Fluffy lime: what is it and what is it for, instructions for use

The use of fluff lime is popular in horticulture. This substance is added to the soil to reduce the parameters of acidity, saturation with minerals, the destruction of dangerous insects and the prevention of weed growth. The composition provides protection of the tree bark from the effects of the sun's rays and the attacks of parasites. At the same time, it is important to clearly follow the instructions for using the substance.

What is fluff lime

Pushonka is a processed limestone that has passed the quenching stage. It is also called a duster. In the production of the substance, the lumpy agent is treated with water.In this case, the substance is transformed from oxide to hydroxide. For 1 kilogram of the substance, 1 liter of water is required. It is important to use cold water when doing this.

If you use hot water to slake lime, the components will be converted to an insoluble state. As a result, the desired effect will not be achieved.

After quenching, the lime becomes twice as large. Cooking fluff is required in an enameled container. In this case, water must be added in stages, stirring the composition all the time.

Comparison of hydrated and quicklime

Lime is a material obtained by roasting carbonate rock. The slaked substance is considered to be calcium hydroxide. It refers to alkaline agents. The composition is produced in the form of a white powder, which does not combine well with water. The people call the material "fluff". Quenching the product is required by adding water to calcium oxide.

Quicklime is produced by thermal action on the same material. As a result, it is possible to obtain a granular substance. Upon contact with the product, you can feel the warmth. This material is almost never used for growing plants. It is often used to make some types of bricks or refractory materials.

The key difference between these types of lime is the formula. The first composition is calcium hydroxide, the second is an oxide of the same substance. The slaked substance hardly reacts with water. Quicklime can easily be converted into slaked lime. Plus, it gives off heat.

The release form is also different. So, the slaked material has a powder form of release, and the quicklime is made in the form of granules. The substances also have something in common: slaked lime can be obtained by adding water to quicklime.

Useful properties for the garden

Fluff is often used in gardening. It helps to achieve the following effects:

protect cultures from pathologies and strengthen their immunity;
improve the adaptive characteristics of crops, helping to resist the influence of hazards;
improve crop nutrition;
accelerate the dissolution of various substances in liquid;
keep nitrogen in the soil;
improve root growth of crops;
speed up the decomposition of organic matter.

Fluff contributes to the stabilization of the topsoil and normalizes its composition. In addition, lime helps to neutralize the harmful effects of hazardous metals.

When is it used?

The product has the following indications for use:

weed control;
fight against harmful insects;
composting;
whitewashing trees and bushes;
decrease in soil acidity;
improvement of soil structure.

Consumption rate

The required amount of funds depends on the purpose of its use. With a lack of a substance, it will not give the desired effect, with a clear excess of the dosage, the composition will harm the crops. In the case of using a substance to reduce soil acidity parameters, its type must be taken into account:

heavy substrate and clay soil requires 600-900 grams of product per 1 square meter;
light soils, alumina and loam need 400-500 grams of matter
the lightest and sandy soil requires 300-400 grams of lime.

It is required to introduce the drug in stages. Its use includes the following steps:

Initial deposit. To do this, it is necessary to determine the parameters of soil acidity. The optimal values depend on the crops being grown. So, for pears and apple trees, they should be 6.5%, for strawberries - 5.2%, for blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries - no more than 5.5%. Deoxidation is combined with digging beds.
Reapply. This is necessary when differences appear between the levels of acidification of different zones of the garden. The procedure is carried out in a dosed manner. This is done only in certain places. Particular attention should be paid to plants that are most affected by a decrease in calcium parameters in the soil.

Of no small importance is the observance of the terms of the next liming of the soil. With high acidity parameters, this must be done every 4 years. With frequent processing, it is worth making the composition at intervals of 3 years.

Using a substance in the fall helps to destroy weeds - couch grass, wood lice, horsetail. These plants actively develop in an acidic substrate. To clean the beds from unwanted vegetation, it is worth using 200 grams of lime per 1 square meter.

It is also permissible to use fluff to destroy the wireworm, which severely damages root crops. Female pests lay eggs in acidic soil - such an environment is considered the most favorable for them.

With a decrease in the acidity of the soil, it is possible to gradually clear the garden of parasites. To do this, it is worth making 500 grams of the substance per 1 square meter of land. After using the product, the soil must be thoroughly moistened and dug up. After that, the beds need to be watered again. It is also useful to additionally use ash by adding 1 handful of the product to each well with vegetable crops.

How to apply correctly

Features of the use of the substance directly depend on the goals and objectives that are planned to be solved.

With fertilizers

If you plan to use lime in the garden with other substances, it is recommended to consider the following:

it is forbidden to combine the composition with dolomite flour and chalk;
it is allowed to spread the substance with crushed limestone.

Many gardeners cannot decide what is better to use - fluff or dolomite flour. In terms of calcium content, dolomite flour is 8% higher than lime. There are also differences in the amount of magnesium. Dolomite flour contains 40% of this substance, while fluff does not contain this ingredient at all. However, it is very important for the normal process of photosynthesis.

At the same time, fluff has a faster action than dolomite flour. However, after its application, plants absorb phosphorus worse. The only advantage of lime is its low price.

Tillage in greenhouse

You need to add lime to the greenhouse after harvesting the fruits and harvesting the tops. To use the substance, you need to do the following:

Extinguish dry material with water and dilute to optimum consistency.
Assess soil acidity parameters.
Calculate the optimal amount of mixture.
Sprinkle and dig up beds.

As whitewash

Using a garden tree whitewash helps to achieve excellent results. This effective tool provides protection of the upper layer of crops from parasites and ultraviolet radiation. It is recommended to whitewash the trunks in the spring, but it is possible to carry out the manipulation in the fall.

Whitewashing before winter helps protect trunks from temperature extremes. However, a large amount of precipitation significantly reduces the protective characteristics of whitewash.Therefore, the spring procedure is considered more preferable. Before whitewashing, it is recommended to remove the dead bark, and then use lime milk. To prepare it, you need to mix 1 kilogram of lime with 3 liters of water.

It is important to consider that such a solution hardly adheres to the treated surface. Therefore, it is required to additionally introduce 100-150 grams of flour paste into it. Also, the introduction of 300 grams of clay and 1 kilogram of mullein into the mixture will help improve the adhesion of the product to the trunk. The finished composition requires 2-3 hours to insist. Regardless of the ingredients used, 200-250 grams of copper sulfate should be added to the mixture.

Safety precautions

In the manufacture and use of lime mortar, basic safety rules must be followed. During lime slaking, a thermal reaction is observed, which is characterized by strong seething and the appearance of many splashes.To prevent the ingress of hazardous substances on the body, you should follow these recommendations:

put on goggles;
put on a respiratory mask;
use gloves;
tie up hair and cover it with a scarf;
do not smoke, eat or drink while using the substance.

First aid for burns

If the implementation of the safety rules did not help, and the fluff still struck the skin, it is important to provide first aid to the victim. In case of a burn with a substance, it is required to remove soiled clothing and wipe the affected area with a dry cloth.

Then it is recommended to wash this area with plenty of water and apply a solution of boric acid. Its concentration should be 2%. Then apply a bandage with Vishnevsky's ointment.It is also permissible to use synthomycin ointment. After providing first aid, you must immediately consult a doctor.

Lime fluff can be bought ready-made or made by hand. Thanks to the use of the substance in horticulture, it is possible to improve the quality of the soil, saturate it with useful elements and protect the beds from weeds and parasites.