9/20/2020 – Given the light rain from Hurricane Sally and the drizzle the past two days, the soil is saturated. Therefore, today is a good day to take pH readings using the meter. The readings are listed below.
9/28/2020 – Spread the lime cited in the table below just before the first cold front blew in this afternoon. We got 0.39″ of rain to start washing in the lime.
| Location | Reading | Target | Spread |
| Bed Next to Old Azaleas in Bk Yard | |||
| – West End Daylily section | 5.4, 5.9, 6.2 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1 C |
| – East End Daylily section | 6.0, 6.0 | 6.0 to 6.5 | OK |
| Bay Tree Bed | |||
| – At Daylilies | 6.0 | 6.0 to 6.5 | OK |
| – At Roses | E- 6.8, W- 6.2 | 5.5 – 7.0 for Roses 6.5 opt. | OK |
| Orchard Bed at 4-Brd Fence | |||
| – South Daylily section | 6.0 | 6.0 to 6.5 | |
| – South Center Daylily section | 5.9 & 6.0 | 6.0 to 6.5 | |
| – North Center Daylily section | 6.7 & 5.5 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C |
| – At Rose & Butterfly Plant | 4.9 | 5.5–7.0 for Roses 6.5 opt. | 3/4 C at rose |
| SE Corner of Front Yard – Hydrangeas | 4.8 | < 6.0 | OK |
| Crepe Myrtles along the Road | |||
| – #2 east & west | 5.6 & 5.9 | 5.0 to 6.5 | OK |
| Daylilies east & west | 6.3 & 4.4 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C @ west |
| – #3 east side | 5.2 | 5.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C |
| Daylilies east & west | 6.0 & 5.9 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C |
| – #4 east & west sides | 4.2 & 5.3 | 5.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C east |
| Daylilies east & west | 6.4 & 5.6 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C west |
| – #5 east & west sides | 4.2 & 4.8 | 5.0 to 6.5 | 1 C ea side |
| Daylilies east & west | 4.5 & 5.4 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C each |
| – #6 east & west sides | 4.8 & 6.2 | 5.0 to 6.5 | 1 C east |
| Daylilies east & west | 5.2 & 5.4 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C each |
| – #7 east & west sides | 5.0 & 5.0 | 5.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C each side |
| Daylilies east & west | 5.2 & 5.3 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1/2 C each |
| – #8 east & west | 5.8 & 5.6 | 5.0 to 6.5 | OK |
| Driveway Gate Beds | |||
| – East side | 5.8 | 5.5 – 7.0 for Roses 6.5 opt. Spirea: 4.0 to 7.0 | OK |
| – West side | 5.5 | 5.5 – 7.0 for Roses 6.5 opt. Spirea: 4.0 to 7.0 | OK |
| Daylily Bed at Pond Gate | |||
| – East | 6.0 | 6.0 to 6.5 | Light scatter |
| – West | 5.8 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 2 C scattered |
| Lady Bed | |||
| S-W-N-E: | 5.8, 6.2, 6.2, 5.8 | 6.0 to 6.5 | 1 C each E & S |
| Martin House Bed | |||
| – South – North | 6.2, 6.4 | 6.0 to 6.5 | OK |
| Blueberries | |||
| – North – Center – South | 6.0 – 6.5 – 5.8 | 4.0 – 5.5 | Sulphur |
| Driveway Bed at Bird Feeder | |||
| – North – Center – South | 5.9 – 5.8 – 5.7 | 5.5 – 7.0 for Roses 6.5 opt. | OK |
| Back Yard | |||
| – Meter-Wall Bed | |||
| — Gardinias: N-S | 6.0-6.1 | 5.0-6.5 | OK |
| — Hibiscus at Meter | 5.5 | 5.5 – 7 | OK |
| — Hydrangeas: N-Ct-S | 5.7 – 6.4 – 5.4 | < 6.0 | |
| — At Basil/Stoop | 5.8 | 5.5 – 6.5 | OK |
| –Hydrangea & Camellia At Water Heater | 4.9 & 5.0 | < 6.0 Alt Advice here 5.8 to 6.5 | OK |
| – At AC | 6.4 west & 5.5 @ red blooming Azalea & pink blooming rose. | Rose – 5.5–7.0, 6.5 opt. Azalea – 4.5-6.0 | OK |
| – Gardenias at SE corner/NE Hse corner | 5.8 | 5.0 – 6.5 | OK |
| Office at Dbl Window | 4.9 Blooming Azalea | 4.5 – 6.0 | OK |
| Bed along House in Front Yard | |||
| – Office Window | 5.7 W & 6.4 Ct. | 5.5–7.0 for Roses 6.5 opt. | OK |
| – At Knock Outs | 6.2 – 5.8 – 5.6 | 5.5 and 6.5 | OK |
| – At Pardon Me Daylily | 5.6 | 6.0 to 6.5 | |
| – KO’s at Picture window | 6.6 near grass ; 5.8 between rose and gardenia | 5.5 and 6.5 | OK |
| – Btw Daylily & Hydrangea | 5.4 & 5.6 | < 6.0 for Hydrangeas | OK |
| Bed Under Kitchen Window | |||
| – At Knock Out on south end | 5.2 | 5.5 to 6.5 | 1/2 C scattered |
| – Near hose bib | 5.2 | 1/2 C scattered | |
| Herb Bed | |||
| – E. at Marjoram | 5.4 | 6.0 – 8.0 | 1 C |
| – Center and West | 6.4 & 6.1 | Basil – 5.5-6.5 Rosemary – 5.0-6.0 Thyme – 5.5-7.0 | OK |
| Frescati, N-W-S-E, 6′ from trunk | 5.4 – 5.4 – 5.7 – 4.8 | 6.1 – 6.5 | |
From SFGate – According to the University of California Vegetable Research and Information Center, the rate of application to raise the pH level two points in 1 square foot of garden space is 4 tablespoons of lime. [¼ cup]
To Raise pH 1 point:
| 1 SF | 2 tblsp |
| 4 SF – 2’x2′ | ½ cup |
| 8 SF – 2’x4′ | 1 cup |
| 16 SF – 4’x4′ | 1 pt. |
The quantities applied in each location cited above in the “Spread” column were set for daylilies as being the center point of a 2′ x 2′ area; i.e. 1/2 C if the adjustment needed was 1 point. Larger areas with more plants were addressed similiarly.
The amount spread was intentionally not the full amount for the larger areas. Next March the readings will be retaken and more applied if needed.
From Baker Lime – Here, approximately, is how much limestone you’ll need to raise 1.0 pH level for every 1,000 square feet for the different soil types:
- Sand: 25 pounds
- Loam: 75 pounds
- Clay: 100 pounds
