Solutions based on cement, gypsum or clay with the addition of lime have been known for a long time. With the help of it, plastic and inexpensive compositions are obtained, which are used both for external and internal works. In this article we will tell you how to make milk from lumpy lime, in what proportions to make a mixture for plastering and whitewashing, and also consider the application technology.

What is lime plaster

The addition of lime to solutions can significantly increase the plasticity and crack resistance of the plaster. It becomes much easier to work with it, it does not dry out so quickly, it easily sticks even to wood, and the surface is smoother, without defects. It is also an excellent protection against mold and mildew. Another undeniable advantage is its environmental friendliness - unlike synthetic additives, lime is absolutely harmless.

Lime is widely used in construction as a plasticizer.. However, when plastering facades, it should be noted that it can only be used in areas with a dry climate. Such solutions are not recommended for use in rooms with high (over 60%) humidity.

Lime plaster is considered to be warmer and more vapor-permeable, that is, "breathable", and it is much easier to remove it from the walls in case of repair than, for example, ordinary cement plaster. But excess lime can lead to a weakening of the surface strength. That is why it should be added in moderation, strictly adhering to the proportions.

As you can see, lime plaster has many advantages. The disadvantages include not such high strength, as in cement compositions. It is also not recommended to use it in wet rooms and for laying tiles.

But special strength from such a solution is not required. After all, the purpose of plastering is to level the surface and cover up small cracks. A stronger mortar is required when laying. However, in this case, according to SNiP, it is allowed to add to it to increase plasticity not a large number of lime paste or clay.

When extinguishing lime, be extremely careful - splashes of hot mixture can cause burns. Even the smallest lime dust capable of being deposited on the mucosa. Therefore, protective clothing, gloves and a respirator should be used when working.

Preparation of milk of lime (slaking)

Lump quicklime

Quicklime (calcium oxide) is not suitable for plastering or masonry mortar, because when interacting with water, a large amount of heat and water vapor is released. In this case, the formation of alkali Ca (OH) 2 occurs. Here it is needed for the preparation of plaster. Slaked lime (fluff) is bought in the form of a powder or prepared by hand.

Ready fluff

The extinguishing process is quite simple.. First you need to make milk of lime. Add to a bucket or bath:

• clean cold water;
• lumpy lime in a ratio of 1:1 by weight of water.

Lime should be added gradually, in small pieces, constantly stirring the solution. Otherwise, the upper layer, having reacted, forms hydroxide on the surface, blocking the access of water to the lower part of the container, and the material will not completely react.

In the process of transition of caustic lime CaO into fluff, that is, calcium hydroxide Ca (OH) 2, it heats up strongly, and then crumbles into a white dry powder. It is allowed to use it in mortars for masonry no earlier than after 14 days, in a mixture for plastering - after 30 days.

After the lime has completely reacted, milk of lime is prepared from it.. To prepare a 10% solution, take 1 kg of fluff and 9 liters of water. Sometimes, for better adhesion, up to 1% liquid soap is added to the composition.

Since lumpy lime may contain unburned or burnt pieces that cannot be extinguished, therefore, after thorough mixing, it is advisable to strain the solution through a sieve.

Please note that the recommendations for kneading plaster indicate most often not milk of lime, but dough. AT industrial environment it is made by settling milk of lime. At home, such a dough can be made by also removing excess water after precipitation. However, it is worth remembering that it will be difficult to filter a thick solution.

Types of lime plaster

Prepared with the addition of lime different types solutions, including cement, gypsum and clay. We give in detail the recipes for their preparation.

Lime-sand

This type of plaster is considered an inexpensive analogue cement mixture and is most often used for finishing utility rooms. The proportions in this case are similar:

• for the preparation of a primer solution, the ratio of lime and sand is 1: 2;
• when sprayed on the walls, it is equal to 1: 2;
• to be used as the main finishing coating 1:5.

Before preparing lime-sand plaster, the components are mixed dry, then water is added. It is better to use clean river sand, sifted before mixing.

This mixture hardens slowly, so it is allowed to cover it with polyethylene and use it on the second day. She will not lose her properties.

Lime-cement

Such plaster is strong enough, therefore it is widely used for facade and interior work. The ratio of the components of the mixture varies depending on the goals:

• for spraying 1:0.4:4 (cement, lime paste, sand);
• when used as a primer: 1:1:4;
• for getting finish coatings: 1:1,5:1,5.

There are also ready-made dry mixes on sale, for example, the Weber Vetonit 414 brand. It is suitable for any surface, for interior and exterior use. The plaster is reinforced with microfiber, so it hardens without shrinkage, and can be used as a base or leveling layer. Vetonite consumption - 1.4 kg / m2 with a thickness of 1 mm.

Lime-gypsum

The addition of gypsum to the sand-lime mortar allows you to get a more even and durable surface and speed up the hardening process. Such a solution fits well even on a stone and wooden surface.

The proportions for breeding are as follows:

• when sprayed (lime paste, sand, gypsum): 1:0.5:2;
• for use as a base coat: 1:1.5:2;
• as a primer: 1:1:2.

It is more difficult to work with such compounds, since the solution hardens very quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to cook it in small quantities.

Lime-clay

This plaster is used infrequently, mainly for finishing huts, stoves and fireplaces. It is prepared in this way:

• primer proportions (lime paste, clay, sand) 2:1.5:2;
• for kneading as a coating 2:1:3.5;
• for spraying 2:1:3.

Clay for kneading should be taken with medium fat content. If it is skinny and the solution does not stick to the trowel, then you need to increase its amount in the mixture. With excessively oily clay, on the contrary, increase the percentage of sand.

Table of consumption of materials for plastering 1 m2 of surface

Plaster with lime mortar

Wall preparation

If you are doing repairs not in a new building with bare walls, then you need to remove all the previous trim. Old wallpaper is moistened with water and removed with a scraper or a wire brush. If it is necessary to completely remove the old layer of whitewash, then the surface can be moistened with a liquid paste. After it dries, the whitewash, together with the glue, can be easily removed with a spatula.

Large cracks are expanded with a grinder or a knife, dusted, primed, and then covered with a durable cement mortar. Their locations are glued with sickle tape.

For reliable fixing of plaster on concrete, brick walls with an ax or a perforator, notches are made about 10 cm wide. Wooden walls are upholstered with shingles - strips of wood. It is fixed with nails, and it is not necessary to drive them deep - part of the nail must be bent. You can replace the shingle with metal mesh stuffed on the surface.

The walls must be primed before applying the first layer. The primer will glue the remaining dust and increase the adhesion of the plaster.

When perfect evenness is required, guide beacons are used. They are attached to the wall with a small amount of putty, then leveled. The distance between the beacon profiles should be 20 cm less than the length of the rule with which the mixture will be leveled during plastering.

Applying plaster

Consider the technology of plastering walls with your own hands, without using machine application. To obtain a high-quality surface with lime plaster, three layers are needed:

Advice! Since lime mortar sets more slowly, it is not recommended to apply too thick a primer layer, because it can “float”. If necessary, it is applied again with a second or third layer, drying each for about a day. It is necessary to overwrite such a surface only after the plaster has completely dried.

If after some time repair of the plaster is required, then it can be done in the same sequence as the initial application: clean the chips and cracks in the finish; prime the wall; apply the mixture in several layers; wipe after dry.

Whitewashing with lime

Lime mortar is also cheap material for whitewashing ceilings and walls. Also this good antiseptic, which is used in utility rooms, vegetable pits. Whitewashing trees protects them from pests and diseases.

Properly prepared whitewash covers the surface well and holds firmly.

The consumption of the prepared mixture will depend on the surface of the walls. On a flat wall or ceiling, 0.5 liters of whitewash per 1 m2 will go. For untreated brickwork, the consumption will be 1 l / m2. It will also depend on the application method. Most economical option- spraying with, for example, an airbrush or hand sprayer.

Lime-based plaster is inexpensive option wall and ceiling finishes. The mixture is easy to prepare with your own hands. It easily lays down on walls, creating protection against a mold and rotting. It is worth remembering that for wet rooms cement is added to the composition.

We hope you found something useful in this article. Leave your comments and questions below in the comments.

calcium hydroxide(slaked lime, caustic) - Chemical substance with the formula Ca(OH) 2 , a strong base. It is a white crystalline powder, slightly soluble in water.

Some common names

• Slaked lime- since it is obtained by "extinguishing" (that is, interacting with water) "quicklime" (calcium oxide).
• milk of lime- a suspension (suspension) formed by mixing an excess of slaked lime with water. It looks like milk.
• lime water- a clear, colorless solution of calcium hydroxide, obtained by filtering or settling milk of lime.
• Fluffy lime- when quicklime is slaked with a limited amount of water, a white, crumbling, finely crystalline powder is formed.

Receipt

Obtained by the interaction of calcium oxide (quicklime) with water (the process is called "lime slaking"):

Chemical properties

Calcium hydroxide is a fairly strong base, which is why an aqueous solution has a strongly alkaline reaction.

Like all bases, it reacts with acids; how alkali participates in acid neutralization reactions (see neutralization reaction) with the formation of the corresponding calcium salts, for example:

The neutralization reaction is due to the gradual clouding of the calcium hydroxide solution when standing in air, since calcium hydroxide interacts with carbon dioxide absorbed from the air, like solutions of other strong bases, the same reaction occurs when carbon dioxide is passed through lime water, - the reaction of a qualitative analysis to carbon dioxide:

With further passage of carbon dioxide through lime water, the solution becomes transparent again, since an acidic salt is formed - calcium bicarbonate, which has a higher solubility in water, and when the calcium bicarbonate solution is heated, it decomposes again with the release of carbon dioxide and at the same time carbonate precipitates calcium:

Calcium hydroxide reacts with carbon monoxide at about 400 °C:

It reacts with some salts, but the reaction occurs only if, as a result of the reaction, one of the resulting substances is poorly soluble and precipitates, for example:

Application

• Lime milk is used for whitewashing walls, fences, tree trunks.
• For the preparation of lime mortar. Hydrated lime has been used for building masonry since ancient times. Such a mortar usually consists by weight of one part of slaked lime and three to four parts of quartz sand. Water is added to the mixture until a thick mass is obtained. In the mixture occurs chemical reaction components with the formation of calcium silicates, in this reaction water is released. This is a disadvantage of such a solution, since in rooms built using such a solution for a long time preserved high humidity. This is also why modern construction cement almost completely replaced slaked lime as a binder in mortars.
• For the preparation of silicate

Material prepared by: Nadezhda Zimina, gardener with 24 years of experience, process engineer

Lime is a product of the processing of chalk, limestone and other minerals from the carbonate group. The main rock-forming elements in it are calcite and. Both of these substances are widely used for fertilizing garden and horticultural crops both in industrial agriculture and in private farms. They are used to treat plants to protect against pests, and to improve the soil in various ways.

The most commonly used is slaked lime. The quenching process is easy to do on your own. It is based on the reaction of the interaction of water and lime powder, and proceeds quite quickly, over several tens of minutes. During the interaction of these components, the "melting" of lime occurs, and it is processed into a form that is more convenient for use and safe for plants. Exists little secret the manufacture of slaked lime - it is undesirable to fill it hot water, since the higher the temperature of the liquid, the less useful substances will remain in the final product.

So why is lime so useful for the garden and garden? In accordance with the classification of lime-dolomite rocks (according to Vishnyakov), it contains (depending on the composition of the source), calcium, magnesium and potassium, moreover, potassium is in an oxide form easily absorbed by plants. But a large proportion in the composition of limestone or dolomite belongs, of course, to calcium. For many millennia different places of our planet, the remains of living organisms accumulated - skeletons, shells, shells, which over time were compressed into limestone. Also, for many tens of centuries, dolomite fractions, which are of inorganic origin, were deposited on the slopes of the mountains. Both of these substances are used to make quicklime, and have the same range of applications. But for some gardeners and gardeners, the difference between them is fundamental. What is it? Let's try to figure this out in the next section.

Lime - mineral or organic?

It has become very popular in recent decades healthy eating. This trend involves the use of only natural fruits and vegetables grown without the use of agrochemicals for cooking. Following it, many summer residents and small farmers tend to grow organic products. This concept does not accept the application of mineral and synthesized fertilizers for top dressing. In this regard, the question arises - is it possible to use lime in the garden within the framework of environmentally friendly production? What class of fertilizers does it belong to?

This is where the trick lies. The fact is that, depending on the starting material, lime can be both mineral and organic fertilizer. If it is obtained from dolomite CaMg (CO 3) 2 - then this mineral fertilizer, since the starting material in this case is a mineral, sedimentary carbonate rock. The origin does not detract from the merits of dolomitic lime as a fertilizer, but partially imposes restrictions on it for use in farms oriented entirely to organic farming.

Calcium lime for the soil, as already mentioned above, is a substance that has an organic nature of origin, so it can be used in gardens and vegetable gardens whose owners practice natural farming. It is divided into two types - quicklime (CaO), and slaked lime - fluff Ca (OH) 2. Both types, with reasonable handling and compliance with the application rate, are safe for humans and plants, which confirms the fact that this type of lime is used even in the food industry, as an additive, under the marking E-529.

Lime properties

AT agriculture widespread use of garden lime. Despite the fact that many plants cannot tolerate an excess of calcium, it is an indispensable element in many life processes that occur in all plant organisms. Its presence in the soil complex is necessary for the retention of hydrogen ions in it, which helps calcium maintain a favorable level of environmental reaction. This element provides the following features:

1. Calcium protects cultivated plants from various diseases, strengthening their own immunity. Liming the soil helps to activate the activity of nodule bacteria, which retain nitrogen in the soil from the air that enters the roots during loosening. This helps to improve the quality of plant nutrition, and, accordingly, increase their resistance to various harmful counterparties.
2. Carbohydrate transport in plant tissues. Calcium promotes better dissolution of elements in the aquatic environment.
3. Strengthening the walls of blood vessels through which aqueous solutions of vital substances move. This property, to a large extent, contributes to a more active and high-quality development of the root system. In addition, these elements are vital for plant nutrition.
4. The introduction of lime is necessary during the formation. Ca is a catalyst that activates the activity of beneficial microorganisms that release nitrogen from organic matter and mineralize it. Also, this element contributes to the formation of humus, as it accelerates the decomposition of organic matter.
5. One of the most useful properties lime is considered its ability to reduce the acidity of the soil. But, this substance not only normalizes the reaction of the upper soil layer, but also improves its chemical composition, neutralizing the action of toxic metals - iron, aluminum and manganese. Also, bleach has a positive effect on the structure of the soil, making it less loose and more cloddy.

Lime is actively used in agriculture for various purposes. In crop production, the most relevant of them are:

The use of lime to normalize soil acidity

This procedure should be carried out once every 4-5 years, on lands subjected to intensive exploitation - once every three years. Also, you should always pay attention to external signs by which the earth itself signals that its composition has changed. A sign of desperate souring of the beds is green moss, which quickly begins to grow on the edges of the earth. Plants such as horsetail and wormwood also indicate an increased level of acidity. If these unexpected guests appeared on your site, it's time to lime the soil.

The application rates are as follows:

• On heavy, clay soils - from 450 to 800 g / sq.m. It is necessary to follow the rule - the higher the pH value, the less lime is added.
• On lighter, loams and aluminas - from 350 to 600 g / sq.m.
• On the lightest, sandy lands, lime for the soil is applied (depending on the pH factor), in an amount from 250 to 500 g / sq.m.

The use of lime in the garden is possible in conjunction with organic fertilizers, that is, it can be entered simultaneously with them. But this mixing method imposes certain restrictions on the introduction of certain types of lime powder - dolomite, calcareous tuff, marl, fluff should not be mixed with organic matter, cement dust and even chalk. That is, with natural fertilizers you can only mix calcium organics - ground limestone.

Video: mini-film about liming the soil and reducing acidity

Protecting trees from pests with whitewash

In almost every locality of our country in the spring you can see slender rows of trees and shrubs with whitewashed trunks. Naturally, this is not done for beauty, but in order to protect the trees from pests. Whitewashing trees with lime is included in the planned processing of all fruit farms in our country and abroad, since this measure is cheap and very effective.

Trees whiten not only in spring. Many gardeners do this before winter. Both the first and the second methods have a lot of followers, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Autumn whitewashing and clay coating protects the tree trunk from sudden changes in temperature, and the milk of lime acts as a peeling, helping to remove dead layers of bark. But this is where all its pluses, for the most part, end. Under the influence of precipitation (snow and rain), after snowmelt, the trunks are stored in best case, half a layer of autumn whitewash. This is not enough to protect the tree from solar overheating, which is especially dangerous for young seedlings of the second or third year of life.

spring whitewash, in addition to protection against scorching sun rays, also perfectly protects against awakened insects that overwintered in the ground or in leaves and tried to encroach on your apple trees. The road will be blocked by a white belt. But, there is an opinion that autumn whitewashing will be able to expel insects hiding under the bark for wintering. Yes, this is true, but only for a neglected garden that has not been cultivated at all before. Trees that have been treated regularly with lime every spring since planting are simply not carriers of insect pests.

Before whitewashing, it is always necessary to prepare. It consists in removing the upper, dead layer of the bark, the sinuses of which serve as an excellent shelter for both larvae and adults. The bark is cleaned, and must be burned. Then the tree is treated with a pre-prepared solution.

It is necessary to dilute lime for whitewashing with the following components:

1. Lime - 1 kg;
2. Water - 10 l;
3. Copper vitriol - 200 g;
4. dry - 1 kg;
5. Clay - 300 g.

After thorough mixing, this solution is left to swell. After 2-3 hours, you can start processing. It must be remembered that in order to obtain a high-quality and viscous solution, it is not enough to dilute lime for whitewashing, it is fundamentally important to add all the components indicated in the recipe to it, only in this case a positive effect from this procedure is guaranteed.

Video: an alternative example of whitewashing trees

Some interesting facts about lime

• Liming acidic soils in the recommended amounts has a positive effect on population growth. They breed slowly in acidic soils, and their lifespan is also noticeably reduced if they live in highly acidic soils.
• can replace lime in its absence. It lowers soil acidity and is valuable potash fertilizer. But this fertilizer will have to be applied in larger quantities than limestone or dolomite.

• One of the common mistakes gardeners make when normalizing soil acidity in their area is replacement of quicklime with gypsum. It's pointless, since gypsum does not lower the acidity. It is applied only to saline soils to improve their melioration, as it crystallizes excess salt.
• The frequency of application of garden lime directly depends on what fertilizers are used on the site. If - liming is done more often. And the application contributes to the natural maintenance of a neutral pH - balance, therefore, with the regular introduction of organic matter additional processing lime may not be required.
• Not all cultures like lime. Some people absolutely can't stand it. For example, such as sorrel, peas, parsley, zucchini and pumpkin. In horticulture, plants can also be distinguished that react sharply negatively to the introduction of limestone, dolomite, tuff - these are chokeberries, gooseberries, raspberries and blueberries. From field crops, the introduction of lime is contraindicated for flax, it loves acidic soils.

For getting good harvest in a garden or garden, it is not enough just to sow seeds and plant seedlings or seedlings. Both plantations and the soil under them need to be provided proper care. Experienced gardeners and gardeners, to fertilize the soil or to control pests, along with other means, use various chemicals. One of the most popular is fluff lime. In the garden and garden there are many factors that determine the need for the use of this tool.

What is fluff lime? How can it be useful for ensuring the normal growth of garden and horticultural crops? What are the features of its application? Let's try to understand this in the article.

What is fluff lime?

For a garden and vegetable garden in which the owners practice natural farming, the use of calcium lime (a substance of organic origin), which is divided into two types, is suitable:

• (CaO) quicklime;
• (Ca(OH)2) slaked lime.

Both types are safe for humans and plants (subject to the rules of use and reasonable handling).

Calcium lime is used as an additive in the food industry (marking E-529). It is a product of the processing of chalk, limestone and other minerals of the carbonate group. Externally, it is a white powder that dissolves in water. The main rock-forming elements are dolomite and calcite.

Fluffy lime: application

These substances are well known as effective means for fertilizing garden and horticultural crops. They are widely used in large-scale (field) agriculture and in private farms.

Both alone and as constituents of lime, they are used to treat plants to protect them from pests and control diseases, as well as to improve soil quality.

What does "lime slaking" mean?

Fluffy - this is easy to get at home from ordinary quicklime.

The quenching process is a reaction between lime powder and water, the duration of which is only a few minutes. During the interaction of these components, a kind of "melting" of lime occurs - it is processed into a form that is more convenient for use and safe for processed plants. In this case, one nuance should be taken into account: when making slaked lime, you cannot use hot water, because heat liquid helps to neutralize the beneficial properties of the product.

On the features of the use and benefits of lime for the garden and vegetable garden

According to Vishnyakov's classification, lime contains substances such as calcium, potassium and magnesium. The form of potassium is oxide, easily absorbed by plants. A large proportion of limestone is calcium.

It is known that many plants cannot tolerate an excess of calcium. Nevertheless, it is indispensable in important life processes occurring in plant organisms. The presence of calcium in the soil is necessary: ​​it retains hydrogen ions, which help to ensure a favorable level of environmental reaction.

Functions of calcium:

• protects cultivated plants from diseases, strengthens their immunity;
• activates the activity of nitrogen retaining in the soil, which comes to the roots from the air during loosening, which improves the quality of plant nutrition, increases their resistance to various harmful factors;
• improves the transport of carbohydrates in tissues;
• favors better dissolution of elements in water;
• contributes to a better and more active development of the root system.

The constituent components of lime are vital for plant nutrition.

In this regard, fluff lime is indispensable, the use of which in the garden is described in the article, when forming compost. Calcium is a catalyst that activates the activity of beneficial microorganisms that release nitrogen from organic matter and mineralize it. In addition, it helps to accelerate the decomposition of organic matter and the formation of humus.

The ability to reduce the acidity of the soil is one of the most useful properties that fluff lime has. Its use in the garden and vegetable garden contributes not only to the normalization of the reaction of the upper soil layer, but also to its improvement. chemical composition. It neutralizes the action of toxic metals - manganese, iron and aluminum.

Fluffy lime, the use in the garden, as well as in the garden of which all gardeners know to normalize the chemical composition of the soil, has a positive effect on making it more lumpy and less loose.

How often is liming done?

Lime is actively used in agriculture for various purposes. The most relevant of them is the neutralization of soil acidity. For this procedure, fluff lime is used. Application in the garden (the application rate is given below) occurs in compliance with the following terms:

• usually liming is carried out once every 4-5 years;
• on soil subjected to intensive exploitation - once every 3 years.

How to determine the increased acidity of the soil?

To determine the degree of "souring" of the beds (increased acidity of the soil), it is worth paying attention to some external signs by which the earth "signals" about changes in its chemical composition:

• the appearance of green moss on the edges of the earth;
• growth of horsetail and wormwood, clover, rosemary, heather, sorrel, white-bearded, creeping buttercup.

Availability on land plot these uninvited guests is a sign that fluff lime is needed here, the use in the garden of which is carried out in accordance with the established dosage.

In addition, a characteristic sign of acidity are:

• whitish, like an ashy layer lying on the surface;
• poor growth of beets, wheat.

You can determine the increased acidity using paper indicators, which are sold in specialized stores.

Why struggle with increased

An acidic earth is a haven for disease-causing bacteria and fungi. Beneficial microorganisms in acidic soil are not present in sufficient quantities.

Weeds tend to grow on acidic soil. Cultivars do not take root well in such an environment. Poorly developed root system which often results in plant death.

A high pH indicates elevated level in the earth of hydrogen ions. When fertilizers are applied, hydrogen reacts with them, which transforms their composition, making them useless for plants. Carrying out soil deoxidation in autumn or spring helps to reduce the level of manganese and aluminum. Magnesium, nitrogen, molybdenum, phosphorus, calcium will be provided in the required amount.

Rules for applying lime to the soil

To increase the yield, fluff lime must be applied correctly. Application in the garden, the dosage should correspond to the following application rates:

• heavy, clay soils: 450-800 g/sq. m;
• light soils, loams, aluminas: 350-600 g/sq. m;
• lightest, sandy soils: 250-500 g/sq. m.

Exceeding the application rate is harmful to plants. Too alkaline soil leads to a decrease in the digestibility of most plants. essential trace elements especially calcium. On the other hand, poor quality liming can be caused by adding lime to the soil at the same time as manure. In this case, the formation of insoluble compounds that are useless for plants occurs. Vegetable crops begin to experience a shortage of necessary nutrients and do not give a good harvest.

How is lime applied to the soil?

When to carry out liming?

In autumn, fluff lime (application in the garden is described in the article) is introduced into the soil during digging in order to completely lim it.

Autumn digging (re-plowing) of the soil is more preferable, especially when preparing early vegetables for sowing. It should be started immediately after harvesting and removing the remains of roots and tops. Fertilizers are spread evenly throughout the area. The soil layers should be turned over with a shovel so that the more pulverized top layer is at the bottom, and the structural bottom layer is on the surface. In autumn, it is not recommended to break clods and level the surface - this way the moisture in the ground is better preserved.

The main processing is carried out to a depth of 22-30 cm, under perennial vegetable crops- 35-40 cm.

Plots with a shallow topsoil require digging of the subsoil with the simultaneous application of lime and organic fertilizers:

• when digging, the fertile layer is removed, and the podzol (subsoil) is loosened to a depth of 1-2 cm;
• lime is added there (150 g / sq. m);
• the loosened layer is mixed with fertile soil;
• organic fertilizers are applied (8-10 kg / sq. m);
• furrow falls asleep top layer earth.

Carrying out annual loosening and fertilization of the soil contributes to an increase in the arable fertile layer.

Knowledgeable owners appreciate fluff lime. Application in the garden in the spring is also possible. It is introduced into the soil in a small amount for light digging, mainly for those crops that are especially sensitive to increased soil acidity: onions and garlic, lettuce, mustard, turnips, radishes, cabbage. The procedure is carried out a week before planting seedlings and sowing seeds.

About the use of lime together with fertilizers

Fluffy lime can be applied together with organic fertilizers. However, some restrictions must be observed:

• it is not recommended to mix chalk, cement dust, lime, marl, lime tuff, dolomite;
• with natural fertilizers it is allowed to mix only calcium organics (ground limestone).

Weed control

Fluff lime is an effective weed control. Use in the weed garden is advisable if the site is too acidic. It usually grows such indicator grass as wood lice. She is very tenacious, so fight her with mechanical methods(weeding out) is quite difficult. Effective way the fight against wood lice is the creation of unbearable conditions for the weed. To do this, when digging in the fall, chalk, ash or lime should be added to the soil. With a decrease in soil acidity, wood lice will disappear.

The use of lime (200 g / sq. M) is detrimental to many weeds, including wheatgrass and horsetail.

About the fight against wireworm

The wireworm (larva of the click beetle) is the most Dangerous Fight with it provides a mandatory combination various methods in combination with preventive measures. Getting rid of this unpleasant guest will significantly improve the quality of root crops: beets, carrots, radishes, potatoes. Ignoring his presence on the site can lead to a complete loss of the crop.

A favorable condition for the reproduction of wireworm larvae is the increased acidity of the soil. A decrease in acidity leads to the fact that females stop laying eggs in such an environment, and in the future this will save the area from the pest.

Fluff lime is an effective remedy for this. Application in the garden from the wireworm involves the introduction of a small amount (0.5 kg / sq. M) into the soil, watering, re-digging after a few days and re-wetting. Ash is also added (one handful in each hole).

Application in horticulture

Fluff is indispensable in gardening. It is used both as a deoxidizer for liming the soil, and for shrubs.

Whitewashing is an effective and inexpensive means of protecting trees from pests.

Spring whitewash protects the trunks from the scorching sun, as well as from insects that have awakened overwintering in the ground. Trees that are regularly treated with lime every spring are not carriers of pests.

Many gardeners whiten trees before winter. Autumn coating with clay and whitewashing help protect the tree trunk from sharp fluctuations in temperature. The impact of precipitation (rain, snow) makes the layer of whitewash insufficient to protect against insects and solar overheating, which are especially dangerous for young seedlings. Therefore, it is recommended to whiten the trees after all in the spring.

Before whitewashing, it is necessary to prepare the trunk - remove the upper dead layer of the bark, in the axils of which larvae and adults of pests can hide. The bark must be burned. After that, the tree is treated with a prepared solution.

How to dilute lime for whitewash?

Components are thoroughly mixed:

• clay (300 g);
• dry mullein (1 kg);
• copper sulfate (200 g);
• lime (1 kg);
• water (10 l).

The solution is left to swell. You can start processing trees in 2-3 hours. A guarantee of a positive effect is possible only if the prescription is followed exactly.

The use of fluff lime for liming the soil, as well as for pest and weed control, contributes to obtaining a high-quality and rich harvest.

Lime can rightly be included in the list of the most commonly used materials by man. At the same time, we use it not only in finishing work, but also in a number of tasks where the properties of lime are ideally suited.

called given material calcium hydroxide. It is obtained from calcium oxide (quicklime) by reacting the latter with water. A so-called quenching reaction takes place, which can take less than 8 minutes and more than 25 minutes. Depending on this, lime, quicklime, usually in the form of lumps gray shade, are subdivided into fast, medium and slow extinguishing.

The quenching process is chemical in nature, and during it a large amount of heat is released. Water evaporates, and we can observe this steam during the process. When slaking lime, a fluff or dough is obtained. The latter has unique properties, allowing it to be stored for a long time in the ground. It is noteworthy that in this case specifications material only increase, as the remaining particles are quenched during storage.

Areas of application of slaked lime

• Whitewashing of premises and other surfaces, including tree trunks, thus protected from pests;
• Use in brickwork. Most often - in the laying of the stove. In this case, we can talk about the highest adhesion to a brick or cinder block surface;
• Used as a finish on wood. However, in this case it is necessary to use plaster mesh or shingles.
• Preparation of lime mortar which has been used since ancient times. To prepare the solution, three to four parts of sand and one part of slaked lime are used. Water is released during the process, which is a disadvantage, therefore, in rooms created using this solution, always high humidity. So the cement has almost completely displaced this solution over time;
• Preparation of silicate concrete. This concrete differs from simple concrete in accelerated setting time;
• Production of bleach;
• leather tanning;
• Neutralization of acidic soils and production of fertilizers. At the same time, lime is applied to the soil after flares in the spring and autumn period of the year;
• Lime milk and lime water. The first is used to prepare mixtures to combat plant diseases. And the second is for detecting carbon dioxide;
• Dentistry. With the help of slaked lime, the canals of the teeth are disinfected;
• Food additive E526.
• In fact, there are a lot of ways to use lime. We have listed only some of them.

How to store slaked lime

In case it is about winter period, then lime is stored in the ground at least at a depth of 70 cm. In this case, the dough will be protected from freezing.

Depending on the purpose, the dough is aged for a certain time. In the case of use in plaster solutions, we are talking about keeping for at least a month. If the solution will participate in the masonry, then two weeks is enough.

• If you are preparing a solution based on lime, then in this case ideal solution will be the gradual addition of pre-sifted sand to the dough. Gradually kneading is carried out to form a homogeneous mass. Subsequently, you can strain the finished solution through a sieve, removing everything that prevents it from being homogeneous;
• By adding gypsum to the lime mortar, you will significantly increase its setting time. In this case, the setting time is estimated to be approximately 4 minutes. In the case of the addition of cement, hardening occurs over a longer period of time. A pure solution of lime seizes for a very long time.

3 ways to slake lime

• Method 1: Lime clods are laid in layers 25 centimeters thick. After that, they are watered with water and covered with wet sand from above. The slaking process takes about two days, after which the lime can be used;
• Method 2: In the case of lime of medium or slow slaking. A hole is dug, at the bottom of which a solution container is installed in the form wooden box with a flap at the bottom created using a fine mesh. Lumps are placed in a box and filled with water. Water is added as the fragments break up into smaller ones. As soon as all the fragments are extinguished, and the final product is ready-made milk of lime, we drain the excess water by moving the damper. After that, lime porridge is covered with a layer of sand of 10 centimeters, which will protect it from drying out;
• Method 3: Pushenka can be prepared by pouring lime with water in equal proportions. During the quenching process, the mixture is stirred. However, one must be careful not to bend over during periods of the highest heat generation, so as not to breathe in vapors.