-plants] Re: urbanite found on facebook

I think you are right Sean, alkanility seems to be native to Mediterranean soils throughout its habitat.  There seems to be no point in persevering with plants that are unhappy with alkaline soil. 

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On 22 Nov 2017, at 3:38 pm, Sean A. O'Hara <s*@gimcw.org> wrote:

Jeanne -

One finds concern about alkalinity regularly in garden books.  My observation over the past several decades is that this is largely due to the choice of certain plants - rhododenrons, azaleas, gazanias - that LOVE acidic soils and are adverse to lime.  But there are many, many plants that are fine with lime, especially many from mediterranean climates.  The flora of the Mediterranean itself is largely native to limestone soils.  In fact, our California soils are often not alkaline enough for them.

One of the best lavender gardens I ever created was on top of soil embedded with lots of chunks of concrete (from a former foundation).   They grew and flowered better than any I'd ever seen!

It all comes does to plant choice.  Proper amendments can also help for those plants requiring acid soil.


On Mon, Nov 20, 2017 at 11:36 AM, t*@pacbell.net <t*@pacbell.net> wrote:
Sfgate.com is not especially known for its rigorous science. A better source might be a university site or perhaps the gardenprofessors site or facebook page.

Cheers
Bracey 
San Jose ca

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----- Reply message -----
From: "Steven Vance" <steven.william.vance@gmail.com>
To: <m*@freelists.org>
Subject: [medit-plants] Re: urbanite found on facebook
Date: Mon, Nov 20, 2017 11:05 AM


On Sun, Nov 19, 2017 at 10:00 AM, Jeanne Bardems <j*@gmail.com> wrote:
I found this on facebook and thought it would be pertinent to the discussion here. A friend expressed concern about concrete leaching something into the soil to make it more alkaline. Is that a concern?


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