Lilac's and Lime

[Josephine Dick]

Last year I read an article about putting lime in the Lilac bushes to
create better blooms. So Having had a bag of lime, lying around, I
dashed a little bit (about a cup) into the bushes. The blooms that are
preparing to come out are already spectacular and the flowers are not
even open. Does anyone know how much lime is safe to put into the
bushes and if timing is important. I had put the lime around the trees
in July, and didn't save the article.

Opinions! Thanks

[Kay Cangemi]

In article <3730D135...@mindlink.bc.ca>, jmdick...@mindlink.bc.ca
wrote:

Get a soil test done before you sprinkle much of anything on the soil. The
whole idea if applying the lime is to adjust the pH to a level the lilacs
approve of. If your soil is already there, well you just blew it by adding
the lime.

Lime is quite slow acting. Generally it's advised to spread it in the fall,
so it has the winter to work.

--
Kay Cangemi

--The sound of one hand typing---

New York, USDA zone 5
http://www.ulster.net/~cangemi

[dana]

I have no idea but thanks for the tip! I will be sure to put "lime" on my
shopping list.

-Diana

Josephine Dick wrote:

> Last year I read an article about putting lime in the Lilac bushes to
> create better blooms. So Having had a bag of lime, lying around, I
> dashed a little bit (about a cup) into the bushes. The blooms that are
> preparing to come out are already spectacular and the flowers are not
> even open. Does anyone know how much lime is safe to put into the
> bushes and if timing is important. I had put the lime around the trees
> in July, and didn't save the article.
>

> Opinions! Thanks

[ADIA...@worldnet.att.net]

I seem to recall reading that changing the acidity of soil
changes the color or lilacs -- from reddish purple to bluish purple.
Lime increase the alkalinity, other amendments (sulfates)
can increase alkalinity. The fact that you are getting better blooms
may have nothing to do with the lime, unless your soil was too acid.

--Shreeder

Josephine Dick wrote in message <3730D135...@mindlink.bc.ca>...

[Sammy's huwummun]

On Thu, 6 May 1999 20:24:34 -0400, <ADIA...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

>I seem to recall reading that changing the acidity of soil
>changes the color or lilacs -- from reddish purple to bluish purple.

AFAIK, the relative acidity/alkalinity of soil & its effect on blossom
color is for hydrangeas, not for lilacs. Maybe for both???

[Ann]

<ADIA...@worldnet.att.net> expounded:

>I seem to recall reading that changing the acidity of soil
>changes the color or lilacs -- from reddish purple to bluish purple.

I've never seen lilacs change color at all, for any reason.

>Lime increase the alkalinity, other amendments (sulfates)
>can increase alkalinity. The fact that you are getting better blooms
>may have nothing to do with the lime, unless your soil was too acid.

Lilacs need a neutral to slightly (really, slightly) alkaline soil,
6.5 to 7.5, to set blossoms. Of course you should have your soil
tested, however, nonblooming lilacs that are getting good sun most
likely do need a bit of lime. I'm not talking bags of it, but a cup
or so spread around the root area of the plant isn't going to hurt
anything, and costs next to nothing. What is there to lose?
Especially when the gains are so lovely :o)

--
Ann
Gardening in Zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
Fix the from: 9 is the spam trap!