Why would you use lye in a garden?

When poured directly on soil, it raises the pH of that soil, thus depriving plants from getting the nutrients they need to survive. Lye should thus be used carefully and in moderation as a plant and weed killer.

Is lye bad for the gardens?

Not only that, using ashes in the garden also provides many of the trace elements that plants need to thrive. In small quantities, the lye and salt will not cause problems, but in larger amounts, the lye and salt may burn your plants. Composting fireplace ashes allows the lye and salt to be leached away.

What is garden lye?

Historically, ‘lye’ was a caustic leachate of wood ashes producing potassium hydroxide. Lye is currently made by a chemical process that yields sodium hydroxide, and even though sodium is an essential element to normal growth and plant health, it is used only in minute amounts and very quickly reaches toxic levels.

When should you put lime on your garden?

For most gardeners, fall is a good time to add lime. Working lime into the soil in the fall gives it several months to dissolve before spring planting. To add lime to the soil, first prepare the bed by tilling or digging to a depth of 8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm.).

Can I use baking soda in my garden?

Baking soda on plants causes no apparent harm and may help prevent the bloom of fungal spores in some cases. It is most effective on fruits and vegetables off the vine or stem, but regular applications during the spring can minimize diseases such as powdery mildew and other foliar diseases.

Is lye good for trees?

Lye raises the pH of the soil, which is favorable for pecans, as they do not like acidic soil. Pecan trees use large amounts of zinc and can deplete the soil of the nutrient. Third, lye contains potassium, which the tree uses for flowering and fruiting.

Do tomatoes like lime?

Soils that are even slightly too acidic won’t produce good quality tomatoes and will bind calcium and magnesium into the soil where plants cannot access it. Lime changes the soil pH to make those nutrients accessible to tomatoes, preventing blossom end rot and premature tomato drop. Lime for tomatoes is a good idea.

What vegetables need lime in soil?

The vegetables happiest when adding lime to your garden soil include, beans, cabbages, peas, spinach, lettuce and other leafy vegetables. Tomatoes won’t grow well in acidic soil. Lime provides needed calcium and magnesium in the soil.

What happens if you pour vinegar on plants?

The acetic acid of vinegar dissolves the cell membranes resulting in desiccation of tissues and death of the plant.

Can you sprinkle Epsom salt around plants?

Magnesium allows plants to better take in valuable nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus. If the soil becomes depleted of magnesium, adding Epsom salt will help; and since it poses little danger of overuse like most commercial fertilizers, you can use it safely on nearly all your garden plants.