No difference between pelletized and powdered lime, just what you prefer in terms of application. Here in the East our soil and rain water are acid. Acid soil has a low pH and alkaline soil a high pH. Jim Crockett in his old Victory Garden shows used to recommend adding lime to every planting hole for people who lived East of the Mississippi. Since I am preparing whole beds, I usually lime each bed during the soil prep and til it in. I did have a soil test done when I started and the pH was 5.5. That's acidic so I add lime periodically.

You are correct about lime allowing plants to access the fert they are given. Out here people lime their lawns about every other year.

Have you tested you soil?

Steve

I don't know because...

I put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up.

Had to do it. Couldn't resist. Not that I tried to resist.

here were the results from soil test a few years back ....

does this lead you to any conclusions???

ken

A - Bed (east Oak) pH = 7.4 (surprisingly high since it's under the oak, but maybe not enough leaves left there to affect the pH)

Millennium bed pH = 6.3 (probably the best pH and why this plant may look so good)

C - Bed pH = 5.2 (on the lower side)

A - Bed west pH = 5.9 (not too bad as far as pH goes)

Not an expert, but I've always heard that you want mildly acidic soil for hostas. Something around pH 6. Two of your beds seem perfect if the soil hasn't changed much since you had it tested. The A bed is a little alkaline and you definitely do not want lime here. Maybe some peat moss to increase acidity. Only the C bed may be a bit too acid, but not enough to worry about. They say Michigan has good soils for hostas, and I would say your place is living proof of that, given your wonderful pics and comments from anyone who has been there. And then there's your driveway where most hostas will grow anyway!

Michigan State U. has good online info about soils.

Steve

Ohio State says the ideal pH for Hosta is 6.5 - 7.5. I don't know what is going on with Bed A (East Oak). That 7.5 is a bit high, but just out of the range given. Maybe shred some leaves and put them on as mulch?

The other beds I would lime. Just go easy on the Millennium bed. I usually do it in the same way that you would spread 10-10-10, by the handful and then work it in. Do it now because it takes 2-3 months for the lime to leach into the soil and become effective. That's why most people lime their lawns in the fall here.

Don't know for sure,but I thought hostas wanted acidic soil,not alkaline. People(farmers) here use it for vegetables,to sweeten the soil,but hostas are not veggies. My soil is just fine the way it is,so I'm leaving it alone. Besides,I do not fertilize my gardens. Phil

Here's a link to a Del Valley article that has information about pH for Hosta. Scroll down towards the bottom. The article is mostly about container growing and pH, but they agree that 6.5-7.5 is the goal.

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Del Valley Hosta Culture

Beds A & C would be the only ones to lime as far as pH goes. What did the soil test say your calcium/magnesium ratio is, or, for that matter, any of the other nutrients? Although pH can affect the uptake of certain nutrients, the ratio of those nutrients can also affect their uptake. For example, if calcium is high it will adversely affect the uptake of magnesium and vise versa.

tj

Ken, when I saw the initial message header, my reaction was one of "NO, we put sheets on ours, much more comfortable"...

Sorry, just couldn't leave it alone...

Pieter

I like a rather low pH (acidic) of 5.5-6.5 because of the companion plants I prefer to have in my beds- wildflowers, ferns, dogwoods, pine trees, etc. The only things I put lime on is the lawn and my hart's tongue fern (7.0-8.0).


Here is a plant pH reference list:

Fruit
Apple 5.0-6.5
Apricot 6.0-7.0
Blackberry 5.0-6.0
Blueberry 4.0-6.0
Cantaloupe 6.5-7.5
Cherry 6.0-7.5
Cranberry 5.5-6.5
Current 6.0-8.0
Gooseberry 5.0-6.5
Grape 6.0-7.0
Hazelnut 6.0-7.0
Hop 6.0-7.0
Mulberry 6.0-7.5
Nectarine 6.0-7.5
Peach 6.0-7.5
Pear 6.0-7.5
Plum 6.0-7.5
Quince 6.0-7.5
Raspberry 5.0-7.5
Rhubarb 5.5-7.0
Strawberry 5.0-7.5
Watermelon 5.5.-6.5

Vegetables and Herbs
Artichoke 6.5-7.5
Asparagus 6.0-8.0
Basil 5.5-6.5
Bean 6.0-7.5
Beet 6.0-7.5
Broccoli 6.0-7.0
Brussels Sprouts 6.0-7.5
Cabbage 6.0-7.5
Carrot 5.5-7.0
Cauliflower 5.5.-7.5
Celery 6.0-7.0
Chicory 5.0-6.5
Chives 6.0-7.0
Corn-sweet 5.5-7.0
Cucumber 5.5-7.5
Fennel 5.0-6.0
Garlic 5.5-7.5
Ginger 6.0-8.0
Horseradish 6.0-7.0
Kale 6.0-7.5
Kohlrabi 6.0-7.5
Leek 6.0-8.0
Lentil 5.5-7.0
Lettuce 6.0-7.0
Marjoram 6.0-8.0
Mint 7.0-8.0
Mushroom 6.5-7.5
Mustard 6.0-7.5
Onion 6.0-7.0
Paprika 7.0-8.5
Parsley 5.0-7.0
Parsnip 5.5-7.5
Pea 6.0-7.5
Pepper 5.5-7.0
Peppermint 6.0-7.5
Potato 4.5-6.0
Potato-sweet 5.5-6.0
Pumpkin 5.5-7.5
Radish 6.0-7.0
Rosemary 5.0-6.0
Sage 5.5-6.5
Shallot 5.5-7.0
Sorghum 5.5-7.5
Soybean 5.5-6.5
Spearmint 5.5-7.5
Spinach 6.0-7.5
Thyme 5.5-7.9
Tomato 5.5-7.5
Turnip 5.5-7.0
Watercress 6.0-8.0

House and Greenhouse
Abutilon 5.5-6.5
Acorus 5.0-6.5
Aechmea 5.0-5.5
African Violet 6.0-7.0
Aglaonema 5.0-6.0
Amarylis 5.5-6.5
Anthurium 5.0-6.0
Aphelandra 5.0-6.0
Araucaria 5.0-6.0
Asparagus Fern 6.0-8.0
Aspidistra 4.0-5.5
Azalea 4.5-6.0
Baby's Breath 6.0-7.5
Baby's Tears 5.0-6.0
Begonia 5.5-7.0
Bird of Paradise 6.0-6.5
Bishop's Cap 5.0-6.0
Black-eyed Susan 5.5-7.5
Blood Leaf 5.5-6.5
Bottlebrush 6.0-7.5
Bougainvillea 5.5-7.5
Boxwood 6.0-7.5
Bromeliads 5.0-7.5
Butterfly Flower 6.0-7.5
Cacti 4.5-6.0
Calcaolaria 6.0-7.0
Caladium 5.0-6.0
Calla Lily 6.0-7.0
Camelia 4.5-5.5
Campanula 5.5-6.5
Capsicum 5.0-6.5
Cardinal Flower 5.0-6.0
Castor Oil Plant 5.5-6.5
Century Plant 5.0-6.5
Chinese Evergreen 5.0-6.0
Chinese Primrose 6.0-7.5
Christmas Cactus 5.0-6.5
Cineraria 5.5-7.0
Clerodendrum 5.0-6.0
Clivia 5.5-6.5
Cockscomb 6.0-7.0
Coffee Plant 5.0-6.0
Coleus 6.0-7.0
Columnea 4.5-5.5
Coral Berry 5.5-7.5
Crassula 5.0-6.0
Creeping Fig 5.0-6.0
Croton 5.0-6.0
Crown of Thorns 6.0-7.5
Cuphea 6.0-7.5
Cyclamen 6.0-7.0
Cyperus 5.0-7.5
Dieffenbachia 5.0-6.0
Dipladenia 6.0-7.5
Dizgotheca 6.0-7.5
Dracaena 5.0-6.0
Easter Lily 6.0-7.0
Elephant's Ear 5.0-6.0
Episcia 6.0-7.0
Euonymous 6.0-8.0
Fig 5.0-6.0
Fittonia 5.5-6.5
Freesia 6.0-7.5
Gardenia 5.0-6.0
Genista 6.5-7.5
Geranium 6.0-8.0
Gloxinia 5.5-6.5
Grape Ivy 5.0-6.5
Grape Hyacinth 6.0-7.5
Grevillea 5.5-6.5
Gynura 5.5-6.5
Hedera 6.0-8.0
Heliotropium 5.0-6.0
Hens and Chickens 7.0-7.0
Herringbone Plant 6.0-8.0
Hibiscus Plant 6.0-8.0
Hoya 5.0-6.5
Impatiens 5.5-6.5
Ivy Tree 6.0-7.0
Jacaranda 6.0-7.5
Japanese Sedge 6.0-8.0
Jasminum 5.5-7.0
Jerusalem Cherry 5.5-6.5
Jessamone 5.0-6.0
Kalanchoe 6.0-7.5
Kangaroo Thorn 6.0-8.0
Kangaroo Vine 5.0-6.5
Lantana 5.5-7.0
Laurus (Bay Tree) 5.0-6.0
Lemon Plant 6.0-7.5
Mimosa 5.0-7.0
Mind Your Own Bus. 5.0-5.5
Monstera 5.0-6.0
Myrtle 6.0-8.0
Never Never Plant 5.0-6.0
Nicodemia 6.0-8.0
Norfolk Island Pine 5.0-6.0
Oleander 6.0-7.5
Oplismenus 5.0-6.0
Orchid 4.5-5.5
Oxalis 6.0-8.0
Palms 6.0-7.5
Pandanus 5.0-6.0
Peacock Plant 5.0-6.0
Pellionia 5.0-6.0
Peperomia 5.0-6.0
Philodendron 5.0-6.0
Pilea 6.0-8.0
Plumbago 5.5-6.5
Podacarpus 5.0-6.5
Pointsettia 6.0-7.5
Polyscias 6.0-7.5
Pothos 5.0-6.0
Prayer Plant 5.0-6.0
Punica 5.5-6.5
Sanserieria 4.5-7.0
Saxifraga 6.0-8.0
Scindapsus 5.0-6.0
Shrimp Plant 6.0-7.0
Spanish Bayonet 6.0-7.5
Spider Plant 6.0-7.5
Succulents 5.0-6.5
Synogonium 5.0-6.0
Tolmiea 5.0-6.0
Tradescantia 5.0-6.0
Umbrella Tree 5.0-7.5
Venus Flytrap 4.0-5.0
Weeping Fig 5.0-6.0
Yucca 6.0-7.5
Zebrina 5.0-6.0

Ferns
Bird's Nest 5.0-5.5
Boston 5.5-6.5
Button 6.0-8.0
Christmas 6.0-7.5
Cloak 6.0-7.5
Feather 5.5-6.5
Hart's Tongue 7.0-8.0
Holly 4.5-6.0
Maidenhair 6.0-8.0
Rabbits Foot 6.0-7.5
Spleenwort 6.0-7.5

Flowers, Trees, and Shrubs
Abelia 6.0-8.0
Acacia 6.0-8.0
Acanthus 6.0-7.0
Aconitum 5.0-6.0
Adonis 6.0-8.0
Ageratum 6.0-7.5
Ailanthus 6.0-7.5
Ajuga 4.0-6.0
Althea 6.0-7.5
Alyssum 6.0-7.5
Amaranthus 6.0-6.5
Anchusa 6.0-7.5
Androsace 5.0-6.0
Anemone 6.0-7.5
Anthyllis 5.0-6.0
Arbutus 4.0-6.0
Arenaria 6.0-8.0
Aristea 6.0-7.5
Armeria 6.0-7.5
Arnica 5.0-6.5
Asperula 6.0-8.0
Asphodoline 6.0-8.0
Aster 5.5-7.5
Aubrita 6.0-7.5
Azalea 4.5-6.0
Balloon Flower 6.0-6.5
Bayberry 4.0-6.0
Bergenia 6.0-7.5
Bleeding Heart 6.0-7.5
Bluebell 6.0-7.5
Broom 5.0-6.0
Buddleia 6.0-7.0
Buphthalum 6.0-8.0
Butterfly Bush 4.0-6.0
Calendula 5.5-7.0
Camassia 6.0-8.0
Candytuft 6.0-7.5
Canna 6.0-8.0
Canterbury Bells 7.0-7.5
Cardinal Flower 4.0-6.0
Carnation 6.0-7.5
Catalpa 6.0-8.0
Celosia 6.0-7.0
Centaurea 5.0-6.5
Cerastium 6.0-7.0
Chrysanthemum 6.0-7.0
Cissus 6.0-7.5
Cistus 6.0-7.5
Clarkia 6.0-6.5
Clianthus 6.0-7.5
Clematis 5.5-7.0
Colchicum 5.5-6.5
Columbine 6.0-7.0
Convolvulus 6.0-8.0
Coreopsis 5.0-6.0
Coronilla 6.5-7.5
Corydalis 6.0-8.0
Cosmos 5.0-8.0
Cottoneaster 6.0-8.0
Crab Apple 6.0-7.5
Crocus 6.0-8.0
Cynoglossum 6.0-7.5
Daffodil 6.0-6.5
Dahlia 6.0-7.5
Daylily 6.0-7.0
Delphinium 6.0-7.5
Deutzia 6.0-7.5
Dianthus 6.0-7.5
Dogwood 5.0-7.0
Edelweiss 6.5-7.5
Elaeagnus 5.0-7.5
Enkianthus 5.0-6.0
Erica 4.5-6.0
Euphorbia 6.0-7.0
Everlastings 5.0-6.0
Firethorn 6.0-8.0
Forget-Me-Nots 6.0-7.0
Forsythia 6.0-8.0
Foxglove 6.0-7.5
Fritillaria 6.0-7.5
Fuchsia 5.5-7.5
Gaillardia 6.0-7.5
Gazania 5.5-7.0
Gentiana 5.0-7.5
Geum 6.0-7.5
Gladioili 6.0-7.0
Globularia 5.5-7.0
Godetia 6.0-7.5
Goldenrod 5.0-7.0
Gypsophilia 6.0-7.5
Hawthorn 6.0-7.0
Heather 4.0-6.0
Helianthus 5.0-7.0
Helleborus 6.0-7.5
Holly 5.0-6.5
Hollyhock 6.0-7.5
Honeysuckle 6.0-7.5
Hosta 6.0-7.0
Hyacinth 6.5-7.5
Hydrangea (Blue) 4.0-5.0
Hydrangea (Pink) 6.0-7.0
Hydrangea (White) 6.5-8.0
Hypericum 5.5-7.0
Iris 5.0-6.5
Ivy 6.0-7.5
Juniper 5.0-6.5
Kalmia 4.5-5.0
Kerria 6.0-7.0
Laburnum 6.0-7.0
Laurel 6.5-7.5
Lavender 6.5-7.5
Liatris 5.5-7.5
Ligustrum 5.0-7.5
Lilac 6.0-7.5
Lily of the Valley 4.5-6.0
Lithospermum 5.0-6.5
Lobelia 6.5-7.5
Lupinus 5.5-7.0
Magnolia 5.0-6.0
Mahonia 6.0-7.0
Marigold 5.5-7.0
Molinia 4.0-5.0
Moraea 5.5-6.5
Morning Glory 6.0-7.5
Moss 6.0-8.0
Moss, Sphagnum 3.5-5.0
Myosotis 6.0-7.0
Narcissus 6.0-8.5
Nasturtium 5.5-7.5
Nicotiana 5.5-6.5
Pachysandra 5.0-8.0
Paeonia 6.0-7.5
Pansy 5.5-7.0
Passion Flower 6.0-8.0
Pasque Flower 5.0-6.0
Paulownia 6.0-8.0
Penstemon 5.5-7.0
Periwinkle 6.0-7.5
Petunia 6.0-7.5
Pinks 6.0-7.5
Polygonum 6.0-7.5
Polyanthus 6.0-7.5
Poppy 6.0-7.5
Portulaca 5.5-7.5
Primrose 5.5-6.5
Primula 6.0-7.5
Privet 5.0-7.5
Prunella 6.0-7.5
Prunus 6.5-7.5
Pyrethrum 6.0-7.5
Red Hot Poker 6.0-7.5
Rhododendren 4.5-6.0
Roses 5.5-7.0
Salvia 6.0-7.5
Scabiosa 5.0-7.5
Sedum 6.0-7.5
Snapdragon 5.5-7.0
Snowdrop 6.0-8.0
Soapwort 6.0-7.5
Speedwell 5.5-6.5
Spiraea 6.0-7.5
Spruce 4.0-5.0
Stock 6.0-7.5
Stonecrop 6.5-7.5
Sumac 5.0-6.5
Sunflower 5.0-7.0
Sweet Pea 6.0-7.5
Sweet William 6.0-7.5
Tamarix 6.5-8.0
Trillium 5.0-6.5
Tulip 6.0-7.0
Vibernum 5.0-7.5
Viola 5.5-6.5
Virginia Creeper 5.0-7.5
Wallflower 5.5-7.5
Water Lily 5.5-6.5
Weigelia 6.0-7.5
Wistaria 6.0-8.0
Zinnia 5.5-7.5

Grasses
Bahai 6.5-7.5
Bent 5.5-6.5
Bermuda 6.0-7.0
Canada Blue 4.5-6.4
Clover 6.0-7.0
Kentucky Blue 6.0-7.5
Meadow 6.0-7.5
Pampas 6.0-8.0
Red Top 6.0-6.5
Rye 6.0-7.0
St. Augustine 6.5-7.5
Tall Fescue 6.0-7.0
Velvet Bent 5.0-6.0
Zoysia 6.0-7.0

I forgot to mention, if bed A has conifers in it I wouldn't lime it either. I see your intent is to fertilize not just to adjust the pH neccessarily (I'm a bit slow sometimes). I wouldn't think of lime as a fert unless your soil is low in calcium or magnesium which is rare. I look at it more as a pH adjuster. If you do decide to use lime I might go with dolomitic lime as it has both calcium and magnesium. Ground limestone is usually just calcium carbonate.

tj