How long should the 5-1-1 sit before using if I used powdered lime?
Jonathan Lesnick
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
Jonathan Lesnick
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Liming process in 5-1-1
Comments (4)Great thank you guys for the quick responses. One more question before I mix this up today. How would you recommend modifying the 5-1-1 for extreme heat? I am prepared to water daily, but I am wondering if I still need slightly more water retention than standard. More pumice? Peat instead of potting soil? Or white plastic over the dark colored mulch, maybe?...See MoreNewb help needed for 5-1-1 and 1-1-1 Gritty
Comments (7)I have seen where the Pine Bark Fines is referred to as 'soil conditioner' as well as the Turface being referred to as 'soil conditioner'. What exactly is Turface, They are both "soil conditioners" Pine Bark fines are organic. Turface is calcined Montmorillonite clay. Check your area for John Deere Landscape suppliers. If you can't find that then check your Tractor supply for "Oil Dry" in 40# bags. It will need to have the fines removed with an 1/8th inch screen. I've also read that it was like kitty litter, isn't that the same as the grit? So confused! :S the kitty litter is a clay product. The chicken grit is often a crushed granite product. It is a volume and aeration additive (?) that does not soak up water like the clay or the bark. I plan on buying the Reptibark for my Gritty so I won't have to screen and not for sure what I will need to get for the 5-1-1 bark fines. For the 5-1-1 mix check out the pine bark soil conditioners. See if it is ground to a fairly small size and is 100% pine. I have seen some that have other items like ground forest products whick are of questionable background. Locally I have Lowes, Tractor Supply, and Atwoods. I called Tractor Supply and they carry the Manapro grit for $4.99 and Atwoods has a 5lb bag of grit for $2.87 (they didn't know what brand). Then do I need to get the Lime and Gypsum for both (which for which mix?) or can I get just one of the two to use on both mixes? If I understand it correctly the lime is added to the 5-1-1 mix at the rate of 1 tablespoon per gaollon of mix. Seems that the ph of the 1-1-1 mix warrants the use of gypsum in the mix and then epsom salts are added to the water to help free up Ca and Mg. I don't have to make very much so I really don't want to have to buy 50 lb bags of all this! lol Also, what exactly to do for both on the fertilizer that's listed? you can add a Controlled release fertilizer or it is recommended to water with a weak fertilizer solution. Tapla has written on this and is worth the read Thank you so much for the help and sorry for all the q's! Thanks Al for all the help you are giving everyone!...See More5-1-1 and need to reapply lime
Comments (3)I'm no guru, but I've been growing in the 5-1-1 for several years now, and for the most part I don't re-apply lime. The 5-1-1 isn't really intended to be used longer than a season, but I think most of us are pressing it into service (to use one of Al's phrases) for more than one season. A couple years back, I did re-apply lime to my Moro blood orange by pulling back the surface mix and applying about a tablespoon all around, then replacing the mix so that the lime was covered. I watered well afterwards. However, I didn't notice any great difference in vitality, so I haven't bothered since. I think the pH of the 5-1-1 will climb and stabilize, more or less, and as long as you are using a quality fertilizer, you should be good. Josh...See MoreLime and 5-1-1 Question
Comments (10)Hey, everyone! :-) Lime is not critical, as long as you're using appropriate fertilizer. Yes, the pH of the media may be a little low (as Mike says, the bark and peat vary), but the pH creeps upward over time as tap and fertilizer salts accumulate in the mix. Typically, we attempt to mitigate this by adding white vinegar or another acidifier to our watering/fertilizing solution. I think you could put some of your mix in a cup, then soak with distilled water. After a few minutes, pour off some of the water and test the pH. This should give some idea of pH, although I'm sure it's not exact. The truth is, the pH of the media itself isn't quite as important in a container as it is in the ground. The pH of the solution with which we add fertilizer tends to be more important. That said, I'd scratch some Lime into the upper layer of the mix once the tree establishes itself in a few weeks. Be sure to cover the Lime with mix or mulch, then water into the mix. What is the volume of the container that the tree is in? Josh...See MoreJonathan Lesnick
4 years agoJonathan Lesnick
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoMike Larkin
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agogreenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
4 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
4 years ago
Related Stories
EXTERIOR COLORSee How 5 Color Palettes Look on 1 Charming Exterior
We used photo-rendering software to visually transform this home to show the dramatic power of paint
Full StoryBEFORE AND AFTERSSee a DIY Powder Room Transformation for $1,100
Determination, DIY skill and a stunning tile feature wall helped make this formerly dark and gloomy powder room feel spacious
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDES1 Chair + 2 Fabric Patterns = 1 Fabulous Look
Pair two contrasting fabrics on an upholstered chair to bring edge and an element of the unexpected to your interior decorating
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURS13 Character-Filled Homes Between 1,000 and 1,500 Square Feet
See how homeowners have channeled their creativity into homes that are bright, inviting and one of a kind
Full StoryEXTERIOR COLORChoosing Color: 1 Home Has Fun With 5 Different Color Schemes
See a home’s potential for transformation with several new hues. Do you have a favorite?
Full StoryCOLORChoosing Color: 1 Bedroom Tries On 5 Different Palettes
White is all right, but check out what you can do with a bolder hue
Full StoryCOLORChoosing Color: 5 Fun Options for 1 Sunny Entryway
See how adding a touch of uplifting paint to an all-white entry perks up the personality of a home
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNSee 5 Unexpected Ways to Use Vines
Vines can grow over slopes, trail off pergolas and add seasonal color to the garden
Full StoryEXTERIOR COLORChoosing Color: 1 House, 5 Exterior Paint Palettes
See how color variations change the look of this midcentury ranch-style home
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOME12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers
These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable
Full Story
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)