How Limestone works Limestone is a soil conditioner rather than a fertilizer, and should be used as a supplement to organic fertilizers or organic pesticides.
Limestone works by:
- Neutralizing acidic soil: Helps balance pH levels in your soil
- Increases bacterial activity: Microorganisms in soil breakdown the lime and make it available to plants
- Aids decomposition of organic materials: Helps remove thatch and excess top debris
Using
Limestone is fast, easy, and safe. Just apply the powdered
Limestone, add water to aid the breakdown process, and wait for the results. Your lawn or garden should show noticeable signs of improvement over the coming weeks.
Limestone applications should be spread out enough to allow time for soil to absorb the extra minerals. Over applying
Limestone could result in excessive amounts of alkaline materials, which can actually damage plants instead of feeding them. This phenomenon is known as “burning” and occurs with nearly all fertilizers or soil conditioners when they are overused.
How Limestone helped build nations
Limestone has been used by man for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians covered their pyramids with limestone casings, giving them a brilliant white shine that could be seen for miles. They also used limestone in sarcophagus making and many of their temple columns and other stoneworks were made of the easily worked stone. Even the famous sphinx was also carved primarily of limestone.
Ancient Mediterranean cultures employed limestone to make vessels for liquids such as wine or dyes. Greek artists found the stone perfectly suited for sculpture, and began sculpting limestone into altars, columns, and realistic statues. The Parthenon was constructed from marble, but is has been speculated that it was to be just the “inner” temple of a larger limestone construction that was to be around it.
In America, limestone has been used since the nation’s founding as hearth stones and chimney blocks by settlers and native peoples. Limestone was quarried commercially and used in the rebuilding efforts of the cities of Chicago and Boston after large fires in 1871 and 1872 destroyed large parts of both cities. Limestone has been used on some of the most famous building projects, ranging from the colossal Biltmore mansion to skyscrapers such as the Empire State building.
Today, limestone is used in commercial aspects that make everyday life possible. Water is purified with lime, steel is polished with lime, chickens are fed lime to produce stronger shells, and crops are fortified with limestone to increase the mineral content available to plants, allowing plants to grow larger and have higher yields. Limestone is truly one of nature’s best gifts.