Re: Winter perennials? - Lime

<< Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 03:05:54 -0400
 From: "Marge Talt" <mtalt@clark.net>
 Subject: Re: Winter perennials?
 
 Um, Ginny, I've never limed my hellebores....while they do fine on alkaline
 soil, except for H. niger, they really don't require it.  Mine do fine on
 my naturally acid clay (amended, of course, which does raise the pH a tad).
  >>

I haven't tried liming my hellebores, but I've had amazing results with 
lavender and baby's breath.  I top dress with lime in the spring and in the 
years I get around to doing this these plants are spectacular.  It's a very 
noticeable difference.  The normal pH in my garden is 6.5,  which is just 
slightly acidic.  

Novice gardeners should note that one should never amend soil pH without 
knowing the existing pH.  Your soil may already be alkaline, in which case 
you would not want to add lime to your beds.  But if your soil is acidic 
(under neutral pH of 7.0) alkaline-loving plants will benefit from the 
addition lime or wood ashes, which raise the pH.  

Off the top of my head, some other perennials that like alkaline soil are 
delphinium, lily, peony, asters and pinks.  

Since I didn't find the time to topdress this spring, I'm going out today and 
try Ginny's
method of watering in lime in the fall.  I would think that would be even 
better.  Does anyone have any experience to confirm this?  

--Janis

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